If you’re planning a trip to Europe this summer, the first question is often the same: where to buy your euros. The headline rate from John Lewis might look appealing, but what you actually get depends on whether you’re buying or selling. Here’s how John Lewis stacks up against the competition, with a closer look at the buy-back rates and hidden markups that can quietly eat into your holiday money.
John Lewis euro selling rate (June 2026): 1.1284 ·
John Lewis euro buying rate (online): 1.1326 ·
Best available euro rate (across providers): varies daily ·
M&S euro rate comparison: check provider
Quick snapshot
- John Lewis euro rate: 1.1284 sell, 1.1326 buy as of June 2026 (CompareHolidayMoney (rate tracker))
- Future rates are speculative; check live before purchase (John Lewis Money (currency provider))
- June 2026: John Lewis rate 1.1284 sell, 1.1326 buy (CompareHolidayMoney (rate tracker))
- Compare buy-back rates from John Lewis, Post Office, and Tesco (Post Office (buy-back service))
What is John Lewis’ euro rate today?
According to CompareHolidayMoney (rate comparison site), John Lewis’s euro sell rate for June 2026 stands at 1.1284. This is below the UK average of 1.131 and below the best available rate of 1.1395 across all providers. The buy-back rate—what you get when you sell unused euros back—is 1.1326 per euro for online orders.
John Lewis’s rate table covers 60 currencies supplied in-store and online, as confirmed by John Lewis Money. However, there’s an important distinction: the rate you see online when you reserve is the rate you lock in, but if you walk into a bureau de change without pre-ordering, the rate may differ.
A holidaymaker reserving online gets 1.1284; a walk-in customer may get a less favourable rate—John Lewis doesn’t publish in-branch rates on its public rate table. The only way to know is to check on the day.
How to check the live John Lewis euro rate
- Visit John Lewis Money’s currency rate table for the latest published rates across 60 currencies.
- For real-time comparison, use CompareHolidayMoney’s John Lewis page, which updates daily.
- Check the mid-market rate via Wise (international money transfer service) to measure the markup—currently 1.1031 for online transfers versus John Lewis’s 1.1284 sell rate.
How does John Lewis compare to other providers?
The gap between headline rates across the big four high-street names—John Lewis, M&S, Tesco, and Post Office—can be deceptive. Three providers, one pattern: the sell rate always looks better than the buy-back rate, and the best value often hides in the spread, not the headline number.
| Provider | Euro sell rate (you buy €) | Euro buy-back rate (you sell €) | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Lewis | 1.1284 | 1.1326 | 0.0042 |
| M&S | Check MSE comparison | Check MSE comparison | Varies |
| Tesco | Check MSE comparison | Check related searches | Varies |
| Post Office | Check MSE comparison | Check Post Office buy-back | Varies |
Why this matters: MoneySavingExpert (consumer advice site) consistently lists M&S as a cheaper high-street cash option, while also noting that using a specialist credit card repaid in full often beats any bureau. The spread—the difference between what you pay and what you get back—is the real cost of buying travel money, not the advertised rate.
M&S euro rate comparison
MoneySavingExpert (consumer advice site) ranks M&S among the cheaper providers on the high street, though exact rates fluctuate daily. The site advises comparing the mid-market rate rather than just other high-street names, because the spread is where the true cost lies.
Tesco euro buy back rate
Tesco offers a buy-back service at its Travel Money kiosks, but published rates are not consistently available online. For holidaymakers with surplus euros, the buy-back rate is typically worse than the sell rate—a pattern that holds across all providers, including John Lewis.
Post Office euro to sterling rate
The Post Office (UK post office network) provides a dedicated buy-back service at more than 2,500 branches. This is a broader network than John Lewis’s limited bureau de change locations. For selling euros back, the Post Office may be more convenient if you live outside a city centre.
A traveller in London can access John Lewis’s buy-back at a handful of stores. A traveller in Derby or Coventry can walk into any Post Office. Convenience may beat the headline rate if you’re not near a John Lewis.
What exchange rates does John Lewis offer?
Understanding the buy/sell dance is key: the sell rate is what John Lewis charges you for euros; the buy rate is what they’ll pay you for your leftover currency. The difference is their margin. According to Wise (international money transfer service), the mid-market rate for GBP to EUR was 1.1031 in June 2026, meaning John Lewis’s sell rate of 1.1284 includes a markup of roughly 2.3%.
Understanding buy and sell rates
For a £500 holiday budget: at John Lewis’s sell rate of 1.1284, you’d get €564.20. At the mid-market rate (1.1031), you’d theoretically get €551.55—but no provider offers the mid-market rate. The real question is how much more you pay than necessary. MoneySavingExpert (consumer advice site) advises checking against the mid-market rate rather than just comparing providers, because the gap between the two is your real cost.
Rates for EUR, USD, and other currencies from Wise data
Wise (international money transfer service) provides a detailed breakdown: John Lewis’s euro sell rate (1.1284) compares to 1.1031 for online transfers via Wise. For USD, the pattern is similar—John Lewis’s rate includes a markup that tends to be higher for less common currencies.
| Currency | John Lewis sell rate | Wise mid-market rate | Markup |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR | 1.1284 | 1.1031 | 2.3% |
| USD | Check John Lewis table | Check Wise | Varies |
How to buy euros from John Lewis
Buying euros from John Lewis involves a straightforward process, but the choice between online and in-store has real consequences for the rate you get and the convenience you enjoy.
Online reservation vs in-branch purchase
Ordering online locks in the rate shown on the John Lewis Money rate table. You can collect at a John Lewis or Waitrose store, at a bureau de change desk, or have the currency delivered to your home—free on orders over £500. Wise (international money transfer service) confirms that John Lewis charges no explicit commission or exchange fee for click-and-collect or home delivery, though the quoted rate includes a markup.
Walking into a bureau de change without reserving means you get the in-branch rate, which isn’t published online. The only way to know is to check on the day. For a £200 order, the difference between online and in-branch rates could be several pounds.
A holidaymaker ordering £500 online locks 1.1284 and gets €564.20. That same person walking into a store with no reservation may get a lower rate. The savings from reserving online can cover a round of drinks in most European capitals.
Upsides
- No commission or exchange fee
- Rate locked when you reserve online
- Free delivery on orders over £500
- 60 currencies available
Downsides
- Rate includes markup vs mid-market
- Buy-back rate worse than sell rate
- Limited bureau de change locations
- In-branch rates not published
Timeline: Euro rate movements and John Lewis pricing
- June 2026: John Lewis euro sell rate reported at 1.1284, buy-back rate at 1.1326 (CompareHolidayMoney (rate tracker)).
- June 2026: M&S exchange rates available for comparison (MoneySavingExpert (consumer advice site)).
What we know and what remains unclear
Confirmed facts
- John Lewis euro rate for June 2026 is 1.1284 (sell online) (CompareHolidayMoney (rate tracker)).
- John Lewis buy-back rate is 1.1326 (CompareHolidayMoney (rate tracker)).
- Post Office offers buy-back at 2,500+ branches (Post Office (buy-back service)).
What’s unclear
- Future rates are uncertain; check live before purchase.
- Exact in-branch rates at John Lewis are not publicly published.
- Tesco buy-back rates are inconsistently reported online.
Expert perspectives
“John Lewis Money says its travel money service charges no explicit commission or exchange fee for click-and-collect or home delivery, but the quoted rate may include a markup versus the real mid-market rate.”
Wise (international money transfer service)
“John Lewis Money’s buy-back service lets customers sell unused travel money back into pounds at John Lewis Bureau de Change stores.”
John Lewis Money (currency provider)
“MoneySavingExpert lists cash from M&S on the high street as a cheaper travel-money option than many alternatives in its comparison table.”
MoneySavingExpert (consumer advice site)
“Post Office offers a currency buy-back service for unused travel money at more than 2,500 branches.”
Post Office (UK post office network)
The smartest approach for any traveller heading to Europe this summer is to compare total cost—including the buy-back spread—across John Lewis, M&S, Tesco, and Post Office. Reserve online to lock the rate, and check the mid-market rate as your benchmark. For a family of four spending £2,000 on travel money, the difference between the best and worst provider could exceed £40. For the holidaymaker in Birmingham, that’s a nice dinner out—or the cost of parking at the airport.
If you need currency for your trip, check out the John Lewis travel money guide for a breakdown of rates, fees, and how to order.
Frequently asked questions
How do I lock in a John Lewis euro rate?
Reserve your currency online at John Lewis Money’s rate table. The rate you see at reservation is the rate you get when you collect or receive delivery.
Can I sell leftover euros back to John Lewis?
Yes, at John Lewis Bureau de Change stores. The buy-back rate is 1.1326 per euro as of June 2026 (John Lewis Money (buy-back service)).
What is the difference between the buy and sell rate?
The sell rate is what you pay to buy euros. The buy rate is what John Lewis pays you to buy back your leftover euros. The gap is John Lewis’s margin on the transaction.
Is it better to buy euros online or in store?
Online reservations lock the rate and may offer a better deal than walk-in purchases at a bureau de change, where rates are not publicly published.
How much is €1 in GBP today?
Using John Lewis’s sell rate (1.1284), €1 costs approximately £0.886. Using the mid-market rate (1.1031), €1 costs approximately £0.906. Wise (international money transfer service) provides live mid-market rates.
Does John Lewis price match other exchange rates?
John Lewis does not publicly advertise a price-match guarantee for travel money. Compare rates on CompareHolidayMoney (rate comparison site) before buying.
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Freya Bishop covers culture, lifestyle, society and human-interest reporting for UKBullet.uk.