Tipping in United Kingdom: How Much, When & Who

Everything you need to know about tipping in the UK — restaurants, taxis, hotels and more. Practical advice for first-time visitors.

Tipping in the United Kingdom is expected in some situations but far from universal — and knowing the difference matters. Sit-down restaurants, taxis, and hotel porters are the main places where a tip is appreciated, while pub bars and fast-food counters require nothing extra. Get it right and you'll blend in like a local; get it wrong and you'll either over-tip or accidentally offend nobody — the British are too polite to say a word either way.

Tipping at a Glance

Restaurants & Cafés

A tip of 10–12.5% is standard for table service at sit-down restaurants across the UK. However, before you reach for your wallet, always check your bill first — many restaurants now automatically add a discretionary service charge, usually listed as 'service charge' or 'discretionary gratuity' at the bottom of the receipt. If it's already there, you don't need to add anything on top.

• •For table service, tip 10–12.5% if no service charge has been added.
• •If a service charge is already on the bill, you are not obliged to pay it — it is legally discretionary in the UK. If the service was poor, you can ask staff to remove it.
• •At pubs and bars where you order and pay at the counter, no tip is expected.
• •At casual cafés where you order at the till and collect your own food, tipping is not customary.
• •If paying by card, many card machines now prompt you to add a tip — you can decline without awkwardness.

Taxis & Rideshare

For licensed black cabs in London and metered taxis elsewhere in the UK, the standard practice is to round up the fare to the nearest pound or add around 10%. If your fare comes to £8.60, rounding up to £9 or £10 is perfectly appropriate. Black cab drivers in London particularly appreciate the rounding-up approach rather than waiting for exact change. For Uber and other rideshare apps, tipping is not culturally expected in the UK, though in-app tipping is available on some platforms. A tip for a rideshare driver is a genuine bonus rather than an obligation.

Hotels, Tours & Other Services

• •Hotel porters: Tip £1–2 per bag when a porter carries your luggage to your room. Hand the tip directly to them rather than leaving it on a surface.
• •Housekeeping: £1–2 per night is a considerate gesture. Leave it in an envelope or on the pillow with a small note so it's clear it's intended for the cleaning staff.
• •Tour guides: There is no firm standard, but a few pounds per person for a good walking tour or half-day excursion is appreciated. For private guides, £5–10 is a reasonable gesture.
• •Spa and beauty treatments: Tipping is not widely expected but a pound or two for exceptional service is welcomed.
• •Valet parking: £1–2 when your car is returned is a courteous tip.

How to Tip in the UK

Cash tips are always welcome and are often preferred by staff because they are more likely to go directly to the individual rather than into a pooled system. If you are paying a restaurant bill by card, you can leave a separate cash tip on the table. When tipping via a card machine, be aware that some restaurants distribute these tips across all staff — if you want your tip to go to a specific person, hand them cash directly. Rounding up is the easiest and most natural way to tip taxi drivers — simply tell the driver to keep the change. There is no need for elaborate gestures; a straightforward 'keep the change' or 'that's fine' signals the tip clearly.