Heathrow (LHR) ATMs and Currency Exchange

United Kingdom · LHR airport money guide

London Heathrow Airport (LHR) ATMs and Currency Exchange: United Kingdom Airport Money Guide

This guide lists every ATM and currency exchange point we could confirm at London Heathrow Airport, sorted by terminal and by which side of security it sits on. Use the finder above to filter by terminal. Below, you will find how to get pound sterling (GBP) at the lowest cost, whether you are landing in London or only passing through LHR on a connection, and which screens and counters to say no to.

Global Exchange is Heathrow's currency operator, with 23 exchange offices and more than 40 self-service machines across Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5. Heathrow lists 98 ATMs, before and after security. Terminal 1 has been closed since 2015.

Terminal financial overview

Heathrow has four working terminals: 2, 3, 4 and 5. Terminal 1 closed in 2015, so ignore older guides that still send you there. Global Exchange is the airport's currency provider and, according to Heathrow, runs 23 exchange offices, 98 ATMs and more than 40 self-service currency machines across the airport.

In Terminal 2, Global Exchange counters sit in departures, near Gate A16, in baggage reclaim and in the arrivals hall, all open 05:00 to 22:00. Terminals 3, 4 and 5 follow the same pattern of landside and airside counters.

Across 4 terminals, this page lists 8 ATM locations (4 airside, 4 landside) and 10 exchange counter, kiosk or machines (5 airside, 5 landside). Terminal 2 (The Queen's Terminal) has the widest choice.

• Terminal 2 (The Queen's Terminal): Star Alliance airlines and others. 2 ATM locations, 4 exchange points.
• Terminal 3: oneworld and long-haul airlines, including Virgin Atlantic. 2 ATM locations, 2 exchange points.
• Terminal 4: SkyTeam and other international airlines. 2 ATM locations, 2 exchange points.
• Terminal 5: British Airways and Iberia. 2 ATM locations, 2 exchange points.

Inside vs. outside security strategy

Arriving in London, you can skip cash entirely. If you do want pounds, a bank-run ATM in the arrivals hall is normally the cheapest option. UK rules require any withdrawal fee to be shown on screen before you confirm, so cancel and try another machine if one appears.

Departing, the counters near your gate are useful for a small float of euros or dollars. Heathrow notes that ordering online and collecting at the airport gets a better rate than walking up, so order a day or two ahead if you need a larger amount.

As a rule at LHR: withdraw GBP from a bank ATM landside when you arrive, buy only small amounts at a counter, and sell leftover pounds back before security when you leave. Airside counters exist for convenience, not value, and once you are through passport control you cannot walk back out to compare.

Avoiding Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) markups

Dynamic Currency Conversion is the offer to charge a foreign card in its home currency instead of GBP. It looks helpful because you see a familiar number, but the ATM or shop sets the exchange rate, and it is usually several percent worse than the rate Visa or Mastercard would apply. Airports are where most travellers meet it first.

Some airport machines are run by currency operators rather than banks, and they are the ones most likely to offer to convert your withdrawal into your home currency. The screen may call it a "guaranteed rate". Decline it and choose to be charged in pounds, and your card network's rate applies.

1. At an ATM, when the screen asks to convert or offers a "guaranteed rate", choose decline or without conversion.
2. At a card terminal, if asked "GBP or your currency?", pick GBP. If staff choose for you, ask them to redo it.
3. Read the operator fee on the ATM screen before you confirm. If it is high, cancel and try another bank's machine.
4. Check your receipt: a printed exchange rate or the word "DCC" means a conversion was applied.

Local cash vs. card tips for London

London is one of the most card-friendly cities in the world. The Elizabeth line, Piccadilly line, Heathrow Express and buses all accept contactless cards and phones, and many cafes no longer take cash. A small amount of cash is only worth having for tips or markets.

Before you fly, check two things with your bank: the foreign transaction fee on card payments and the fee for overseas ATM withdrawals. A card that waives both makes paying in GBP the cheapest way to spend in United Kingdom. Tell your bank you are travelling if it still asks, carry a backup card from a different network, and keep the airport counter for small top-ups only.

Prices and operators at airports change. We checked this page against the official Heathrow and operator listings on 20 October 2026; confirm hours on the airport's own map on the day you travel.