Access to cash during Olympics

20 July 2012

Contrary to a recent misleading report by Associated Press, the Payments Council is reassuring US visitors planning a trip to London that they will be able to get cash as normal. Extensive planning has been taking place for many months to ensure it will be business as usual at cash machines across London during the Olympics.

Sandra Quinn of the Payments Council says:

“We are very confident that there will be ample cash available across the capital so that visitors can get on with enjoying the Games. So although it makes good sense to plan before you arrive at a venue and not to be reliant on any single way of paying, there is no need to take cash out before you get to London unless it works out cheaper for you. We are certainly not seeing longer queues at cash machines. In fact the UK, and London in particular, has one of the highest levels of cash machines in the world so you are never likely to find yourself far from an ATM.”  

There are 1,700 cash machines within close proximity of the Olympic venues and tens of thousands more cash machines across the capital. Detailed planning has been taking place for many months to estimate the extra cash required as a result of visitors to the Games and to keep cash machines restocked.

The UK’s national cash machine network, LINK, has an online ATM locator which can point you towards your nearest ATM anywhere in the UK.