Glasgow Travel Forum

Just wanted to know what currency is used is it pounds or euro? Also how much would you think would be decent for a month trip, i wont be needing any accomodation as i will be with family. i'd say that i will be getting driven most places. Any ideas??

Pound: www.oanda.com

The euro is not an all-Europe currency, and has to be formally adopted by a country as its legal currncy.

The UK has not adopted the euro. The legal currency here is pounds. Pounds have the same value in Scotland as in England and Wales, although Scots notes have a different design.

The UK is an expensive place. It is difficult to say how much you might need without knowing what you intend to spend your money on.

As a very rough guide one pound will buy you a couple of small chocolate bars or packets of crisps, or a small loaf of bread, or a decent newspaper. It won't buy you a coffee, or a bus fare, or a drink in a pub (of whatever type) or any entrance to any place of interest (although some are free).

Best to check if you are OK changing back any SCOTTISH notes that you end-up with.
Whilst these are legal tender in England, some shops here do get a bit arsey when presented with them.
Not sure about how other destinations - or your home country - would deal with them so best top check first.
In theory there should be NO problem.........

......but in practice there often is.

So take the excellent advice above. Either decide to change your notes before you leave Scotland, or make double-certain-sure that they can be exchanged in your own country.

Or just be sure to take "English" pound notes as they are valid all over Britain and definitly are easy to change again when you come back home.
Regards Lars.

You will be given 'English' notes (that is 'British pounds') if you change your money abroad, but you will receive Scots notes in your change when you buy things in Scotland (and also if you exchange money at banks, ATMs etc). These are the ones you should try to spend/exchange before you leave.

If you still have Scots notes when you plan on leaving the country, just go into any bank and ask them to change them into English notes. They should do it for free (assuming they have enough English notes)

I do this myself if I have to go down to England. I've previously had problems spending Scots notes in England.

You will have extreme difficulty exchanging Scots notes outside the UK.

When we went to Glasgow in 2007 we changed to Scottish notes as well as back to Swedish currency in Sweden without any problems both times.
Regards Lars.

You could, of course, always pop into your bank before you leave Australia and ask them if they will exchange Scots notes.

Lars

I would be very surprised if you were given Scots currency (Clydesdale Bank, Bank of Scotland or Royal Bank of Scotland notes) in a Swedish Bank. I'd be delighted to hear that our "pretend" money is available abroad though!

Are you sure you weren't given Bank of England notes? They are just as acceptable as Scots notes in Scotland. The main problem is spending Scottish banknotes outside Scotland

To lichtie: I am QUITE sure we got Scots notes, the text on them told us so;-)
but in fact we got them from the money exchange company Forex, I do not use the banks for exchanging money in Sweden since they give a worse rate. (The banks here charge for everything but don't give any intress on our accounts.)
Regards Lars.

Thanks for that Lars.

That really is the first time I've ever heard of Scots notes being commercially sold abroad!

I hope that you didn't have to pay more than you would have done for English notes :) :) :)

Don't be afraid, young man , I didn't pay more than I should, be sure of that!!:-)