The exchange rate – pound to dollar
The pound (GBP) to US dollar (USD) exchange rate refers to how many dollars you'll get to spend in the states when you exchange your pounds. The pound has been strong against the dollar for many years but has weakened over the last few years. The exchange rate is currently 1 GBP to 1.22 USD (according to xe.com), though will have shifted again since the time of writing.
Best currency exchange rates – Pound to Dollar
The absolute best currency exchange rate is the mid-market rate, which banks and currency traders purchase their currency at. Shops offering travel money services won't sell currency at this rate, but it's good to know the mid-market rate anyway. This way, you can use it as a comparison tool and can identify which provider is offering the best rates. You can find the mid-market rate at xe.com.
Currently, the best currency exchange rate for US dollars can be found at NM Money, The Currency Online Group and Travel FX Travel Money. NM is offering a rate of 1.211, while the other two are offering 1.210 (USD for GBP). This will change daily though, so make sure to do your own research.
Where can I exchange pounds for dollars?
As the US dollar is the world's most popular currency, you can exchange pounds for dollars anywhere that offers currency exchange services. Make sure you shop around, as providers will offer highly competitive rates to try and tempt you into purchasing your currency with them.
Where can I find a currency exchange comparison?
Lots of popular comparison sites offers a travel money comparison tool. You'll be able to enter your chosen currency (in this case US dollars) and home currency to see which providers are currently offering the best exchange rates.
The pound is currently quite weak against the dollar (compared to highs of 1 GBP to 1.5 – 1.6 USD in 2015) , so it's worth looking out for other perks providers are offering (like money-off vouchers, better rates for store card holders etc.) to find the best deal.
Currency exchange calculator
You can find the most reliable currency exchange calculator at xe.com, but all travel money providers will offer a tool on their website to show you show many US dollars you'll get when exchanging your chosen number of pounds.