The British currency is the pound sterling. The sign for the pound is £.
GBP = Great British Pound
1 pound (£) = 100 pence (symbol: p)
The singular of pence is "penny" (p).
e.g. 1 penny (p); 2 pence (p).
There are lots of places you can change money in Britain:
bureaux de change on high streets, in airports and major railway stations
banks
travel agents
Post Offices
Scotland and Northern Ireland issue their own pound sterling notes that represent the same value as an English note - you can use English and Scottish (although the Scottish £1 note is not accepted outside Scotland) money anywhere in the UK, but Northern Irish cash can only be used in Northern Ireland. You can exchange them for English notes in any bank, however.
There are four denominations (values) of Bank of England notes in circulation: £5, £10, £20 and £50. There are six different notes currently in circulation.
Denomination |
Front of the note |
Back of the note |
£5 note |
||
£10 note |
||
Polymer £20 note |
||
Paper £20 note |
||
Polymer £50 note |
||
Paper £50 note |
Denomination |
Coin Image |
1p |
|
2p |
|
5p |
|
10p |
|
20p |
|
50p |
|
£1 |
|
£2 |
Only the Bank of England issues banknotes in England and Wales, but seven banks in Scotland and Northern Ireland can also issue banknotes. Coins are manufactured and issued by the Royal Mint.
Three banks are authorised to issue banknotes in Scotland:
Bank of Scotland plc
Clydesdale Bank plc
The Royal Bank of Scotland plc.
Bank of Scotland |
|
Clydesdale Bank |
|
The Royal Bank of Scotland |
Four banks are authorised to issue banknotes in Northern Ireland:
Bank of Ireland (UK) plc
AIB Group (UK) plc (previously trading as First Trust Bank in Northern Ireland)*
Northern Bank Limited (trades as Danske Bank)
National Westminster Bank plc (trades as Ulster Bank in Northern Ireland)
Bank of Ireland (UK) |
|
AIB Group (UK) (formerly First Trust Bank) |
|
Danske Bank |
|
Ulster Bank |
|