Off to Scotland and Ireland in a couple of weeks. Have a simple question regarding accpetance of British pounds in Scotland, as I know that Scotland issues their own notes. I have read that merchants in England frown on accepting Scottish currency (even it is still UK pound sterling). Do Scottish merchants, cab drivers, etc, share the same disdain for taking English issued notes/coins? I have quite a bit of left over English issued notes and coins from previous trip to London and would like to spend it in Scotland. May be a trivial question but hey, go ahead and holler at me.

No problem at all, you've got it bang on. Some English retailers don't like (and some don't accept) Scottish notes, but it doesn't work the other way round. Be warned, old 50 pence pieces are no longer any use, nor are pound notes (depending how long ago you were here!!!).

Jim<BR>thanks for response. I was aware of what you mentioned. My money is from last year so no old stuff there.

I suspect that this thing about English outlets not accepting Scottish money is an invention of nationalists. Granted, there was a period when England got rid of paper pounds and only accepted coins but that is long past.<BR>I am married to a Scot and have been up and down to Scotland for the past 33 years. I have offered Scottish money in England in corner shops, supermarkets and my work's canteen. I have NEVER had it refused.

If you are refused because you have scottish money insist they take it. It is still sterling pounds and they legally have to accept it. Refusing ias pure snobbery as people still feel they cant pass it on etc. I was in a pub with my relations from Ireland on Oxford Street in London and there was nearly an international incident because of this! My aunt was convinced they would not accept it because they were Irish. That was not true they were just being ignorant and felt they could not give the money as change to the next person as they might refuse it. I would insist they take it or change it in a bank and tell them why.

Apologies, I read the thread as the reverse i.e refused in London for Scottish notes. I had english pounds and they make no differentiation in Scotland!

Actually, in the area of England I'm living, we've had an alert on faked Scottish notes so a LOT of retailers are actually refusing to accept them, they have signs up stating Scottish notes will not be accepted. So I'm not making it up. Okay?!!<BR><BR>And shopkeepers have the right to refuse anything from anyone, it's their right to serve whom they choose, even if it's based on monetary differentiation...!

Jim,<BR><BR>Did not hear about the fake notes going around, I can understand refusing because of this but when the bank gave them to my aunt she at first refused thinking it would cause hassle and the bank assured her they would accept as it is sterling and they did not have English notes in the amount requested (This was in Ireland before she left). She was just annoyed as she is in the travel business and runs a B&B and feels they misled her and they pub was quite rude about not accepting which she took personally. Ah the hassle of travel at times!

Technically, retailers in both England and Scotland don't have to accept Scottish notes because they are not "officially" legal tender! It's a historical quirk which allows Scottish banks to print notes which is really too long to go into here.<BR><BR>However, most retailers do accept them, especially the big chains as the political and publicity consequences of refusing could be pretty drastic. That said, a lot of smaller retailers are refusing Scottish notes because of alleged forgeries - although I'm told the Bank of England notes are actually easier to fake!