How to Buy Bitcoin in the UK

So, you've heard all about the advantages of this amazing new financial technology called bitcoin, but how do you go about buying it in the British Isles?
While bitcoin makes sending payments between countries – or even continents – quick, cheap and easy, traditional banking systems have yet catch up. As a result, users buying bitcoin through a bank account report frustration with complex procedures, delays while funds arrive and high fees for international transfers.
Credit and debit cards will often incur charges too, and not all companies will accept them due to the risk of fraudulent chargebacks.
As a result, if you're not paying with cash at a bitcoin ATM or from an individual at a meetup, buying bitcoin is best done by fast and free domestic bank transfer – if you can find a bitcoin business offering that option, that is.

The banking issue

The problem is, British banks are reluctant to service bitcoin companies so many exchanges are having to bank elsewhere in the EU. In these cases, you'll have to put up with charges on international transfers like SEPA and often wait 2–5 days for your funds to arrive.
The British government has made some noises about turning the country into a cryptocurrency-friendly environment. However, as it stands, a UK exchange providing SEPA bank transfers offers few advantages over any exchange in the EU – apart from being able to deposit in GBP, perhaps.
However, new banking partnerships are being forged that allow bitcoin exchanges add local deposit options for UK customers.

A note on price

Bitcoin is notoriously volatile – that is, the value can climb and drop significantly over short timeframes.
As a result, bitcoin buyers would do well to keep an eye on the price charts in order to make, hopefully, a timely purchase when the value is low. Indeed, many people earn money trading bitcoin, making the most of its volatility.

Bitcoin exchanges

Cryptocurrency exchanges offer a way to buy (and sell) bitcoin – and sometimes other digital currencies such as litecoin and dogecoin.
First things first, you'll need to register and provide proof of residency (a copy of recent utility bill) and identity (a photo ID scan) for anti-money laundering (AML)/know-your-customer (KYC) compliance procedures before you can use the platform's services.
Once that's done, you'll need to set up a bank payment using the details provided by the exchange, at which point you can fund your account and buy some bitcoin.
Note that it's worth avoiding using the word 'bitcoin' in the payment reference too. While this may sound odd, jittery banks have been known to balk at anything to do with the digital currency, even closing some accounts in the past.