Using cash in England and privacy

[AutumnalPieChomper]

I’m an American traveling to Manchester, England this week. I haven’t been in a while. Can you still pay in shops with cash in UK cities? I prefer using cash for privacy reasons, and would like to know if I should exchange my money at the airport or not.

My husband recently went to Amsterdam and everywhere he went refused cash. He says Europeans don’t care about the right to privacy as much as Americans and are moving toward cashless societies. Is this true?

If you are in London then buses do not take cash. If you don’t want to use your card you will need to buy a travel card of some description, available at mainline and tube ( underground) stations, best to buy an Oyster card or a card designed for visitors. The charge for a travel card is capped at a daily rate so if you use it a lot each 24 hour period will be cheaper. London tubes are safe, clean and generally efficient and easy to understand.

.sorry, just remembered you are going to Manchester!

Are you referring to a debit card or a credit card? It’s far more sensible to pay with a credit card because that gives extra financial protection.

The diff between debit and credit might not translate to US issued cards.

Where are all these cashless places? I’m in Scotland and have yet to come across any outlet that only takes cards!

OP, you’ll be fine. Have a good trip.

That’s shocking @AutumnalPieChomper
Also your caution sounds well founded considering the past experiences you alluded to.

One of the many benefits of having been in the EU is the data privacy legislation here. If you Google GDPR it’ll give you an idea. So no, when paying by card here only the last 4 digits of your card number are on the receipt- privacy and to counter fraud. You will be asked in shops if you would like your receipt emailed so you don’t lose it - it’s just a way to send you marketing. It’s fine to decline and ask for a paper receipt, I always do.

Despite all the loud voices shouting that the USA is home of freedom of speech and privacy, you might find the EU a breath of fresh air as they are truly about protecting community. Luckily we still have GDPR (which covers every organisation from the NHS to a corner shop) even if people were conned out of the EU.

When using public transport in Manchester, you tap your card at the platform when you get on, then tap again when you get off.
There is no ticket or receipt.

I would get a travel card and have some cash.

I meant to say that's if your using the trams. At trains stations you buy your tickets at the machine, there're mostly card only.

I really would check beforehand that places you go to still accept cash as many chains no longer do and a lot of pubs are also trialling it.
These include Pret-a-Manger, Zizzi, Bill's and Megan's and even my local Lebanese restaurant doesn't take cash.
Like other posters I agree that it is unlikely that a waiter could get your personal information from a tap and pay transaction.

Hope you enjoy Manchester and Liverpool is but a short journey away!

A lot of people on this forum are a bit funny about cash but plenty of people still use it in shops here.

I'm not doing well here, I meant they are/ they're.

I know of one pub that is 100% cash only, not in Manchester.

Yep, that seems to be the difference right there.

That’s…not how this works. Just how backward is the US if that’s how it is there?

Please let me know if there’s anything that is must see or do! I’ve already been told I need to go to the curry mile.

It’s so backwards here. Please be aware of your lack of privacy with cards if you ever travel to the US!

You don’t need privacy as you are not that interesting and even using cash you can be traced if needed.

If you don't mind a little bit of a day trip I really liked Quarry Bank in Styal, just outside Manchester. It's got a cotton mill, the owner's house, the house for the child 'apprentices' (really child labour) and the model cottage of one of the adult workers. Really interesting for industrial history.

Lord, why is the USA so backward in financial things.
I viscerally remember the panic when I paid for a bar bill in NYC with Google pay and the bar man TOOK AWAY my phone .

Welcome to England AutumnalPieChomper and hope you have a lovely time ❤️

The trams in Manchester don’t take cash.
pretty much everywhere else will except for the theatres, the arenas & the sports stadiums.

OP, as several PPs have said, our GDPR laws will prevent your details from your credit card being used or sold on by UK companies (this should also apply for UK customers visiting the US - the UK bank/credit card companies would not be allowed to give a UK customer’s details to a US retailer).

I am always amazed by just how backward the US is in terms of card payment technology. When you think it is the country that gave us Apple, Google etc - and in restaurants your card is still taken away to process the payment, and you handwrite the tip on your receipt and then just hope they enter it correctly onto the till. It’s like the UK 30 years ago.

Hopefully you are reassured by everyone telling you that your card will never leave your hand. In addition, your full card number is never printed on any receipt. Please believe us when we say you will not be stalked as a result of using a credit or debit card over here.

And a lot of places, especial food outlets (cafes, sandwich shops, takeaways etc, especially chains like (for example) itsu) don’t take cash any more, so you might struggle.

Enjoy your trip! (And bring a warm jumper and a raincoat).

It depends where you’re going, but New York has definitely discovered Apple Pay, I mainly used my phone, hardly ever got my card out. The only thing we did notice was how crap the WiFi was in many places, we ended up having to pay by cash in several restaurants because the card machine wouldn’t connect.

The coffee carts at Glasgow Queen Street station, I think, for a start.

Give curry mile a go but it has gone a little downhill in recent years. Still the best food though (I’m biased 😂). Give Whitworth Art Gallery a go before dinner - it’s tiny but worth it and in a lovely park too.

Hit up Manchester Art Gallery as well, in the centre of town - they’ve got some great exhibitions on right now. A couple of streets over is the Portico Library which is great for a spot of lunch or a coffee. One of the oldest private libraries - I’m a member there. But it’s open to the public for light bites and is an absolute hidden gem. Staff are super lovely!

Unfortunately the Town Hall nearby is under renovation so you won’t be able to see that. But you could check out the John Rylands library on your way down to Urbis and the main shopping area. Grab a drink and the corned beef hash at Sam’s Chop House while you check out St Ann’s Square with its 18th century church. Definitely drop into Sinclairs Oyster Bar for a very reasonably priced drink when you get to the Corn Exchange (and oysters if you like them!)

If you can, book a tour at Chetham’s School of Music, they have a library dating back to 1653 and some awesome stories. That’s also close to the Cathedral which is pretty awesome too and the Football museum if that’s your thing too!

Go to Mayfield Park if you can - it’s an urban park if you fancy a bit of city meets nature.

Northern Quarter if you like a bit of hipster nightlife. Matt and Phred’s Jazz Club is AMAZING and very chilled, and there’s the Night and Day cafe if you like live music.

If you’re here for any amount of time, you can get a Bee Network day rider and explore out of town too, all across the Greater Manchester region on tram and bus (eight local train lines are joining the network over the next few years but not in time for your visit). Try heading out onto Dovestones or into the Peak District for some wild moors. Over 90% of Greater Manchester is actually rural countryside with great hiking and hospitality. That is a whole other comment though!

I know a lot of people tend to dismiss Manchester (alongside other northern and midland cities) as not having much but honestly…I’ve scratched the surface. Go for a walk along the canal, check out the Roman fortifications in Castlefield, go to the People’s History Museum. Plenty to keep you occupied, even if you stay in the city centre.

Just soak up the vibes. For somewhere where it rains so much…we’re all pretty happy, sunny people if prone to sarcasm ☺️

The trams in Manchester definitely still take cash - the machines on the platforms all take them. Used them literally last week.

EDIT: Just remember to pay before you get on the tram. You can’t pay on the tram and the fines are stiff.

Also another vote for this. I grew up around half hour walk away and it’s brilliant.