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The exchange rate – pound to rand

The pound (GBP) to South African rand (ZAR) exchange rate refers to how many rand you'll get to spend in South Africa when you exchange your pounds. The exchange rate is currently 1 GBP to 18.75 ZAR. This rate will fluctuate daily though and will have likely changed since the time of writing.

Best currency exchange rates – pound to rand

When looking for the best currency exchange rates, check out the mid-market rate first. This can be found on sites like xe.com and shows you the rate at which banks and currency traders are purchasing foreign currency. You won't find this rate at travel money providers, but it's a good figure to have in mind when shopping around for the best currency exchange rate.

Currently, the best pound to rand exchange rate can be found at Sterling FX Travel Money and The Currency Club Travel Money. Both providers are offering a rate of 18.503 ZAR to 1 GBP, but Sterling is offering free next day delivery on all orders over £700. This will change regularly though, so make sure to shop around yourself.

Where can I exchange pounds for rand?

Popular travel money providers including the Post Office, M&S and Travelex offer South African rand, though most will require you to order it in advance as it's not one of the most common currencies. Order the amount you need online and you will be able to collect your travel money, or have it delivered, within a few days. Make sure you don't leave it to the last minute, or you could be stung by poor rates at airport currency exchanges.

Where can I find a currency exchange comparison?

Many comparison sites offer a travel money comparison tool, where you can find the currency exchange provider with the best current rate. All you'll need to do is select your chosen currency (in this case South African rand) and home currency to see which providers are currently offering the most favourable rates.

Currency exchange calculator

Most travel money providers will offer a currency exchange calculator tool on their website. Put in the number of UK pounds you'd like to convert, and you'll be shown how many rand you'll get for that price. If you're not sure how much rand to take, it's worth doing a bit of research first to find out the cost of common things like alcohol, meals out, coffees and taxis in South Africa.