Uk Tipping Guide

Tipping in The UK

Question

Can you let us now the general guidelines for tipping in the UK. (Question sent from USA)

Answer.

The UK can be a bit confusing about when you tip or not. Here is a brief guide to where you would or would not tip.

10% is the basic rule.

Breakfast Cafes

Generally speaking no tips are required here the UK is not like USA.

Bars

If you are ordering drinks and just bar food no tip will be expected.

Pubs

No tips will be expected even if you order food from the counter that is then brought to the table. In Some cases better Pubs cross over to restaurant levels where you will be served at your table. You should tip in this case

Restaurants

If you are served at your table, order taken and the food brought to you should tip.

Service Charges and Tipping

Always look at the menu/receipt it will tell you that a service charge (normally 12.5%) has been added. In some cases this may only be applied to groups of x number. Most people in this case will pay the bill and leave no tip.

Tip added to credit card machine.

Beware the service charge and then an additional tip box in the card machine process.

You can add your tip to the card transaction or ask for just the bill value and leave a cash tip.

Taxi

As a general rule use the round up pound in UK and London 10% guide. Eg. £5.30…then give £6.

Hotel porters

The better the hotel the more it will be expected to tip. As a rough guide £1-1.50 per bag, this is if the bags are taken to your room