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Where to Buy Euros in UK: The Ultimate Guide for Travel Money
Where to Buy Euros in UK: The Ultimate Guide for Travel Money
Why Knowing Where to Buy Euros in UK Matters
Planning a holiday in Europe? One of the first questions travellers ask is where to buy euros in UK. It’s not just about finding convenience—it’s about maximizing value. With the right place, you can lock in favorable exchange rates and dodge hidden fees. Conservative planning and smart buying can save you hundreds of pounds, ensuring you travel with confidence and funds to spare.
This guide deep‑dives into every reliable channel available, compares pros and cons, integrates your ecommerce products, and provides educational insights so your customers can make informed decisions, and when ready, click through to buy products on trustedbillsandclones.com.
What Influences the Best Place to Buy Euros in UK
Deciding where to buy euros in UK depends on three key factors:
Exchange rate (rate + margin)
Fees (commission, delivery, withdrawal)
Convenience & safety factors such as click‑&‑collect or home delivery.
TravelMoneyMax, Good Money Guide, and MoneySavingExpert consistently highlight that the best deals often come from online ordering, avoided airport kiosks, and comparing multiple providers moneyweek.com+4fxpal.com+4en.wikipedia.org+4compareholidaymoney.com+4monito.com+4thesun.ie+4travelwiseway.com+1exiap.co.uk+1thetimes.co.ukforbes.comen.wikipedia.org+4thetimes.co.uk+4thescottishsun.co.uk+4postoffice.co.uk+4moneysupermarket.com+4thetimes.co.uk+4en.wikipedia.org+4tescotravelmoney.com+4compareholidaymoney.com+4en.wikipedia.orgcompareholidaymoney.comthesun.ie+3goodmoneyguide.com+3thescottishsun.co.uk+3.
Major High‑Street Banks: Pros & Cons
UK banks like Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds and NatWest offer familiarity and occasionally good rates—especially for customers. For example:
Lloyds and NatWest allow ordering euros via online banking for click‑&‑collect or branch delivery .
While convenient, their rates often involve a margin and may include delivery fees (~£4‑£5).
Ordering ahead avoids airport markups and provides rate visibility.
Interlink product example:
Embed your euro travel kits or forex accessory bundles: ➤ Explore euro travel bundles that pair perfectly with bank‑ordered currency.
Online Currency Specialists
Wise (formerly TransferWise)
Mid‑market rates with transparent fee structures.
Wise Travel Card is favoured for locking rates and withdrawing abroad with up to £200 fee‑free monthly moneyweek.com+2exiap.co.uk+2thetimes.co.uk+2.
Perfect for tech‑savvy travellers seeking transparency.
Revolut
Competitive real‑time rates, multi‑currency wallets.
Watch for inactivity fees and withdrawal limits money.co.uk+15thetimes.co.uk+15moneysupermarket.com+15en.wikipedia.org+8mandstravelmoney.com+8en.wikipedia.org+8.
CurrencyFair & Monito
Platforms offering peer‑to‑peer exchanges and rate comparisons.
Monito praises Starling Bank’s multi‑currency account for zero foreign transaction and mid‑market ratesexiap.co.uk+13monito.com+13moneyexpert.com+13.
Multi-currency card products: ➤ Browse multi‑currency money cards ideal for Wise, Revolut, Monito users.
Prepaid Travel (Euro) Cards
Prepaid cards (e.g., Wise, Revolut, Cash Passport) offer budgeting control, secure usage, and ease of replacement. You load GBP, convert to EUR ahead of travel, and use abroad with minimal fees.
Benefits include no foreign transaction fees, locked-in rates, and fraud protection.
Watch for inactivity, issuance, and ATM fees exiap.co.uk+1thescottishsun.co.uk+1money.asda.com.
Travel Card Holder” product: Discover travel card holders perfectly sized for prepaid euro cards.
Bureau de Change: High Street & Airport
Travelex
Over 600 stores worldwide, with pick‑up options at Heathrow, Stansted, Paddington theguardian.com+1thescottishsun.co.uk+1en.wikipedia.orgfxpal.com+1en.wikipedia.org+1.
Beware of margin and DCC at airport counters.
Eurochange
190+ high-street branches, online ordering, and cash-collection services nypost.com.
ChangeGroup
120+ branches in city centres and airports, offering competitive rates en.wikipedia.org.
Note: Funds held hostage by airport fees: City kiosks may cost 10–13% more, translating to £169‑£274 losses per €1,000.
Supermarket & Post Office Travel Money
Tesco Travel Money: free delivery on £500+, Clubcard rates available thetimes.co.uk+15moneysupermarket.com+15thescottishsun.co.uk+15postoffice.co.uk+4tescotravelmoney.com+4money.asda.com+4.
Asda Money: solid online options, click‑&‑collect at travel desks en.wikipedia.org+2money.asda.com+2travelwiseway.com+2.
Post Office: order online with home delivery or 2‑hour branch pick‑up, with better rates on larger amounts till 2 July exiap.co.uk+7postoffice.co.uk+7monito.com+7.
Supermarkets may offer loyalty-linked perks, improving euro rates slightly compareholidaymoney.com.
ATM Withdrawals Abroad vs Buying Euros in UK
Debate: hard cash vs withdrawing abroad.
Withdraw abroad can avoid holding excess cash, but ATM withdrawal fees and FX charges often apply.
UK banks (e.g., Barclays, HSBC, NatWest) charge 2.75–2.99% FX fees + £1‑£5 per withdrawal thetimes.co.uk.
Fee‑free cards like Chase, First Direct, Halifax Clarity reduce such charges thetimes.co.uk+1thescottishsun.co.uk+1.
Keep 20–25% of budget in cash for local emergencies thetimes.co.uk.
Travel Wallet: View our travel wallets for secure cash and cards.
Buy‑Back Services for Leftover Euros
Don’t get stuck with leftover cash! Major providers offer buy‑back guarantees:
Eurochange, Post Office, Travelex buy back unused currency (beware of 4‑5% commission).
Online platforms seldom have this, so plan usage or transfer online before leaving home.
Timing & How to Monitor Rates
Stay alert:
GBP/EUR rate fluctuates—monitor via XE.com, Google, Bloomberg before purchase.
Avoid last‑minute airport buys—they can cost up to 13% extra moneysupermarket.comfxpal.com+3en.wikipedia.org+3en.wikipedia.org+3travelwiseway.commoneyweek.com.
Use comparison tools—MoneySavingExpert’s TravelMoneyMax, CompareHolidayMoney, Money.co.uk—these track rates and fees daily eurochange.co.uk+4compareholidaymoney.com+4thesun.ie+4.
Safety, Fees & Hidden Costs
Watch for:
Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC): When abroad, always accept local currency (EUR) at card payments to avoid inflated rates nypost.com.
Hidden fees: ATM/minimum usage, inactivity, and delivery may significantly reduce value.
Security: Use money belts, RFID protectors, and avoid carrying large cash amounts.
Travel Checklist & Smart Tips
Estimate costs in euros (accommodation, meals, transport).
Best value = online click‑&‑collect or delivery, not airports.
Balanced approach: mix cash + prepaid card + ATM withdrawal as backup.
Track rates 2–3 weeks before departure, buy when pound is relatively strong (e.g., £1 = €1.17 in June 2025) postoffice.co.uk+1money.asda.com+1.
Get buy‑back or exchange any leftovers upon return.
Euro Money Organizer”: ➤ Get organized with our euro organizers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Is it cheaper to buy euros online or at the airport?
A: Definitely online/home delivery. Airports charge up to 13% markup—losing up to £274 per €1,000 exiap.co.ukthetimes.co.uk+1moneyweek.com+1.
Q: Should I carry euros or use ATMs abroad?
A: Carry ~20% of expected spend in cash, use fee‑free card or ATM withdrawals for the rest.
Q: Are supermarket travel money services reliable?
A: Yes. Tesco, Asda, Post Office offer competitive rates—especially online and with loyalty programs .
Q: What is DCC and how can I avoid it?
A: Dynamic Currency Conversion lets merchants charge in GBP at a poor rate. Always choose Euros to avoid hidden fees .
Conclusion: Best Place to Buy Euros in UK
Best overall value: Order online via a specialist (Wise, Revolut, Eurochange) using click‑&‑collect or home delivery.
Banks offer convenience—best for existing account holders.
Supermarkets & Post Office are mid‑tier options with loyalty perks.
Airport bureaux: acceptable only in emergencies—otherwise avoid.
Mix cash and cards to stay covered and protect your budget.
Ready to buy?
Check out our curated travel accessories to complement your euro purchase:
Recommended reputable sources
MoneySavingExpert’s guide to buying euros lloydsbank.com+8forbes.com+8exiap.co.uk+8tescotravelmoney.com+4travelwiseway.com+4exiap.co.uk+4thetimes.co.uk+1travelwiseway.com+1monito.com+14moneysavingexpert.com+14thescottishsun.co.uk+14
CompareHolidayMoney’s real‑time euro‑rate comparisons moneyweek.com+8compareholidaymoney.com+8thesun.ie+8
Monito’s endorsement of Starling’s multi‑currency account monito.com+1thescottishsun.co.uk+1
The Guardian & The Sun warnings on airport exchange rip‑offs thetimes.co.uk+3money.co.uk+3thesun.ie+3