Buying GB Sterling in the USA or Selling US Dollars in the UK, which is best?

Hello all again.

You are such a wise and worldly bunch that I figured some of you might know the answer.

Which will get me the most British Pounds?  Ordering & buying them here in the USA or bringing over US Dollars and selling them to get my GB Sterling in the UK.

When I was over on my 2 yearly vacation Sept 2008 I used the Post Office as I was told that was the best place to get a good exchange rate other than Marks & Spencer which can sometimes be better.  It was too late for me to order my GB Sterling as I live in the middle of nowhere and the bank (BofA) would have had to order it.  It was only approx $600 though whereas next time over I will want to change over between $8,000 - $14,000

Would M & S or the Post Office be able to exchange that amount or would I have to go to a major bank in London etc....   Not sure really what to do with an amount this large as all my other visits in the last 10 yrs have been vacations with not so much money 

So which way will get me the most pounds?  Thanks y'all.

Is this money to use on holiday or are you wanting to transfer?

Hello all again.

You are such a wise and worldly bunch that I figured some of you might know the answer.

Which will get me the most British Pounds?  Ordering & buying them here in the USA or bringing over US Dollars and selling them to get my GB Sterling in the UK.

When I was over on my 2 yearly vacation Sept 2008 I used the Post Office as I was told that was the best place to get a good exchange rate other than Marks & Spencer which can sometimes be better.  It was too late for me to order my GB Sterling as I live in the middle of nowhere and the bank (BofA) would have had to order it.  It was only approx $600 though whereas next time over I will want to change over between $8,000 - $14,000

Would M & S or the Post Office be able to exchange that amount or would I have to go to a major bank in London etc....   Not sure really what to do with an amount this large as all my other visits in the last 10 yrs have been vacations with not so much money 

So which way will get me the most pounds?  Thanks y'all.

I believe your best bets are:

1.  xe account (if you have several weeks to wait before making a big exchange)
OR
2.  Taking money out of your BofA account via a Barclays ATM in the UK.  I did this a few weeks ago and made note of the exchange rate I was given, which was almost the same listed exchange rate (on xe.com) for that day - neither bank seemed to make a real profit off the transaction, which was more money for me!

Putting my US debit card in the cash machine here costs about $2 in exchange charges and is instant. For big checks, I just deposit them and wait three weeks or so for it to go through.

Is this money to use on holiday or are you wanting to transfer?

I am moving back home, curious though why would it make a difference?

I believe your best bets are:

1.  xe account (if you have several weeks to wait before making a big exchange)
OR
2.  Taking money out of your BofA account via a Barclays ATM in the UK.  I did this a few weeks ago and made note of the exchange rate I was given, which was almost the same listed exchange rate (on xe.com) for that day - neither bank seemed to make a real profit off the transaction, which was more money for me!

My BofA will be closed shortly before I leave so it will be a cash only situation.  I'll check out xe.com........thanks.  I still will have some US Dollars on arrival if I change most of it over here.  The maximum withdrawal from a Barclays Account I would have been allowed is $1500 per day.