Wise Best exchange rate
Wise debit card
45k0.43%-0.65% conversion fee
The best travel card for the United Kingdom
Cards, cash and FX fees for Australian travellers.
Cards, cash and FX fees for Australian travellers. Roughly double the pound price to get AUD. It's the most expensive major destination for Australians on a per-day basis.
Yes - cards work almost everywhere in United Kingdom, and you can get by on tap alone.
5 travel card options for United Kingdom, compared
Revolut No weekday FX fee
Revolut Standard
30k0% FX fee
Compare only
ING Orange Everyday ATM fees rebated
ING Orange Everyday
22k0% FX fee
ubank Spend
ubank Spend account
9k0% FX fee
Macquarie Transaction Account
Macquarie Transaction Account
6k0% FX fee
Prices are indicative, shown in AUD and refreshed from provider APIs where available. Always confirm the final price on the provider's site - it is the price that applies. We may earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never changes what you pay. Partners are listed before providers who pay us nothing, as our terms set out; sorting by price ignores all of that and orders on the number alone. How we make money.
Compared side by side
| Card | FX fee | ATM | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wise Partner | 0.43%-0.65% conversion fee | 2 free withdrawals/month up to $350, then 1.75% | $0 |
| Revolut | 0% on weekdays, up to 1% on weekends | $350/month fee-free, then 2% | $0 |
| ING Orange Everyday | 0% with monthly criteria met | International ATM fees rebated with criteria met | $0 |
| ubank Spend | 0% international transaction fee | No ubank fee; operator fees still apply | $0 |
| Macquarie Transaction Account | 0% foreign transaction fee | No Macquarie fee; operator fees still apply | $0 |
Paying for things in United Kingdom
Can you pay by card in United Kingdom?
Effectively universal and often card-only. Contactless works on all London transport - just tap your Australian card or phone.
Cash and ATMs in United Kingdom
Free at bank ATMs. Avoid the standalone 'convenience' ATMs that charge £1.99 or more.
Almost none.
Do you tip in United Kingdom?
10-12.5% in sit-down restaurants, and many add an optional service charge you can ask to remove. No tipping in pubs when you order at the bar.
Worth knowing about paying in United Kingdom
Card surcharges are banned in the UK. Always decline dynamic currency conversion and pay in pounds.
Before you pay for anything in United Kingdom
Pay in Pound sterling or Australian dollars?
The terminal will offer you both. One of them is materially more expensive.
Travel card, debit card or credit card?
Why the card sold hardest at the airport is usually the one that loses.
What is a foreign transaction fee?
Around 3%, charged by your own Australian bank. Removable before you fly.
What one Australian dollar buys in United Kingdom
£0.52 GBP per AUD
Last recorded rate
These are mid-market rates - the rate banks trade at, published by the European Central Bank. It is not what you will be offered. Expect a card or exchange service to take 0.5% to 5% off it, which is exactly what our travel money comparison is for. Past movement doesn't predict future rates, and none of this is financial advice.
View the numbers as a table
More United Kingdom essentials
United Kingdom visa and entry rules
Passport, visa, arrival cards and customs rules for Australian passport holders.
Flights to United Kingdom
Search fares from Australia, then sort the rest of the trip.
United Kingdom eSIM plans
Instant data, no physical SIM required.
United Kingdom travel insurance
Medical, cancellation and luggage cover for Australian travellers.
United Kingdom airport transfers
Trains, buses, private transfers and taxis compared.
Driving in United Kingdom
International Driving Permit rules and car hire for Australians.
United Kingdom travel essentials
Adapters, plugs, tap water, tipping and health basics.
Things to do in United Kingdom
Attractions, tours and passes worth booking ahead.
Further reading: Travel money for Australians: cards, cash and the fees nobody mentions
How these comparisons are made
Cards are compared on the three fees that actually cost travellers money - the FX margin, ATM fees and account fees - using each issuer's published rates. Jamie has personally spent on travel cards recommended here while overseas. Cash-versus-card guidance is researched per destination rather than copied between pages, because a card strategy that works in Stockholm fails in Osaka. Read the full editorial policy.
United Kingdom money & payments FAQs
Does Medicare cover me in the UK?
Partly. Australia's Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with the UK gives you medically necessary NHS treatment at the same cost as a UK resident. Bring your passport and Medicare card. It won't cover repatriation to Australia or non-urgent treatment, so travel insurance is still worth holding.
Planning United Kingdom?
We will send you the United Kingdom guide as it grows - what to book before you go, which eSIM and travel card are worth it there, and what things actually cost in Australian dollars.