London Travel Money Guide

London is expensive, but it is also one of the easiest cities in the world to pay in. Contactless cards and phone wallets are accepted on the Tube, buses, in shops and in most market stalls, so the cash in your pocket is more of a comfort blanket than a necessity. Your real budget challenge is the pound itself: it is one of the stronger currencies you will spend as a Malaysian.

How much cash to bring to London

A rough daily budget for a comfortable mid-range trip:

• Food — £35–70/day (pub lunches, takeaway and a casual dinner; fine dining is much more)
• Local transport — £6–12/day on the Tube and buses with a capped fare
• Attractions — £10–40/day (many top museums such as the British Museum and National Gallery are free, but shows, towers and palaces are not)

Paying your way around London

• Tap in with contactless — use the same bank card or phone wallet on the yellow reader for every Tube, bus, tram and most rail journeys. The system adds up your trips and charges a daily cap, so you never pay more than that day's limit for the zones you used.
• Use the same card every time — tapping with a different card or device splits your journeys and can stop the cap working. Keep to one.
• Buses don't take cash — drivers don't accept coins or notes, so you need a card, phone or Oyster to board.
• Oyster is optional — a visitor Oyster card works too, but it isn't necessary now that contactless is accepted everywhere.
• Choose pounds on the machine — when a card terminal offers to charge you in ringgit, decline and pay in GBP.

Neighbourhood cash notes

• South Bank & Borough Market — stalls take cards almost everywhere, but a few smaller food sellers still prefer cash.
• Soho & Covent Garden — restaurants and theatres take cards; some tiny cafés set a card minimum.
• Camden & Portobello Road — markets are the likeliest place to need cash, especially for bargain buys.
• Pubs — you order and pay at the bar, and cards are fine.

A couple of London habits

• Check the service charge — many restaurants add around 12.5% to the bill, so you only need to tip extra for exceptional service.
• Carry a spare card — if one card is blocked or doesn't work on the Tube gates, a backup means you aren't stranded.