Our Scottish currency is the British Pound (GBP) and all notes that say “Pound Sterling” are accepted. Both Scottish and English notes are widely used in Scotland. We use the same coins in Scotland and England, so they are fine too.

The best and only official currency to take to Scotland in 2026 is the British Pound Sterling (£/GBP). While Scotland has its own banknotes issued by three different banks (Bank of Scotland, Royal Bank of Scotland, and Clydesdale Bank), these are legally identical in value to the Bank of England notes used in London. You do not need to "exchange" English pounds for Scottish ones; they are used interchangeably throughout the UK. In 2026, Scotland is highly digitized, so a credit or debit card with "No Foreign Transaction Fees" is often better than carrying large amounts of cash. Visa and Mastercard are accepted nearly everywhere, including for small bus fares and in rural pubs. If you do carry cash, avoid using £50 notes, as many smaller shops are reluctant to accept them due to fraud concerns. For travelers from the US or Europe, withdrawing small amounts of GBP from a local ATM (hole-in-the-wall) usually provides a better exchange rate than a "Bureau de Change" at the airport.