Which Currency in England?

[Yellow Shoes]

My 17 year old son will be going to England for 10 days next summer (2005).

(I would love to bore you with the details, but only if asked)

Obsessive planner that I am, I have begun to worry about all the stuff he will need.

I already know that I can get pounds or euros from my bank.

Which would be "better"? Would he get fewer sneers and more civility if he used pounds?

It will be a fairly inclusive tour--prepaid meals, etc., so he shouldn't need too much cash.

What about sending a credit card with him? (I have this fear that all he will bring home is Altoids, or something that he can easily get in the states.)


Thanks.

 

[nicholas]

Not sure about the money question, but your post reminded me of when I went toured Europe as a teenager and brought home loads of Toblerone not realizing I could buy it in the states also. I had just never noticed before. Oh, the follies of youth.

 

[barnum42]

You can't spend Euros in the UK, so this makes it an easy question to answer.

Just make sure he braces himself for how expensive everything is here. Many things cost the same in Pounds here as they are in Dollars in America.

There are very few places that won't accept Visa or Mastercard. You will know whether you have a teenager that can be trusted with your credit line or not, but if he has one there will be no problem using it.

 

[mkt]

visa check card... dump all his cash there, usable almost everywhere in the UK

 

[garyhoov]

I've never taken cash with me when I've gone to Europe. I just take a credit card and a MAC card and pick up cash at the MAC machines as needed just like I do here.

:wave:

 

[disney_nutter]

give him brittish pounds, were abouts in england is he going to

 

[Yellow Shoes]

I'm a little embarrassed that I didn't know that euros aren't used in England. :hammer: Pounds, it is, then. (I sure hope the exchange rate gets better by next summer)

He's doing a program called YouTheology. They'll be doing the John Wesley pilgrimage thing:

London
Oxford
Epworth
Lincoln
Salisbury
Bristol
Bath
Stonehenge

He will be needing to buy gifts for his mentor and the people who wrote his recommendations, so he WILL have to do some shopping, even though he lacks the shopping gene (as does his mother.)

This is the first year for the program--Class #1 leaves in 2 weeks. I'm sure they will learn a lot on this trip and will have all the bugs worked out for next year's trip.

 

[barnum42]

Originally posted by Yellow Shoes
I'm a little embarrassed that I didn't know that euros aren't used in England. :hammer: Pounds, it is, then. (I sure hope the exchange rate gets better by next summer)

He's doing a program called YouTheology. They'll be doing the John Wesley pilgrimage thing:

London
Oxford
Epworth
Lincoln
Salisbury
Bristol
Bath
Stonehenge

He will be needing to buy gifts for his mentor and the people who wrote his recommendations, so he WILL have to do some shopping, even though he lacks the shopping gene (as does his mother.)

This is the first year for the program--Class #1 leaves in 2 weeks. I'm sure they will learn a lot on this trip and will have all the bugs worked out for next year's trip.

No reason to be embarrassed about not knowing what currency is used over here. Knowing how narrow the US media cover events outside the USA I’m almost surprised people are aware that the Euro replaced many country’s traditional currency. :lol:

I used to live in Bath and now live in Bristol. It may not be on their itinerary, but if they are interested in Stonehenge they should also go to Avebury. Stonehenge is actually misnamed, as it does not have a henge, whereas Avebury has the largest in Europe. Within walking distance (or short drive) of the Avebury circle are Silbury Hill – a 130 foot high man made hill dating back over 4000 years. They still don’t know why it was built. Just along the road from that is West Kennet Long Barrow – a burial complex over 5000 years old.

 

[Pippa]

If we go over to euros then I'm off to the US, KEEP OUR POUND!!!!

Anyway, I agree that everything is REALLY expensive over here compared to you guys so it wont take him long to spend all the cash!!:lol:

Don't forget that we don't tip as much as the US although I'm sure it would be appreciated :wave: