But people running greasy spoons in Leicester suburbs have a range of strategies (not all comfortable) for dealing with "customers" unwilling to pay in real money after consuming their mreal.>>


flanner - I look forward to reading the trip report for THAT holiday.

I've lived in northern Scotland for several years since moving from my native Australia. I take every opportunity I can to travel around the UK (this is an amazing country!) and have always been able to spend Scottish notes in England and vice versa. On maybe two occasions, one at last year's British F1 Grand Prix, I've been asked if I had any English notes and say "No, that's what the bank gave me this morning"; the Scottish notes are accepted and that's the end of it.

I've been told by a solicitor that no bank notes in the United Kingdom are, in the strictest sense, legal tender. They are simply promises to pay the bearer a sum of money if the note is presented at a specified location.

weird

gosh lets start dscussing the pounds in Jersey and Guernsey while we are at it.

The British pound is accepted everywhere, the outer countries are nearly always accepted (but why risk it).

The OP's book was taking the p@@s

"I've been told by a solicitor that no bank notes in the United Kingdom are, in the strictest sense, legal tender. They are simply promises to pay the bearer a sum of money if the note is presented at a specified location."

Get a different solictor as they are wrong.

Bank of England banknotes are legal tender in England and Wales - ie they can be used to settle debts. In Scotland only coins are legal tender. All bank notes - Scottish, English - are legal currency in Scotland but Scottish notes are not legal currency in England and Wales though they can used for purchases if the recipient agrees. Similar applies to Northern Ireland notes

The Channel Islands aren't part of the UK so wouldn't be a valid discussion.

Can I assume you're English? You seem to be regarding Scotland as an "outer country" which seems unusual for a union.

"In Scotland only coins are legal tender. All bank notes - Scottish, English - are legal currency in Scotland"

Seems to be a bit of a contradiction.

Can I assume you're English? You seem to be regarding Scotland as an "outer country" which seems unusual for a union.>>

can I assume that you are not from the UK? despite the fact that England and Scotland have been "united" for a substantial period, there are still internal animosities and tensions that you probably need to be a native to understand. ditto with Wales.

not in UK so not part of discussion

Who just made you pope? :-)

Last day in London - Gatwick airport, we thought we'd clean out our wallets by spending our last Scottish notes before we headed back to the States. A few of the airport shops would not accept the Scottish notes. So, heavy sigh, we'll just have to return to Scotland to spend that money.

"In Scotland only coins are legal tender. All bank notes - Scottish, English - AREN'T legal currency in Scotland"

we thought we'd clean out our wallets by spending our last Scottish notes before we headed back to the States>>

for future reference, a bank or even the post office would most likely have taken them. or even a change kiosk like travelex. but not shops.

I live in a small village (pop.700) in Lincolnshire and the corner shop is very happy to accept Scottish notes, so I cannot believe there are widespread problems.

Always travel with my trusty no fee capitalone.com Visa

Taken everywhere no shaft on the change get lots of FF miles

No liability like Debit Cards can dispute any charge

get my money back for bogus service etc...

Have never had a problem with sterling still coin of the realm

in all of Scotland Blair Castle in the Highlands is my clan

home so I go there a fair amount and have NEVER had problem.

www.coinmill.com for best current exchange rates

Might buy a new guidebook and Happy Travels!

"I live in a small village (pop.700) in Lincolnshire and the corner shop is very happy to accept Scottish notes, so I cannot believe there are widespread problems."

It really depends on where you're trying to spend them, if the shopkeeper is familiar with them they are more likely to accept them, if they rarely/never see them then they'll be reluctant to accept them in case they're fakes.

It really depends on where you're trying to spend them, if the shopkeeper is familiar with them they are more likely to accept them, if they rarely/never see them then they'll be reluctant to accept them in case they're fakes.>>

and it may depend on who is trying to use them - if you're a well known local you're more likely to be able to use them than if you're a totally unknown foreigner.

I have been visiting Scotland for about 40 years and have never had trouble with Scottish notes either in the village shop or in the supermarket. annhig may have a point about who is trying to use them. Certainly in the village I am a known local.
Canon Chasuble recently used a Scottish 20 in a change machine in a car park ;-)

I had not thought of that factor, annhig.