London Gatwick Airport (LGW) ATMs and Currency Exchange

United Kingdom · LGW airport money guide

London Gatwick Airport (LGW) ATMs and Currency Exchange: United Kingdom Airport Money Guide

This guide lists every ATM and currency exchange point we could confirm at London Gatwick 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 LGW on a connection, and which screens and counters to say no to.

Currency exchange and the cash machines across both Gatwick terminals are run by ChangeGroup, which operates the branches and ATMs in the North and South terminals. Currency exchange at Gatwick is handled by ChangeGroup, with staffed branches in both the North and South terminals. Where to find ATMs and currency exchange across Gatwick’s North and South terminals, which option gives the best rate, and how much cash you actually need for London.

Terminal financial overview

London Gatwick has two terminals, North and South, linked by a free inter-terminal shuttle. Getting cash is easy, but as almost everywhere, withdrawing pounds from an ATM beats the exchange counters for all but small amounts. This guide shows where the machines and counters sit, how to avoid markups and ATM surcharges, and how much cash you really need for London.

Gatwick has two terminals, North and South, each with its own check-in, security and arrivals. They are connected by a free, fast inter-terminal shuttle, and the main rail station sits beneath the South Terminal.

Both terminals have the same mix of ATMs and ChangeGroup exchange desks, so wherever you land you can get cash without switching terminals. The rail station is under the South Terminal, and the free shuttle connects the two in a couple of minutes if you need to move across.

Across 2 terminals, this page lists 4 ATM locations (2 airside, 2 landside) and 2 exchange counter, kiosk or machines (0 airside, 2 landside). South Terminal has the widest choice.

• South Terminal: Rail station below the terminal. 2 ATM locations, 1 exchange point.
• North Terminal: easyJet, British Airways and others. 2 ATM locations, 1 exchange point.

Inside vs. outside security strategy

For the best value, withdraw pounds from an ATM and choose to be charged in pounds rather than your home currency. If you are connecting and cannot leave airside, the departure-lounge ATMs cover you. If you are arriving, an ATM in the arrivals area is quickest before the train. Use the ChangeGroup counters when you need to sell leftover currency, buy another currency, or your card is not working.

As a rule at LGW: 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.

Whenever an airport ATM or a card terminal offers to charge you in your home currency instead of pounds, decline it and choose pounds. That “convenience” option, called Dynamic Currency Conversion, lets the machine set its own exchange rate, which is typically 3–7% worse than the rate your own bank or card network would use. Paying in the local currency always routes the conversion through your card network (Visa, Mastercard), which is almost always cheaper.

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

You need very little cash in London. Contactless cards and mobile wallets work on the Tube, buses, trains, taxis and almost everywhere else — London’s transport is effectively cashless. Keep perhaps £10–£20 in coins and small notes for the occasional market stall or tip. Tipping in the UK is modest: around 10–12.5% in restaurants (often already added as a service charge), and rounding up is fine for taxis.

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 Gatwick and operator listings on 20 October 2026; confirm hours on the airport's own map on the day you travel.