The 5 Best Travel Money Cards for the UK in 2024

Given lots of Australians have links to the UK, it's not surprising it's one of the top 5 places Australians travel to each year. Aside from family, the UK offers great historic monuments, art galleries and lively festivals and sporting events to keep Australians returning every year.

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?

We have checked out the best currency cards to take for the UK for Australians in 2024 and have summarised their best points.

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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.

Our Wise Travel Card Review

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

Which is the best travel card for the UK?

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.

Should I exchange money before I travel to the UK?

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.

Can I use my Australian card in the UK?

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).

Can you get prepaid cards for the UK?

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.

How much money do I need per day in the UK?

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.

Can I use dollars in the UK?

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.

Editorial note: We may not cover every product in this category. For more information, see our Editorial guidelines.

The 5 Best Travel Money Cards for the UK in 2024

Best 5 Travel Money Cards for the UK in 2024: