You may have heard in the news recently that a new currency was launched earlier this month in the Lake District, the Lake District Pound.
It’s one of a few local currencies to be launched in the UK, with existing ones including the Bristol Pound, Totnes Pound and Brixton Pound. So if you haven’t visited the Lakes recently, what exactly is it, and how does it work? Here are 10 things you might be interested to know:
1. The Lake District Pound comes in £1, £5, £10 and £20 notes, and the Lake District Pound is equal in value to the Sterling Pound.
2. You can buy the currency at Lake District Pound exchanges (including participating Post Offices) and online, and spend the Pound at businesses and attractions who are taking part in the scheme. See the Lake District Pound website for its online shop, and a map of exchanges and businesses who accept the Pound.
3. The Lake District Pound is an annual local currency, so the 2018 notes will be valid until the 31st January 2019 and new designs will be created each year.
4. The designs are gorgeous. One side features children’s author and conservationist Beatrix Potter (£1), walking guide author Alfred Wainright (£5), fell runner and sheep farmer Joss Naylor (£10), and art critic and social reformer John Ruskin (£20), and there are references to William and Dorothy Wordsworth and Swallows and Amazons. On the other side of each note there are bright profile illustrations of some of the Lake District fells, with silver embossed plant details.
5. The money comes in a tasteful matching card wallet, so would make a lovely alternative to vouchers if you’re wanting to buy a special gift for someone who loves the Lake District.
6. You can keep the Lake District Pound as a souvenir. For those who would like to do this and keep the currency as a memento, the money that is left in circulation will be used to fund projects to look after the Lake District.
7. You can also swap the Pound back to Sterling at participating Post Offices and exchanges. So you need never lose out if you don’t use all the currency while you’re here.
8. Special gift editions are available for collectors. The currency comes in a presentation pack and include notes with matching serial numbers.
9. There’s a Lake District passport. For £3 you can purchase a special passport, a beautifully presented small book in which you can collect ‘stamps’ from participating businesses around the Lake District. It’s especially good fun for children, although I suspect there will be plenty of adults buying them too! You even get a £1 included, which is a nice touch that can be spent on a small treat – again, lovely for children to add to their pocket money.
10. There’s going to be a Lake District Pound storybook, and a collector’s edition of the pound plus storybook. I know no more than that at this moment in time, but will add details to the end of this article when I do!
To learn more, to purchase the Lake District pound, and to find participating exchanges and businesses, you can visit the Lake District Pound online.
What do you think of the new Lake District Pound? Let us know by leaving your comment below!
I’ve already seen on social media that some individuals have been keen to fill their passports while touring the Lakes, so I’m sure it will be something that many will enjoy doing during their time here. 🙂
My grandson was keen to swap his £10 pocket money at the post office near Conniston, trying to spend it was difficult and he was refused while trying to buy ice creams at local shops, taking them back to the post office where he bought them from and explaining he couldn’t find places to spend the he asked for them to be exchanged back but was told this is not allowed, total waste of money, he was told to give them to his parents to buy petrol!!
Hello Joan, I’m very sorry to hear of your experience, and I’m sure it’s something those working on the Lake District Pound would be keen to hear about. The Coniston area is beautiful and I hope that you otherwise had a lovely time in the Lakes.
As a local business we have found the LD Pound to be something of the past, we have tried converting the LD Pounds back to sterling here in Kendal. What i have heard from the identified exchange points is that its probably best not to take the local money to avoid being lumbered with it. I finally changed it back at the Key Cobblers in market square in Kendal who are still converting LD back to sterling, and i have too say accepting this economy comes with some leg work to get it back.
Thank you for your comment Karl, and for visiting the blog – I’m sure the Lake District Pound team would be very interested to hear your feedback on this.