Almost everyone comes home from holiday with at least a few foreign notes in their wallet. Maybe you over-budgeted, or a restaurant only took card, or you simply forgot to spend the last of your cash at the airport. Whatever the reason, that leftover currency is real money — and you can convert it back to pounds. The question is how to get the best rate when you do.
Notes vs Coins: Know What You Can Sell
Most currency exchange providers only buy back banknotes. Coins are harder to process and many providers will not accept them at all, or will offer a very poor rate. The practical advice: spend your coins before you fly home. Use them at the airport for a coffee or magazine, or donate them to one of the charity collection points you will find at most departure gates. For notes, almost all major currencies are accepted for buyback — euros, US dollars, Swiss francs, and most other widely traded currencies. More exotic currencies may have limited buyback availability, so check before making a trip.
Where to Get the Best Buyback Rate
The same rules that apply to buying currency apply in reverse. Airport bureaux offer the worst buyback rates. High street banks are middling. Specialist providers typically give you the best return. At Covent Garden FX, you can sell your leftover currency in store and get paid in pounds immediately. We buy back over 30 currencies at competitive rates — and because we are a specialist, our buyback margins are tighter than what you will find at a bank or post office.
Timing Your Buyback
Exchange rates fluctuate daily. If you have come back from a trip and the rate has moved against you, it can be worth holding onto your notes for a few weeks to see if it recovers — provided you are talking about a meaningful amount. For €50 left over, the rate difference is negligible; just sell it and move on. For €500, watching the rate for a week or two could net you a few extra pounds. You can monitor the rate on our exchange rates page to pick your moment.
Do Not Let It Sit in a Drawer
The most expensive thing you can do with leftover currency is nothing. Notes sitting in a drawer earn zero interest, and the rate can move significantly over months or years. Some currencies also change their banknote designs periodically, which can make older notes harder to exchange. If you have foreign currency at home from any trip in the past few years, now is a good time to convert it back. Pop into our shop in Covent Garden or get in touch to check the current buyback rate.