Heathrow's on-site currency exchange, run by Global Exchange, covers all four terminals through around 23 to 24 bureaux, 98 ATMs and more than 40 self-service machines, open daily from 05:00 to 22:00. Consumer group Which? and travel journalists regularly warn that airport exchange rates and cash machines are among the most expensive ways to buy foreign currency, so it is worth comparing before you queue at the counter. Checked 2026.
Where to change money at Heathrow
Global Exchange is Heathrow's official currency exchange partner and the only dedicated bureau de change brand operating airside and landside across all four terminals, according to Heathrow's own website. Between them, its outlets, ATMs and self-service machines are dotted through departures, arrivals, check-in areas and baggage reclaim in Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5, so you are rarely far from one once you are through security or waiting to leave.
Opening hours are consistent across the terminals at 05:00 to 22:00 daily, matching the airport's core operating hours. If you are on a very early or very late flight outside that window, you may need to change money before you travel or rely on a UK bank card that does not charge for overseas spending instead.
You can also order currency online through Global Exchange's click-and-collect service and pick it up from a Heathrow store on your way to the gate, which locks in a rate in advance and avoids queuing to be served.
Ways to get foreign currency at Heathrow, compared
| Option | Speed | Typical value | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global Exchange bureau (walk-up) | Immediate | Weakest rate, walk-up pricing | Last-minute top-ups only |
| Global Exchange click-and-collect (pre-ordered online) | Order ahead, collect at terminal | Better than walk-up | Travellers who plan a few days ahead |
| Global Exchange ATM or self-service machine | Immediate | Rate or fee usually worse than a UK bank card | A quick cash top-up |
| UK debit/credit card with no foreign fees, used abroad | Immediate on arrival | Close to the interbank rate | Most spending once you land |
Is it worth changing money at the airport?
Buying foreign currency at any airport, including Heathrow, is consistently flagged by consumer and travel journalists as poor value compared with ordering online in advance or using a fee-free debit or credit card abroad. Which? has reported on travellers being caught out by poor rates at airport cash machines, and the Telegraph has named airport currency exchange counters among the most expensive places in the UK to buy holiday money. The reasoning is straightforward: airport operators pay high rent for a captive audience with little time to shop around, and that cost is reflected in the exchange rate and any commission charged.
If you do need cash the moment you land or before you fly, an airport bureau is still faster and more convenient than searching for one elsewhere, and pre-ordering online with click-and-collect tends to get a noticeably better rate than walking up to the counter on the day. For any amount beyond a small contingency float, most independent money advice sites recommend ordering from a comparison site or high-street provider several days ahead, or simply using a card designed for overseas spending with no foreign transaction fees.
ATMs and self-service machines
Heathrow's ATMs, run through the Global Exchange network, let you withdraw local currency using a UK or foreign debit or credit card. Airport cash machines, including those run by currency exchange brands rather than your own bank, often carry a less favourable exchange rate or a flat withdrawal fee, or both, so check the rate shown on screen before you confirm a withdrawal and decline "dynamic currency conversion" if it is offered, since that usually means an even worse rate calculated in your home currency rather than pounds.
Self-service currency machines work in a similar way to a vending machine: you select the currency and amount, pay by card, and collect the cash on the spot. These are useful for a quick top-up but are not usually the cheapest way to buy a large amount of foreign currency.
Buying currency before you travel
If you know your trip dates in advance, ordering currency online for home delivery or airport collection almost always beats walking up to a bureau on the day, whether at Heathrow or any other UK airport. Comparison sites let you check rates across multiple providers in a few minutes, and many offer commission-free deals or price-match guarantees. Booking a Global Exchange click-and-collect order in advance secures the advertised online rate rather than the walk-up one.
For sterling top-ups after you land in the UK, using a debit or credit card with no foreign transaction fees at a UK cash machine (not an airport currency-exchange ATM) usually gives a rate close to the interbank rate, which is difficult for any bureau de change to match.
If you are weighing up how to get from the airport into town once you have your cash sorted, see our guides to taxi pickup points by terminal and Heathrow's facilities overview for left luggage, lounges and other services. Travelling with a wheelchair or an assistance dog? See our guide to special assistance at Heathrow.