Short version: no, not for most of your trip. London is one of the most card-friendly cities in the world, and contactless — card, phone or watch — covers public transport, restaurants, shops and even most market stalls. But a handful of situations still favour cash, and turning up with none at all can occasionally leave you stuck. Here’s exactly where you will and won’t need it.

The Short Answer: Mostly No, But Keep Some On You

Cash accounted for under a fifth of UK transactions by 2024, and London runs even more cashless than the national average. A contactless card or phone is genuinely all most visitors use for their entire trip — transport, food, shopping, attractions. That said, “you probably won’t need it” isn’t the same as “you definitely won’t”, and a little cash in your pocket is a sensible backup rather than a necessity.

Where You Won’t Need Cash

• Buses. London buses have been entirely cashless since 2014 — you must pay with a contactless card, phone, or Oyster card. Turning up with only cash for a bus fare simply won’t work.
• The Tube, Elizabeth line, DLR and Overground. All accept contactless and Oyster pay-as-you-go, both capped at the same daily and weekly maximums. Cash paper tickets still technically exist at station machines but cost more and are rarely worth the hassle.
• Chain restaurants, cafés and supermarkets. Universally card-friendly, with contactless the default and expected method almost everywhere.
• Most attractions and museums. Ticketing, gift shops and cafés at major sights are all set up for contactless as standard.

Where Cash Still Comes In Handy

Most stalls at well-known markets like Borough Market and Camden Market now take cards, but smaller, independent traders — particularly at antiques and vintage stalls along Portobello Road — are more likely to be cash-only or cash-preferred, sometimes with a minimum spend on card payments. A few pounds in coins and small notes smooths these interactions considerably.

• Street performers and buskers in Covent Garden, the South Bank and the Underground almost never take cards — they rely on loose change and small notes dropped in a hat or case.
• Independent market stalls, especially smaller vintage and antiques traders, may be cash-only or apply a minimum spend to card payments.
• Tour guide tips, particularly on gratuity-based free walking tours, are usually handed over in cash at the end, though a growing number of guides now carry a card reader too.
• A backup for a declined card or a broken card machine — rare, but not unheard of, and having £20–£30 on you removes the stress of a rejected transaction with no alternative.

How Much Cash to Bring

Checked against UK payments data and market reporting, 3 September 2026.

£20–£40 in cash, kept as a backup rather than a primary payment method, is enough for most trips — a market snack, a busker’s hat, or a tip. Bank of England notes come in £5, £10, £20 and £50 denominations; £10 and £20 notes are the most broadly usable, since a small independent stall or café may be reluctant to break a £50 early in the day. Scottish and Northern Irish banknotes are also legal currency in the UK, but some businesses in England are unfamiliar with them and may hesitate to accept them — any UK bank will exchange them for Bank of England notes free of charge if you end up with some.

It’s also worth knowing that UK businesses are legally allowed to refuse cash entirely. Despite banknotes being “legal tender”, that term only governs settling an existing debt in court — it does not oblige any shop, café or attraction to accept cash at the till. In practice this means you may occasionally find a fully cashless business, particularly in central London, so cash should be treated as a helpful backup rather than something you can always rely on.

Getting Cash & Exchanging Money

The UK uses pounds sterling (£), not euros — don’t arrive with euros expecting to spend them directly. ATMs are widely available across central London, including inside most Tube stations, and UK bank-operated ATMs typically don’t charge a withdrawal fee, though your own bank may apply a foreign transaction or cash advance charge depending on your card and account, so it’s worth checking with your bank before you travel. If you do need to exchange currency, high-street banks or Post Office branches generally offer better rates than airport exchange counters or tourist-area kiosks, which tend to have the least competitive rates in the city.

One card tip worth knowing regardless of whether you carry cash: when a card machine offers to charge you in your home currency instead of pounds (“Dynamic Currency Conversion”), always decline and choose GBP. The conversion rate offered this way is reliably worse than what your own bank will give you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need cash in London?

Not really, for most of your trip. Contactless payment covers public transport, restaurants, shops and most market stalls. Keeping £20–£40 as a backup is sensible, mainly for buskers, small independent traders, and tips.

Can you pay for London buses or the Tube with cash?

Buses: no. London buses have been entirely cashless since 2014 — you need a contactless card, phone, or Oyster card. Tube stations still sell paper cash tickets at machines, but they cost more than contactless or Oyster and aren’t capped, so most visitors avoid them.

Do London markets take cards?

Most established stalls at Borough Market and Camden Market do, but smaller independent and vintage traders, especially along Portobello Road, are more likely to be cash-only or prefer cash, sometimes with a card minimum spend.

How much cash should I bring for a week in London?

£40–£60 for a week is a reasonable backup amount for most visitors — enough for a couple of market purchases, a busker or two, and tips, without carrying more than you’re likely to need.

Can shops in the UK legally refuse cash?

Yes. Cash is legal tender in England and Wales, but that only applies to settling an existing debt in court — it doesn’t require any shop, café or attraction to accept cash at the point of sale. Businesses are free to go card-only if they choose.

Should I exchange money before I arrive or once I’m in London?

Neither is essential, since most visitors rely on their card for the majority of spending. If you do want some cash on arrival, a UK ATM or a high-street bank generally offers a better rate than airport exchange counters, which tend to be the least competitive option.

For more on how card payments work once you’re travelling around the city, see our guide to Oyster Card vs Contactless, and for tipping specifically, Is Tipping Expected in London? covers where a cash tip is genuinely the norm.