Currency Exchange at Heathrow

[Nice n Easy Rider]

Can anyone tell me whether the ATM machines at London's Heathrow Airport will give you your money in either Euros or Pounds? I have a short layover and would prefer to pick up some Euros while there before continuing on. Thanks.

[UberXY]

I think they only give pounds; that was the case the last time I was there.

[CarrotNC]

Have looked for same option but never found it at the major UK terminals. Would likely have a hefty exchange rate if they did. Best rates are in your destination country.

 

Be sure to notify your bank prior to travel, and if you will visit multiple countries. Had one trip that started out as UK-only, but on Friday had to make quick side-trip to Belgium. Upon arrival in Brussels the ATM refused my card -- call to the bank revealed it was blocked due to "inconsistent usage". When I travel now I'm sure to include all the countries I'm likely to deal with during a trip.

[Francois_Dumas]

Pounds.

[ashleybiker]

As others have said, I have only found ATM's dispensing pounds at Heathrow and other UK airports. I have also found that more reasonable exchange fees/rates can be found exchanging money at your destination (not at the airport/train station).

 

My last trip was passing through Heathrow & Munich for final destination of Augsburg Germany. Best deal was in Augsburg where I exchanged dollars to euros.

 

If convenience takes priority over exchange fees/rates, estimate what you might need and have your bank in the US convert your dollars to whatever currency you may need. Obviously this depends on how much cash you want to keep in your pocket etc.

 

Enjoy your trip!

 

 

[Mark P]

The only place I have seen machines dispensing Euros here in the UK is at the Channel Tunnel Terminal at Folkestone, but having used it a couple of weeks ago and got a rate that was 10 Euro cents to the Pound worse than a French Bank ATM I won't be using it again! The charge made by Travelex who operate it (and exchange desks in most UK airports) was also much bigger than that made by the French Bank

 

I wouldn't recommend using any airport exchange service, as you'll usually get better rates away from airports etc. The other problem for a US traveller using such a facility here is that you'd get stung on a 3 way currency exchange $ - £ - €!

 

ATMs are everywhere these days so it's no problem to get some cash after arrival - the only problem of course being paying for taxi/train/bus or whatever from the Airport to your destination, however if you take a taxi I'm sure the driver won't mind stopping at a convenient ATM, especially if that's the only way he's going to get paid!

 

 

[UberXY]

As an aside, when we travel to Europe, we do about 99% of our transactions with a credit card - as heinous as the card companies are, they generally give great, if not the best, exchange rates. When we go to Mexico and central America, we never exchange for local currency, given the dollar is still basically the de facto local currency.