When I came over the UK 25 years ago, I had my Australian Amex card. I happened to be in their West End office for some reason and when they found out I was staying for 2 years on my working holiday visa, they offered to transfer my card to UK based one no questions asked. Given that I was contracting at the time, I thought it was fantastic. The only bank to let me open an account was the then Abbey Nat - but only a debit card, not a credit card.

Having the Amex was great, but it was pretty limited then. Sainsburys, car hire and travel agents seem to be it. How times have changed.

Some oddities exist. I was getting lunch at the Japan Centre in the West End today and the hot food counter eftpos machine doesn't accept Amex, but their main shop tills do. Couldn't be bothered to go there to queue and pay so just used my Lloyds Avios Amex.