Live rates · Cash, cards & click & collect
Compare Travel Money Rates from Every Major Provider
Post Office, Tesco, Sainsbury's, M&S, Eurochange, TravelFX, Currency Online Group, Wise, Barclays and John Lewis – ranked by how many units of currency you actually receive. Cash providers and currency cards compared separately.
Select a currency to compare rates
Amount
£
From
GBP – Pound
Receive
Rates are indicative and update throughout the trading day. All providers ranked by euros received.
Providers compared
10
Cash + card providers
Best cash rate · GBP/EUR
1.138
TravelFX · home delivery
Best rate vs Post Office
+230 bps
TravelFX vs PO · GBP/EUR
Currencies covered
80+
Across all listed providers
Compare by Currency Live rates · all providers ranked
Select a currency to see all providers ranked by how many units you receive for your pounds – cash delivery and currency cards compared side by side.
GBP → EUR 1.138
Most compared · 10 providers ranked · Best cash: TravelFX · Best card: Wise
Compare Euro travel money rates →
GBP → USD 1.3295
USA, Caribbean & beyond
Compare →
GBP → TRY 58.4546
Turkey · Fast-moving rate
Compare →
GBP → AED 4.8808
UAE, Dubai & Abu Dhabi
Compare →
GBP → AUD 1.8608
Australia & expat corridor
Compare →
GBP → THB 42.8241
Thailand · Southeast Asia
Compare →
Provider Profiles – Independent Reviews
Each profile covers rates, delivery options, fees, regulatory status, and an honest editorial assessment. Segmented below by provider type: online specialists, high street and lifestyle retailers, digital card, and bank.
Online specialists – best rates
TravelFX
Online delivery · 80+ currencies · Free over £750
💵 Cash delivery HMRC MSB
1.138
GBP/EUR today
Currency Online Group
Online delivery + Waterloo walk-in
💵 Cash delivery HMRC MSB
Top 2
consistently
High-street specialist
Lifestyle retailers & supermarkets
M&S Travel Money
Click & collect only · 560+ stores · Powered by Ignite FXCorp
💵 Cash HMRC MSB
Post Office
11,000+ locations · First Rate backend · Free over £500
💵 Cash FCA EMI 900412
Sainsbury's Travel Money
Travelex white-label · 400+ stores · Free over £400
💵 Cash HMRC MSB
Tesco Travel Money
Travelex white-label · 2,500+ stores · Clubcard rates
💵 Cash HMRC MSB
John Lewis / Waitrose
First Rate backend · 350+ stores · Partnership Card points
💵 Cash FCA EMI 900412
Barclays
Barclays customers only · FSCS protected
🔒 Closed service Full bank · FSCS
Currency card – not cash delivery
Wise
Mid-market rate card · 40+ currencies · No cash delivery · Fee on conversion (sliding scale)
💳 Card only – not cash FCA EMI 900507
Uses mid-market rate. Best for card spending in countries with good card acceptance.
Regulatory note: Most travel money providers on this page are regulated by HMRC as Money Service Businesses (MSBs) for currency exchange – not by the FCA. This is the standard regulatory framework for bureaux de change. FCA regulation applies to e-money and payment services specifically. The Post Office and John Lewis (both operated by First Rate Exchange Services, FCA EMI FRN 900412) and Wise (FCA EMI FRN 900507) are the exceptions. Barclays is a full bank (FSCS protected). Notably, M&S Travel Money explicitly states on its website that it is not regulated by the FCA. This does not affect the legality of the service but is relevant to understanding consumer protections. Each provider profile page sets out the specific regulatory status.
How to Get the Best Travel Money Rate
1
Order online, not at the airport
Airport rates are typically 150–400 bps worse than the best online rates. Even ordering online from the Post Office and collecting at the airport delivers a significantly better rate than buying at the currency desk.
2
Use an online specialist for best cash rates
TravelFX and Currency Online Group consistently offer the best rates for physical cash. On £500 to euros, the difference between TravelFX and Barclays can be €12–15 – enough for a meal.
3
Consider a currency card for card-friendly destinations
Wise converts at the mid-market rate with a small sliding fee. For destinations where cards are widely accepted (Western Europe, USA, Australia), spending on a Wise card typically beats buying cash. Not suitable for markets requiring cash (parts of Southeast Asia, Turkey, rural destinations).
4
Check free delivery thresholds before ordering
Most providers offer free home delivery above a threshold: TravelFX £750, COG varies, Post Office £500, Eurochange £600, M&S delivery not currently offered, Sainsbury's £400, Tesco £500. Below these thresholds a delivery fee typically applies.
Understanding the Different Product Types
Physical Cash (Travel Money)
Physical foreign banknotes delivered to your door or collected in-store. Essential for destinations where card acceptance is limited. Rate is fixed at time of order. Involves a courier/delivery fee below most providers' free threshold.
Currency Card (Prepaid)
A prepaid card loaded with foreign currency. Wise gives you the mid-market rate and charges a small sliding fee. Tesco and Post Office offer Travelex and First Rate prepaid cards at wider spreads. Best for frequent travellers or card-friendly destinations.
Click & Collect (Branch)
Order online, collect same day or next day from a local store. Available from Post Office, Eurochange, Tesco, Sainsbury's, M&S and John Lewis. Rates are generally the same as home delivery. Useful if you need currency quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who offers the best travel money rates?
For physical cash, TravelFX and Currency Online Group consistently deliver the best rates across major currencies. On a £500 GBP to EUR order, TravelFX typically delivers €10–15 more than the Post Office and €20–25 more than Barclays. For card spending, Wise offers the mid-market rate with a small visible fee and typically outperforms all cash providers for destinations where cards are widely accepted.
Is it better to buy travel money or use a card abroad?
It depends on the destination. For Western Europe, North America, Australia and Japan, a Wise card will typically deliver near-interbank rates and outperform even the best cash rates on a like-for-like basis. For Turkey, parts of Southeast Asia, Morocco, Egypt and many other destinations where cash is essential or ATM fees are high, buying physical currency from an online specialist is the better option. Many travellers use a combination – Wise card for everyday spending, some cash for markets and smaller vendors.
When is the best time to buy travel money?
Exchange rates move continuously during trading hours (08:00–18:00 UK time, Monday to Friday). There is no reliably "best" time within a day, but ordering earlier in the day gives you the full trading session's rate rather than an overnight rate. For larger amounts, following PSL's exchange rate forecasts can help identify strategically better moments to buy.
Are travel money providers safe?
Most travel money cash providers are regulated by HMRC as Money Service Businesses – this is the standard regulatory framework for currency exchange and requires compliance with anti-money laundering rules. FCA regulation applies to the e-money and payment services elements specifically. Barclays is a full bank with FSCS protection up to £85,000. Wise is FCA authorised as an Electronic Money Institution (EMI, FRN 900507). Post Office and John Lewis (via First Rate Exchange Services, FCA EMI 900412) are also FCA authorised as EMIs. Each provider's profile page sets out its specific regulatory status in detail.
Can I buy back unused travel money?
Most providers offer a buyback service for unused foreign currency. TravelFX, Currency Online Group, Eurochange, Post Office, Sainsbury's, Tesco, M&S and John Lewis all buy back currency notes. Buyback rates are typically 150–250 bps worse than the sell rate, so the less leftover currency you have, the better. Wise has no equivalent buyback – unused currency on your card can be converted back at the mid-market rate minus the standard conversion fee.
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