Where you buy travel money matters — the difference between the best and worst options can be 8–12% of your total exchange. Here is a ranked guide to every option available in the UK.
Ranked: Best to Worst for Currency Exchange
1. Online Currency Comparison + Click & Collect (Best)
Websites like comparison services aggregate rates from multiple providers. You lock in a rate online, pay by debit card, and collect at an airport or a branch — or receive by home delivery (with a minimum order, typically £500+).
Why it works: You get near-best-market rates, confirmed in advance. Airport collection means you pick it up on your way out — without paying airport bureau prices.
Typical saving vs airport: £40–£80 on £1,000
2. Fee-Free Travel Card + ATM Abroad
If you have a Starling, Monzo, or Chase account, simply use the card to pay abroad and withdraw cash from ATMs on arrival. The rate is the real interbank rate. This is technically the best exchange rate available — better than any cash option.
Not suitable for: Destinations without reliable ATMs, or travellers who specifically need cash in advance.
3. Post Office Currency
Consistent, regulated, and accessible. The Post Office’s rates are competitive with high-street bureaux. Order online for delivery or collect in-branch.
Good for: Confidence, accessibility, and reliable delivery/collection options.
4. High-Street Bureau de Change
Moneycorp, Caledonian FX, and similar companies on the high street offer rates better than banks but below online. Compare before using — rates vary between providers.
Avoid: Paying a visible commission on top of a poor rate. Most bureaux are “no commission” with the margin built into the rate — compare the total amount of foreign currency you receive.
5. High-Street Bank Branch
Banks (HSBC, Lloyds, Barclays, NatWest) typically offer their own exchange rates with little or no competition on pricing. Rates are generally worse than specialist bureaux. Some require a current account and charge an order fee.
Use only if: You have no other accessible option.
6. Airport Bureau de Change (Worst for Cash)
Airport bureaux know they are competing for last-minute travellers who are already there. Margins of 8–12% are standard. On £1,000, this means £80–£120 less than the best online option.
One exception: Collecting a pre-ordered online rate at an airport bureau. This is fine — the rate is locked in at the better online price.
7. Hotel Currency Desk (Worst)
Hotels sometimes offer currency exchange as a convenience. Rates are typically comparable to airport bureaux — poor. Avoid.
How Far in Advance Should You Order Currency?
Online orders: 2–5 days before travel is ideal for home delivery. Most services offer next-day or 48-hour delivery with a charge (typically £5–£10) or free with a minimum order.
For airport collection, orders can usually be placed up to your departure time — but locking in the rate in advance (days before travel) is the benefit. If the pound weakens between your order and your trip, you have already secured the better rate.
Branch or high-street collection: Same-day collection is usually possible from Post Office or bureau branches. You won’t get the best online rate, but it is convenient.
Rule of thumb: If you need £500+ of cash, order online at least 2–3 days before departure and either collect at the airport or have it delivered. On smaller amounts (£100–£200), the rate difference vs high-street is smaller — convenience may outweigh the saving.
Online Currency Providers — What to Look For
Several online currency services are worth knowing:
Post Office online: Reliable, regulated, branch and airport collection. Competitive mid-range rates.
Travelex: Widely used, airport and online. Online rates are better than airport desk rates, even from the same provider.
Caledonian FX / No1 Currency: High-street bureau chains with online ordering. Compare rates directly.
Currency comparison sites: Rate comparison tools aggregate live quotes from multiple providers. Use these to find the best rate at the moment you are ordering, rather than going to a single provider.
What to check:
- The actual amount of foreign currency you receive (not the headline rate)
- Delivery fee and minimum order
- Buy-back rate — if you want to sell unused currency back, what rate do they offer?
- Whether the rate is guaranteed at time of order or subject to change
Home Delivery vs Airport Collection
Both work. Here is how they compare:
| Factor | Home delivery | Airport collection |
|---|---|---|
| Convenience | Arrives at your door | Pick up on way out |
| Lead time | 2–5 days | Can order up to departure |
| Rate | Usually the same | Same (if ordered online in advance) |
| Risk | Royal Mail delivery risk | No delivery risk; collecting yourself |
| Minimum order | Often £500+ for free delivery | No minimum typically |
Recommendation: Airport collection is often the better option if you remember to order in time. Rates are locked at online rates (not airport counter rates), and there is no delivery waiting time or risk.
Regional Variation in Bureau Quality
Currency exchange rates vary not just between providers but between branches of the same provider in different locations. Airport branches charge the most; town-centre high-street bureaux are generally more competitive; city-centre bureaux in financial districts (such as near tube stations in central London) sometimes offer very competitive rates due to high volume and competition.
If you need cash from a bureau without ordering in advance, visiting two or three options and comparing is worth the 10 minutes — rates can differ by 2–3% for the same currency between nearby high-street bureaux.
Online always beats walk-in: The single most reliable improvement is ordering online (even if collecting at an airport) versus buying walk-in on the day. The online rate is consistently better.
If You Forget to Get Currency Before You Go
Best option: Withdraw from an ATM on arrival using a fee-free travel card. Acceptable: Airport bureau at departure if you have no other choice (take only what you urgently need). Last resort: Hotel desk — emergency use only.
What About Leftover Currency?
Options for unused foreign currency:
- Keep it for your next trip (if you visit the same country regularly)
- Sell it back to an online provider (best rate; use providers with buy-back guarantees)
- Post Office buy-back at a slightly lower rate than they sell
- Donate coins to charity at the airport
See the Travel Money Guide UK for the full holiday money strategy.