One of the most interesting things about traveling throughout the world is visiting new countries while learning and experiencing their unique customs.
One of the most common social differences between many countries is tipping...who to tip, when to tip, how much to tip, and when not to tip!
So with this in mind, I’ve drawn up a quick guide to tipping in London to give you the basics of tipping culture in the United Kingdom.
First things first: NO ONE will be offended if you try to tip them so if all else fails, just remember that and it might take some of the pressure off!
Note that service workers still LOVE getting cash (even as many businesses are going cash-free) so consider that when you are deciding whether to exchange currency.
GBP is the best thing to give but USD and EUR are also appreciated.
How Much to Tip in London Restaurants?
Tipping in London eateries is pretty straightforward.
In restaurants or pubs where you place your food order at the bar, and later it is brought to your table, it is not customary to tip.
However, at a restaurant with a doorman, waiter, or waitress where orders, drinks, and food are taken at your table, a tip from around 10% - 15% is common.
What is a "Service Charge" and Do I Have to Pay It?
Something that I've noticed becoming increasingly common - especially post-COVID - is an added service charge to the bill.
Some restaurants will let you know that this is being added, but some don't mention it so I always make sure to check the bill closely!
If the service charge is on the bill then there is no further expectation of a tip.
However, if I receive unacceptably bad service, I don't hesitate to ask the staff to remove it.
This is something not all people are comfortable with but I have never had any push back when I've asked for it to be taken off.
It won't come down to semantics but there is no law stating you must pay the service charge.
NOTE: Some fine dining establishments will list this as policy when you book and, in that case, you must pay. This is also usually true for if you are dining with a large group.
Sometimes, I see ‘service not included’ written on my bill and I take this as a subtle hint that a tip will be appreciated (and likely expected).
Those of you (like me) who have worked in the service industry may also like my following recommendation: I politely ask the wait staff if the tip I am about to leave - or indeed the service charge itself - will go directly to them or not.
It may surprise you to find out how many servers don't receive any of the fee!
In this instance, I always ask for it to be removed.
Remember, if you want to ensure the tip you leave goes to the exact staff who helped you, do not include the tip with any card payment but leave a cash tip (or even hand the cash tip directly to the staff you wish to receive the amount).
For a more in-depth look at tipping in London restaurants, check out this article from the Guardian.
Bars and Pubs
Tipping in London watering holes is not common.
Bartenders in bars and pubs in London do not expect to be tipped.
However, as card payments are now more common than cash payments in pubs, you may find the option to add a tip when you pay at some establishments - but this is entirely at your discretion.
If you have had exceptionally good service, or have built up a rapport with the person behind the bar it is appropriate to offer a small amount of money, along with the phrase, “and one for yourself.”
The bar staff may then make themselves a drink or they will put the money aside to be used later.
I will sometimes also say ‘keep the change’ once I have paid.
Both of these scenarios, however, are entirely at your discretion.
NOTE: At particularly busy bars, tipping might make you stand out from the crowd!
You might also be interested my our post on historic London pubs, which include riverside pubs, literary pubs, and pubs with great views.
Or, take our historic London pubs tour.
London Taxis
It’s not a requirement to tip in taxis but it is customary simply to round up to the nearest pound or so and say, “keep the change.”
As with above, as card payments become more common with our city's cabbies, you will most likely find an automated option to add a tip when you pay with your card.
If I have a lot of luggage and the cab driver has assisted with the bags, or been particularly helpful (like the few who have zipped me through town when I thought I was going to miss my train) I always give a 10% tip or an extra £5.00-£10.00, which is viewed as appropriate.
Also, if I am only going a very short distance (say from a train station to a hotel, or to a nearby hotel when I'm going to Heathrow), and the total cost is £6.00 or so, I will double the fare for the driver to compensate the fact that it is a shorter journey which means the driver may have missed out on a longer one.
Things are different if you take a taxi tour. Then, we recommend leaving a tip as you would with a tour guide.
How Much to Tip London Tour Guides?
On a standard walking tour, like those we run at London Tours By Foot guests usually offer something extra: £5.00 - £10.00 per person for an excellent tour, or around £1 - £2 per person if you are part of a larger group traveling together.
Tips on our paid tours are never expected but are always appreciated.
When I lead one of these tours it means I am not getting paid from the company at all.
So, the only money I take home is what is given to me by the guests who come along so do keep this in mind when you are deciding how much to tip your guide.
If you are taking a hop-on-hop-off bus, there will usually be a tip jar at the front of the bus for you to leave something at your own discretion.
On coach tours (particularly long ones) a tip to both the tour guide and the coach driver is expected and appreciated.
The guideline I follow is between £1.00-£2.00 per day traveled.
Hotel Staff
Staff at high-end hotels in the United Kingdom will be used to receiving tips of between £1.00-£2.00 per bag, or around £5.00 overall.
Staff working in hotels below 5-star will not expect to receive tips, aside from the porter who brings your bags to your room, in which case around £2.00-£5.00 is acceptable.
Chambermaids are not usually tipped in London.
However, if you left money for cleaning staff on a bedside table after your last night, it would not be inappropriate, and is something I do, especially if I am staying at the same location for multiple nights.
In more recent years I have noticed that some hotels now have begun adding an included service charge of around 10% - 12% on your total bill so make sure to keep an eye out for this when you are checking out.
How much to Tip Others
Spas (massages, manicures, etc.) | Tipping in spas is expected at higher end establishments these days, but I will tip regardless of venue.
Hair salons | Tipping around 10% is common but not required. I notice about half the people in the salon tip when I go.
Delivery and Takeaway | When taking food away or “out” no tip is expected. This is true also of any food that has been delivered to you from a local restaurant or pizza chain.
My American friends still tend to tip their delivery drivers, though, which always goes down well and is a pleasant surprise for the delivery (wo)men!
A bill for food delivered in a hotel may have a service charge included, so make sure to check this when you sign off on it.
Cafés | A small tip is appreciated when table service is available. £1-£2 is acceptable, or a “keep the change.”
In café where you have retrieved your own drink, you may find a small tipping tray on the counter which you can donate to if you wish, but tipping in this instance is not expected.
Is tipping the same in London as in the rest of the UK?
In the UK, tipping customs are quite similar throughout the country, and London is no exception, although you are more likely to find service charges added to your bills here as opposed to smaller towns and villages.
Whether you are riding in black cabs, dining at restaurants, or getting a haircut from barbers, a rule of thumb is to tip around 10-15% for good service.
However, tipping is often seen as an optional service charge and not a requirement, regardless of whether you're in a bustling city like London or a quieter place in Britain.
What Others Say
While I've done my best to provide all the information you'll need to understand tipping in the UK, other people may have different perspectives an opinions.
There are quite a few posts on Reddit about tipping in the UK and here are some notable comments, as well as my opinions as a local.
I think this comment sums up the sentiments of most of my British friends:
The poster below highlights an argument that comes up quite frequently in debates about tipping in the UK, especially when contrasting the service industry with the USA.
In some US states, business can pay their waitstaff below minimum wage as the assumption is they will make up the rest of their wage in tips.
This is not the case in the UK, so many don't feel the same pressure to tip here as they would if they were dining in the US.
The users below discuss the topic I mentioned above - service charges.
This first thread highlights my point that some people feel uncomfortable asking for it to be removed, but many of us don't shy away from it!
This second thread on the same topic reiterates a few of my points:
This poster is in the minority in this particular reddit post, but holds a sentiment that is not exactly rare when it comes to discussing tipping in the UK.
And perhaps it is all summed up by the comment this user left with a suggestion that I largely agree with:
For even more information about tipping, or about anything at all in the London area, please feel free to ask for advice on the Free Tours By Foot London Travel Tips Facebook page.
Enjoy your trip to the United Kingdom!
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