UK Payment Guide for New Arrivals

When my family relocated to the UK in 2024, most of our friends had moved to countries outside the UK. That made it surprisingly difficult to find up-to-date and relevant information about everyday payment systems in Britain. I remember relying on a few friends who were already living here—and turning to YouTube and blogs to piece things together. That experience motivated me to write this post. I hope that by sharing what I've learned, others moving to the UK can start their new lives with a little more ease.

💳 Do You Even Need to Carry Cash? My Real-Life Experience

Electronic payments are widely accepted in the UK—at supermarkets, cafés, and public transport systems. The few times I actually needed cash were:

• At certain Chinese noodle shops that only accept cash

• When buying small items like bits and pieces under £1—many shopkeepers preferred cash for those

Outside of these cases, Apple Pay was more than enough. I hardly take my wallet with me anymore.

🚍 Getting Around: Apple Pay Takes the Lead

In London and many other cities, buses and trains accept Apple Pay. Many people simply tap their smartwatches to pay—it’s quick and hassle-free. Here's what works:

• Bus → Apple Pay

• Train → Apple Pay for tap-in/out, online ticket purchases, or debit card at station counters

• Shared bikes (like Voi) → Register your debit card to access

💸 Debit Over Credit: The English Way

Debit cards are much more commonly used than credit cards in the UK. They’re the norm for supermarkets, restaurants, transport—pretty much everywhere. People typically link their bank-issued debit cards to Apple Pay and use that for daily purchases.

✈️ Prepping Before the Move: Accounts & Exchange Tips

Since UK bank accounts can’t be opened until you have a UK address, I opened two accounts in advance: WISE and PRESTIA (for people who used be in Japan).

• WISE offered favorable exchange rates and easy ATM access

• PRESTIA allowed for automatic currency conversion settings, helping reduce maintenance fees

It turned out to be a wise move to prepare both—especially since the early weeks after arrival involved lots of large payments, like deposits and furniture purchases.

🏡 Post-Arrival Setup: UK Bank Account & Apple Pay

Once our rental contract was signed and we had a UK address, I opened a UK-based account with Revolut, which I then registered with Apple Pay. That made our cashless lifestyle even smoother. One note of caution: WISE cards issued outside of UK might not be linked to UK Apple Pay—at least not as of March 2024 from Japan.

Helpful Links

Using and paying with debit cards | MoneyHelper

Visit WISE

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Visit Revolut