Cash or card in London — what do locals actually use?

Card, almost exclusively. Contactless payment via debit or credit card — or a phone — is the default across London for everything from a £1.50 bus fare to a round at the pub. The city's transit system, Transport for London, stopped accepting cash on buses entirely back in 2014, and most Tube gates now read contactless faster than an Oyster card. Restaurants, cafes, and market stalls that once insisted on cash have largely switched over; even Borough Market vendors and most street food traders at places like Maltby Street accept tap-to-pay. Keep a small amount of cash — £20 to £40 — for the occasional independent cafe, a black cab driver who hasn't updated their terminal, or a charity collection. ATMs (called cashpoints here) are easy to find on any high street, but with a contactless-enabled Visa or Mastercard you can spend a full week in central London without ever needing one.

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