Help w/UK's currency
 

Help-I've never been to England and know nothing about their currency other than it is pounds. Where can I find information which will explain what it looks like, how it works, etc? I would like to be able to count it out, etc. without looking like a complete and total moron.<BR>I already found helpful information concerning converting US Dollars to Pounds so that part is solved.<BR>Thanks in advance for any and all help. K8

The pound is divided into 100 pence and there are coins for 1,2,5,10 20 50 pence and 1and 2 pounds. Photos here:<BR><BR>http://www.24carat.co.uk/coinspecs2000.html

Just found this link - which has pictures of the notes too (although doesn't include the new &pound;5 note):<BR><BR>http://www.dcs.bbk.ac.uk/~phild/currency.html<BR><BR>Maybe it is just what you are used to, but I find the US dollar notes quite difficult. Least UK pounds notes are different sizes and colours depending on how much they are worth.<BR>

At least British coins are all very distinctive from each other. The pound coin is very thick and I really have no trouble differentiating one from the other once I learn them. The 1p and 2p coins are the same colour as the US penny with the 1p being about the same size and 2p much large.<BR><BR>The 5p coin is about the same size as a US dime, the 10p coin is about the same size as a US quarter. The 20p coin is not quite round and a distinctive colour, the 50p coin is very large and multi sided. The &pound;1 coin is very distinctive nice and thick. The &pound;2 coin is not as thick as the &pound;1 but very very large and round.<BR><BR>Now contrast that with Euro coins which I have a lot of trouble with; mostly because my colour recognition is not great. I have a lot of trouble with the 50 Euro cent coin vs. the 1 Euro coin which are about the same size I think and slightly different in color. The Euro 1 cent, 2 cent and 5 cent coins are bronze in color. Then there are the 10 euro cent, 20 euro cent and 50 euro cent which are progressively larger. Then the 1 Euro and 2 Euro...like I say for some reason even after having been in Euroland several times in the last year I still have a lot of trouble counting them out for a clerk and often say the hell with it and reach into my wallet for a 5 euro note but have no such trouble with British coins.

I think the Bank of England has a website. The British use a lot of coins so bring a coin purse with you. You can't put so many coins in your pocket.<BR><BR>The current system is much better than it was in the 60's. In those days, 12 pence (or was it 20?) equalled a shilling and 20 shillings equalled a pound. That was confusing!

Call around to your banks in the U.S. and order some to take with you. It's not the best exchange rate, but with everything else going on when you arrive in London (getting transfers to city, etc.) it's nice not to have to seek out a place to exchange money. It's nice to have some change, if only to tip the porter..

Rosie's advice might suit some people, but many of us just hit the nearest ATM after arrival and do just fine with that.

May I recommed the Eyewitness Guide. There is one for Great Britain as well as one for London. Not only do they have pictures of all the currency, but subway tickets, bus passes and much other helpful information.

Derek offers<BR>&gt;The current system is much better than it was in the 60's. In those days, 12 pence ...equalled a shilling and 20 shillings equalled a pound. That was confusing!&lt;<BR><BR> You mean you can't add L3 7s 4d<BR>to L1 17s 8d in your head?<BR> Answer: 5 guineas <BR>

Are there any plans for the UK to switch to the Euro any time soon? Or have they just decided not to do it?

&quot; Are there any plans for the UK to switch to the Euro any time soon? Or have they just decided not to do it?&quot;<BR><BR>Still very moot point - many people in manufacturing industries are for it, since will make import/export in europe much easier. It'll also encourage non-EU companies to build factories in UK rather than mainland - e.g. at the moment Toyota are paying their UK suppliers in Euros, as they refuse to take the exchange rate hit.<BR><BR>On the other hand, some economists are against it, since we couldn't control our interest rates. Also, there's a fair amount of &quot;Save our pound, 'cos it's got the Queen's head on it&quot; knee-jerk reaction. <BR><BR>Tony Blair is very much in favour of getting UK into Euro, and probably will (assuming he still has a job next year).<BR><BR><BR>

&quot; Are there any plans for the UK to switch to the Euro any time soon? Or have they just decided not to do it?&quot;<BR><BR>Are there any plans for the US to switch to Celsius, meters, liters and kilograms any time soon?<BR><BR>The answer to one question is as mystifying as the other.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>[email protected]<BR>

&quot; Are there any plans for the UK to switch to the Euro any time soon?&quot; Soon, no (if you mean soon in the next couple of years). We've a strong, stable currency at the moment, and we have control over our own interest rates so we can manage our own economy) <BR><BR>&quot;Or have they just decided not to do it?&quot; No, there's every chance we'll still join, provided certain criteria can be met. There's nervousness at what effect the enlargement of the EU may have on the stability on the European economy, and there's just no way that London will relinquish financial dominace to Frankfurt, but industry and travellers can see the advantages. I think the &quot;Save our Queen's head&quot; lobby is really now a very small conservative minority. Most people just want a strong and stable economy, whether that comes with Sterling or the Euro.

I hope the US sticks with the common measurments were are accustomed to and not go any further along the road to internationalization.<BR><BR>European countries are giving up far too much of their national independence and the people in Prague or London or Madrid may find they don't like being ruled by a multi-national government made up of unelected technocrats.<BR><BR>MM

MM, why do you want to stick with Imperial measurements? Metric is actually FAR simpler to understand and is the international standard, making it easier for businesses to understand each other. <BR><BR>Speaking as someone who's used both (I'm in the UK), I'm really glad we're finally ditching the old Imperial system. Only my ancient father dislikes the change, but then, he's too old to be bothered to learn anything new now, even if it's better.

euro vs. GBP as a currency isn't the same issue at all as metric measurements. There are economic and financial considerations about a monetary change. It isn't just a name change and different pictures.