Tipping in the UK (& Tip Calculator)

Tipping in the UK is a common area that visitors get concerned about.  The UK is a country with minimum wage regulations and a developed economy.  So do you need to tip in the UK?

When deciding whether or not to tip in the UK the main thing to remember is that tipping is optional (there are one or two exceptions to this, which I’ll cover later on). 

Tips in the UK are a reflection on whether or not you have received decent service.  Keep this in mind as you travel around and it will stand you in good stead.

I’m a UK national who has lived here all my life and I regularly travel to different parts of England and the UK, so I’m well placed to give you the insider local knowledge on tipping in the UK. 

I’ll cover whether or not you should tip in different places, such as tipping in bars and cafes, how much you should tip in restaurants and I’ve included a tip calculator to make it easy to work out your tip.

Bookmark this page so you can easily access the tip calculator.

Unsure how much to tip in the UK?

Use my tipping calculator to help you work it out.

Do you have to tip in the UK?

First and foremost, tipping in the UK is optional.  Whilst many places will add it to a bill, it must be marked up as a service charge or tip. 

It is your choice whether or not you wish to pay a bill with the tip included or only wish to pay for the cost of the items.  

If you don’t want to pay the tip, politely let the server know that you want to pay the total amount without the tip or service charge included.  You don’t have to give a reason.

If you’re visiting the delights of the UK and are unsure whether or not a tip, or service charge, has been included in the total bill, don’t be afraid to ask.

Tipping for large group bookings

The exception to this is if you’re in a large group or have booked a private function.  Venues have different minimum numbers for what counts as a large group so check the company policy or ask if you’re unsure, as it should be made clear to you (for example on the website or on printed menus).

Tipping culture in the UK

The UK has a very different tipping culture to the United States.  Tipping in the United Kingdom is a social etiquette, rather than an expectation. 

You won’t be berated or chased down the road by waiting staff for leaving an unacceptable tip in a restaurant in the UK.

If you do want to leave a tip, a good rule is to add 10% of the bill as the tip.  This is the most common amount that is generally accepted in the UK as a fair tip.

However, I’ve noticed a trend among many places in the last year or so is to add 12.5% as the optional service charge instead of 10%. 

Some businesses justify the increase in the optional service charge listed on the bill as a result of the increase in the cost of resources in the UK but if that’s the case then the overall cost of the products and items should potentially be increased, not the service charge.

Amongst a straw poll of people I know in the UK, 10% is still viewed as a reasonable amount and it’s a much easier figure to calculate.  So, feel free to leave 10% if that suits you.

Who gets the tip you leave?

There was a recent controversy in the UK when it was highlighted that some places were not passing tips on to their staff. 

Things have seemingly improved with new legislation but it’s acceptable to ask if the member of staff will actually get to keep the tip you wish to leave (sometimes it’s shared between whoever is working that shift, which is fine).

Is tipping in the UK done by cash or card?

Cash is used much less in the UK than it was five years ago, and many places have adapted to this by setting pre-programmed tip amounts on the card reader. 

Amounts vary but often include 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% or the option not to tip.  If you don’t want to leave a tip just select the no tip option.

You can still leave a cash tip even if you’ve paid the bill by card.

Tipping in UK restaurants

Restaurants in the UK are one of the places where it’s most common to leave a tip in appreciation of the service. 

The standard amount for a tip in a UK restaurant is 10% but you will often see 12.5% has been added as the suggested service charge (which is the tip).

When paying in cash, leave the tip as part of the total amount you put on the table for the bill and say ‘keep the change’ or pay the bill, wait for any change and then leave an amount of your choosing on the table (usually on top of the bill).

Tipping in bars and pubs

It’s not common to tip bar and pub staff for drinks in the UK but if you’re feeling generous you could leave a couple of pounds at the end of the night or say to the bar staff member to ‘get one for yourself’.  They’ll keep the cost of a drink back as a tip, rather than actually have a drink with you.

When ordering table service food in a pub a 10% tip, as in restaurants, is standard.  But again, if the service was not good you could adjust this down or not leave any tip.  It won’t be seen as particularly rude. 

Some bars and pubs will have a tip jar but it’s entirely up to you whether or not you use it.  Other places won’t have any obvious way of accepting a tip. 

This happened to me recently in a pub in England that also served food.  When I asked if they had a tip jar they didn’t have one at all (so I checked if they were OK to accept a tip, which they were, and handed over the cash).

Tipping in cafes

Leaving a tip in a cafe is not as widespread as tipping in restaurants in the UK but you will see it happen, particularly if there is table service.

There is often a tip jar for coins at the till.  If you’ve been served at the counter, it’s unusual to leave a tip but if the staff have brought items over to your table you could leave a pound or two, depending on how much you ordered. 

Taxi tipping

Tipping cab drivers is optional and not expected.  If you want to leave a tip you could round up to the nearest pound or give the driver a pound if paying by card.

Tipping for Uber or other app-based ride services is possible via the app. For more info on Uber in the UK check out my articles on Uber in Cambridge and Uber in Glasgow.

The exception to this is if it’s been a long journey, for example an airport run or a trip of an hour or more, in which case leaving a few pounds or up to 10% of the total cost of the trip is polite.

Tipping for tours

When going on a tour, like a punting tour in Cambridge or a seal watching boat trip in Norfolk, or taking an organised trip, there is no obligation to leave a tip.  You may be asked if you wish to do so at the end of a tour and will likely find that it splits pretty evenly between those who do leave a tip and those who don’t.

A tip of a couple of pounds per person would be a reasonable amount to leave if you do choose to tip.

Tipping in hotels

Another place where it’s not as common to tip in the UK as it is in some other countries is in hotels. 

However, you will see some people tipping luggage carriers, housekeeping and room service staff.  A reasonable amount for this would be a couple of pounds or a little more if it’s a 5-star hotel.

Tipping in London

London is the capital of the UK and is an international centre.  It’s a huge tourist destination, due to the wealth of museums, galleries, shows, shopping and history it offers.  But should you tip in London?  Is it like New York? Do you tip London taxis?

Tipping in London is no different from tipping in the rest of the UK, so apply the information in this guide to your London activities and you’ll be good to go.

If you’re looking for more information on how things work in the UK, check out my article on postal codes in Manchester, UK.