I end up moving money between the US and the UK normally once every two months. I have an account in each country and end up wiring money between the accounts, I think it costs $20 US->UK and around 15pounds UK->US however much you transfer.

The first year I was in the US I sent my sister a check for her birthday, she went to cash it at a UK bank (the check was from a US bank in $s) and they told her they could cash it but she would end up owing them money as it would cost more to cash than the value of the check, so it is not only the US banks that are screwing people:(