How to read GBP to EUR
GBP to EUR is the number of EUR (Euro) that 1 GBP (British Pound) buys. The opposite direction is EUR to GBP.
The European Central Bank publishes its reference rates as an amount of each currency per 1 euro, so GBP to EUR is the reciprocal of the published figure for GBP: 1 divided by that rate. The rate for this pair is 1 ÷ (GBP per EUR).
Who converts GBP to EUR
Pounds to euros is the conversion UK residents make before a holiday in Spain, France or Italy, when buying a property abroad, when paying a European supplier or when sending money to relatives. It is also used by people who have moved from Britain to the euro area and still hold pounds. A cross-Channel trip is one of the commonest reasons to look at this pair.
Facts about this pair
- GBP is ISO 4217 code 826 and EUR is code 978; the three letter codes are what the converter and the ECB use to tell currencies apart.
- Both currencies are written with 2 decimal places in ISO 4217, so a result in EUR is rounded to 2 decimal places.
- The reverse pair is the reciprocal: the EUR to GBP rate is 1 divided by the GBP to EUR rate, apart from rounding.
UK residents who live part of the year in the euro area may receive income in pounds and pay costs in euros. A regular schedule of conversions can smooth out some of the swings in the rate, since you convert at many different dates instead of one. Use this page to see where the rate stood on each date you convert.
The British Pound and the Euro
| Detail | British Pound | Euro |
|---|---|---|
| ISO code | GBP | EUR |
| Symbol | £ | € |
| Central bank | The Bank of England | The European Central Bank and the national central banks of the euro area (the Eurosystem) |
| Minor unit | penny (plural pence), 1/100 of the main unit | cent, 1/100 of the main unit |
| Used in | The United Kingdom, plus the Crown Dependencies and some overseas territories | The member states of the euro area, and a few European microstates and territories by agreement |
Sterling is one of the oldest currencies still in use. The ECB reference rates used on this page are quoted against the euro, which is why the euro pairs are the most direct ones.
Getting a fair rate on GBP to EUR
Airport kiosks and hotel desks typically give a weaker rate than a good travel card or a bank. Check what the same pounds would return on this page, then compare it with the kiosk's offer to see the cost of convenience.
Many UK banks and post offices offer a travel money service where you order euros online and collect them or have them delivered, often at a better rate than a high street bureau. Compare that with the cost of a travel card or ATM withdrawals. For a long stay or a property purchase, a specialist currency transfer service may beat bank rates, but compare the final euro amount, not just the advertised rate.
Pounds to euros usually gives a figure above one, since a pound is worth more than a euro. If your result is lower than the amount you entered, check that you picked the right direction.
Where the rate comes from
The rate loads in your browser from Frankfurter, which republishes European Central Bank reference rates. They are published on working days for information only, and a bank is not obliged to deal at them. If the service cannot be reached the page shows no number, except a rate saved in your browser within six hours, marked as cached. How the rates work is explained on the currency pairs page. Nothing here is financial advice.
FAQ
What does GBP to EUR mean?
It is the number of euros you receive for one British pound. Multiply a pound amount by the rate to get euros.
Is it better to exchange pounds before I travel or abroad?
It depends on the rates and fees. Compare the offered rate with the reference rate here. Cards with no foreign fee and ATMs in the euro area are often cheaper than kiosks.
Does the rate include fees?
No. It is the mid-market ECB reference rate. Providers add fees or margins to it.
How recent is the rate?
It is the latest working day's ECB reference rate, with its date shown above the result.
More currency pairs
Other pairs on this site, each with its own latest rate and notes:
- EUR to GBP: the same exchange read the other way.
- GBP to USD: another way to spend GBP.
- USD to EUR: another route into EUR.
- EUR to USD: a related pair.
- USD to GBP: a related pair.
- CAD to USD: another popular pair.
- AUD to USD: another popular pair.
- CNY to USD: another popular pair.
- All currency pairs: the full list.
- Currency converter: choose any two of the supported currencies.