5 Best Travel Money Cards for the UK: A Guide for Australians
Planning a trip to the UK from Australia? Whether you're exploring the bustling streets of London, the historic sites of Edinburgh, or the charming countryside of Wales, having the right travel money card can make your journey smoother.
In the UK, you are likely to pay for accommodation, food, transport, and entertainment, as well as withdraw cash from ATMs with your card. So which is the best option to take with you?
In this guide, we'll dive into the best travel money cards for Australians heading to the UK, ensuring you have a seamless and cost-effective experience.
Best 5 Travel Money Cards for the UK in 2024:
- Wise for best exchange rates
- Revolut Card for low fees
- Travelex Money Card - Best all rounder
- HSBC Global Everyday Debit Card for use in Australia too
- Bankwest Breeze Platinum Credit Card for lowest interest rate
- ING One Low Rate Credit Card with no annual fee
Wise Travel Card - Great Exchange Rates
- 40+ currencies available
- Best exchange rates globally
- One of the lowest conversion fee on the market
- No international transaction fees
- No annual or monthly fees
- Extremely low costs to send money overseas
Wise Travel Card
- Cross currency conversion fees are between 0.24–3.69%. AUD to USD, EUR or GBP was 0.42%, which is one of the lowest on the market
- Free cash withdrawals up to $350 every 30 days. However after that, Wise charge a fixed fee of $1.50 per transaction + 1.75%
- Daily ATM withdrawal is $2,700
- Issue up to 3 virtual cards for temporary usage
- It takes between 7 to 14 business days to receive your card
- Can be used wherever MasterCard is accepted
The Wise Travel Card is ideal for Australians travelling to the UK, offering access to over 40 currencies at the inter-market exchange rate. This feature is especially beneficial when converting AUD to GBP, ensuring cost-effective transactions. Additionally, the card allows you to purchase goods from international online stores without incurring transaction fees. However, it's important to note that if you plan to withdraw cash frequently from ATMs in the UK, this may not be the most suitable option due to the associated fees. inally Wise Travel Card lets you transfer money to an overseas bank account with extremely low fees and the best exchange rate.
Revolut - Low Fees
- 30+ currencies available
- One of the best exchange rates globally
- No international transaction fees
- No annual or monthly fees for standard membership
- No initial card fee
- Instant access to a range of cryptocurrencies
Revolut Travel Card
- No fee ATM withdrawals up to A$350, or 5 ATM withdrawals, whichever comes first, per rolling 30 day period and 2% of withdrawal amount (minimum charge of A$1.50) after that
- Exchanging currency on the weekend can incur a 1% mark-up fee
- Fees on international money transfers were introduced in April 2021.
- Can be used wherever Visa is accepted
The Revolut Travel Card is a decent option for those who travel a lot as it offers over 30 currencies at a great exchange rate, which is the cheapest rate globally. However if you exchange currency on the weekend you can incur a one-percent mark-up fee. In addition they have introduced fees for international transfers. Finally if you use ATMs frequently this is not the card to use due to the fees.
Travelex Money Card - Best All Rounder
Best Features
- Unlimited free ATM withdrawals
- 24/7 Emergency Assistance
- Initial and replacement card are free
- No international transaction fees
- Lock in up to 10 currencies
Travelex Money Card
- Minimum load of $100 and maximum load of $100,000
- Can be used wherever Mastercard is accepted
- Fees include a $10 closure fee, $5 for an additional card and $4 inactivity monthly fee.
- While Travelex don't charge ATM fees, some ATM operators may charge their own fees.
- Currencies that can be loaded are AU$, US$, EU€, GB£, NZ$, TH฿, CA$, HK$, JP¥, SG$
- If your card is lost or stolen you can access cash in your account through Moneygram or Western Union agents, with no charge
- Boingo hotspots offer free wifi and you can look at their number of free hotspots per country on this map
The Travelex Money Card is a good all-rounder no matter if you are heading to the bustling streets of London, the historic charm of Edinburgh, or the picturesque countryside.
You can use it to take money out of the ATM, for merchant purchases like restaurants and even for online shopping in foreign currency. While the exchange rates aren't as good as the Wise or Revolut cards abroad, the support network if the card is lost or stolen is very good. This convenience can be remarkably useful while touring the historic and vibrant regions of the UK.
HSBC Everyday Global Travel Card - Best Travel Card by Bank
Best Features
- Great exchange rate offered for British pounds (GBP)
- No ATM fees at HSBC tellers
- No international transaction fees
- No initial card, closure, account keeping or monthly fees
- No cross currency conversion fees
HSBC Everyday Global Travel Card
- 10 Currencies can be loaded are GBP, AUD, USD, EUR, HKD, CAD, JPY, NZD, SGD and CNY (currency restrictions on CNY)
- No maximum balance for any currency
- Very competitive exchange rates on all currencies when you have currencies already loaded on your card
- ATMs within Australia need to be HSBC and overseas they need to display a VISA or VISA Plus logo, not be be charged fees
- Earn 2% cash back when you tap and pay with payWave, Apple Pay or Google Pay for purchases under $100.
- Daily maximum ATM withdrawal is $2,000
- Fraud protection covered by Visa Zero Liability
- Can be used wherever Visa is accepted
The HSBC Everyday Global Travel Card offers a great exchange rate for British pounds, HSBC owned ATMs within the UK, so you can withdraw cash without the hefty withdrawal fees.
In addition, it does not charge an ‘international transaction fee’ so you can spend in the United Kingdom and online in Australia and not pay an additional 3%.
Finally, on top of the excellent currency exchange rate, there is no maximum balance on currencies held and a 2% cash back incentive when you tap and pay under $100.
Bankwest Breeze Platinum Credit Card - Lowest Interest Rate
Best Features
- Lowest interest rate at 9.90%
- No international transaction fees on purchases
- Up to 55 days interest free on purchases
- Low annual fee
- Complimentary international travel insurance
Bankwest Breeze Platinum Credit Card
- Free annual fee first year, then $69 annual fee
- Free international travel insurance that includes the basics but does not cover cancellation costs, pre existing conditions and travellers over 80
- $6,000 minimum credit card
- 0% p.a. on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months, then reverts to 9.90%
- 21.99% interest rate on purchases and cash advances
- Cash advance fee of the higher of $4 or 2% of cash advance
- Can be used wherever Mastercard is accepted
The Bankwest Breeze Platinum is a great no frills credit card that offers ‘no foreign transaction fees’ and the lowest interest rate on the market, at 9.90%. These two factors alone will save you hundreds of dollars when travelling throughout the UK.
In addition it has a low annual fee and complimentary international travel insurance. Finally for its price point it is a great value credit card that will be accepted most places in the United Kingdom.
ING One Low Rate Credit Card - No Annual Fee
Best Features
- No annual fee
- No international transaction fees on purchases
- Up to 45 days interest free on purchases
- Lowest cash advance interest rate of 11.99%
- Use instalment plans to pay off your purchases over time at a lower interest rate
ING One Low Rate Credit Card
- 11.99% interest rate on purchases
- $6,000 minimum credit card
- Make payments from your mobile with pay with Apple Pay and Google Pay
- International ATM fee and Foreign currency conversion fee are waived when you deposit $1,000 into your Orange Everyday each month, and make 5+ card purchases that are settled. Otherwise they are the higher of 3% or at least $3
- Put repayments on auto payment each month to pay the minimum balance or full amount
- Can be used wherever Visa is accepted
The ING One Low Rate credit card is a great option to take to the United Kingdom as it charges no annual fee and offers a low interest rate for purchases and cash advances of 11.99%. The cash advance interest rate is very low and about 50% less than most of its competitors who charge around 22% on cash advances.
Furthermore the ING One Low Rate credit card has no international transaction fees, so you can save money on your travels and when you buy goods from overseas. It's a handy backup card to have in your wallet when travelling through the UK.
Why Choose a Travel Money Card for the UK?
The UK is a diverse and exciting destination, and managing your finances while traveling can be straightforward with the right travel money card. Here’s why you should consider using one:
- Convenience: Travel money cards are easy to use and accepted widely across the UK. Whether you're paying for meals, shopping, or transport, having a travel money card means you don’t have to worry about carrying large amounts of cash.
- Security: Travel money cards offer enhanced security features compared to cash. If lost or stolen, you can easily block the card and protect your funds.
- Cost-Effective: Many travel money cards offer competitive exchange rates and low fees, helping you save money on transactions and currency conversions.
Best Practices for Using Travel Money Cards in the UK
To make the most of your travel money card, keep these tips in mind:
- Notify Your Bank: Before you travel, inform your bank about your trip to avoid any issues with card usage abroad.
- Carry a Backup: It’s always wise to have a backup card in case of emergencies.
- Monitor Your Spending: Use your card’s app or online portal to keep track of your spending and balance.
- Avoid Dynamic Currency Conversion: When given the option, choose to pay in local currency (GBP) to avoid additional fees.
Things to Consider When Choosing a Travel Money Card
Selecting the right travel money card involves considering several factors:
- Exchange Rates: Look for cards that offer competitive exchange rates for GBP.
- Fees: Be aware of any fees associated with the card, such as ATM withdrawal fees, transaction fees, and inactivity fees.
- Reload Options: Check how easy it is to reload your card and what methods are available (e.g., online, via app, etc.).
- Security Features: Ensure the card has robust security features, such as the ability to lock/unlock the card via an app and fraud protection.
- Customer Support: Consider the level of customer support available, especially in case of lost or stolen cards.
Editorial note: We may not cover every product in this category. For more information, see our Editorial guidelines.
Learn more about the best credit, debit and prepaid cards for travel
FAQs
The best travel card for the UK is the Wise Multi Currency card for tap or swipe large transactions like accommodation and restaurants. Wise offers the best exchange rate for British pounds globally and charges no international transaction fees.
HSBC Global and Citibank Plus cards are the best for ATM withdrawals and great exchange rates for British pounds. Both these cards charge no international transaction fee and can be used within Australia without penalties.
The best credit cards for the UK are the BankWest Platinum Breeze and ING One Low Rate as they have the lowest interest rates on the market with and charge no international transaction fees.
Yes you should buy British pounds before you travel to the UK. Having pounds on hand when you arrive at the airport will make your life a lot easier. The airport is also the most expensive place to exchange currency, so you will save a lot of money as well. Even though the UK is card friendly, having cash on hand will always be handy for small purchases, tipping and paying for transport.
Yes you can if they are Mastercard or Visa and you will be charged with a lot of fees including the international transaction fee (3%), ATM withdrawal fee by the bank in the US ($5) and an ATM withdrawal fee by your own bank ($5).
Yes you can get prepaid cards for the UK and Wise, HSBC and Citibank offer the most competitive cards in the market. Other older style prepaid cards like Australia Post, Cash Passport, Travel Money Oz and Travelex have lots of charges like load, unload, inactivity, ATM withdrawals and initial card fees.
As a general rule, working out how much money to take to the UK depends on where you go and your type of travel. If you travel on a budget to the UK it can cost from £50 a day. If you travel in the middle range throughout the UK it can cost from £120 per day. Finally if you travel with luxury throughout the UK it can cost anywhere from £200 per day.
No you can not use Australian dollars or US dollars in the UK. The currency in the UK is the British pound or ‘sterling’. There are 5 bank notes with different colours, they are £5, £10, £20, £50, and £100. There are 8 British coins, they are 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1 and £2. The most frequently used are the £1 and £2 coins.
