As we recommend in our Banking article, it is best you try open a bank account before you come. But if for some reason you cannot do so, you can bring the following:

1. Traveller's cheques to start with. They are accepted in many restaurants, hotels and department stores and are a safe way to keep your money, rather than bringing a big amount of cash.
2. Credit cards (MasterCard, VISA, Electron and American Express) are accepted everywhere.
3. If you bring your own currency, you can change money at Post Offices with no-commission. There are many Money exchange shops downtown, around Leicester and Piccadilly. As well as Bayswater and some major train stations.
4. If you are going to use ATM machines, then it is best you take bigger amounts so that the commission payments are worth it. In some cases foreign banks have deals with local banks and there aren't any commission rates. It is good to ask in your own bank before coming here.