Do you tip in the UK?

Yes, at restaurants with table service: 10–12.5% is standard. Many UK restaurants add a 12.5% discretionary service charge automatically, in which case no further tip is needed. Pubs where you order at the bar, coffee shops, and takeaways are not tipped.

Is the service charge in UK restaurants mandatory?

No. A service charge on a UK restaurant bill is discretionary, and you can ask for it to be removed — staff deal with the request routinely. Since the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act came into force in October 2024, employers must pass 100% of tips and service charges to workers and have a written tipping policy available on request.

How much do you tip at a UK restaurant?

10–12.5% of the bill for table service. On a £60 dinner that is £6–£7.50. If the bill already shows a 12.5% service charge, that is your tip and nothing more is expected. Above 15% is unusual in the UK.

Do you tip in British pubs?

Not when you order at the bar — it is simply not the custom. The traditional alternative is to say 'and one for yourself' when ordering, which offers to buy the bartender a drink and typically adds around £1 to your round. Gastropubs with table service follow restaurant rules at about 10%.

Do you tip taxi drivers in the UK?

Round up to the nearest pound or two, or about 10% on a longer ride. Black cab drivers in London expect a round-up rather than a percentage. Uber and Bolt let you add a tip in the app after the trip, which is entirely optional.

Tipping in the United Kingdom: Do You Tip? (2026)

Who to tip in the United Kingdom

Tipping amounts by situation in the United Kingdom (GBP)
Situation	Tip	Notes
Restaurant	10–12.5%	Check the bill first — a 12.5% discretionary service charge is often already added.
Pub (order at bar)	Nothing	Not customary. 'And one for yourself' — buying the bartender a drink — is the traditional alternative.
Pub (table service)	10%	Gastropubs with table service follow restaurant rules.
Café / coffee	Nothing, or small change	Tip jars exist; contributing is entirely optional.
Taxi / black cab	Round up, or 10%	Round up to the nearest pound or two. Uber tips are added in-app afterwards.
Food delivery	£1–£3, or 10%	Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats all offer in-app tipping.
Hairdresser	10%	£3–£5 for a standard cut. Cash directly to the stylist.
Tour guide	£5–£10 per person	Free walking tours in London and Edinburgh depend entirely on tips.

Sourced guidanceCustomary amounts in the United KingdomLast verified Aug 5, 2026Source: UK Department for Business and Trade, Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023: Code of Practice (2024)

How tipping works in the United Kingdom

The UK is the most American-like tipping culture in Europe, but the numbers are lower and the mechanism is different. A discretionary service charge of 12.5% is printed on the bill at most sit-down restaurants in London and increasingly elsewhere. It is genuinely optional — you can ask for it to be taken off, and staff are used to the request — but the default is to pay it.

The law changed meaningfully in October 2024. The Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act requires employers to pass on 100% of tips and service charges to workers, fairly and transparently, and to have a written tipping policy available on request. Before that, some chains retained a share of card tips.

Outside table service the UK barely tips. Pubs where you order at the bar: nothing, though 'and one for yourself' — offering to buy the bartender a drink — is a traditional gesture. Coffee shops, takeaways, and fish and chip shops: nothing expected.

Service charge rules

A discretionary service charge of 12.5% is standard at UK sit-down restaurants, especially in London. It is optional by law and you may ask for it to be removed. Since October 2024, the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act requires 100% of tips and service charges to go to staff, with a written policy available on request.

Official dataPricing and service-charge rules in the United KingdomLast verified Aug 5, 2026Source: Condé Nast Traveler, Tipping Etiquette Around the World

Hotel tipping in the United Kingdom

Hotel staff tipping amounts in the United Kingdom
Hotel role	Tip	Notes
Housekeeping	£1–£2 per night	Cash in the room. Optional and less common than in the US.
Bellhop / porter	£1–£2 per bag	Cash at hand-off.
Concierge	£5–£20	For a hard-to-get reservation, theatre tickets, or short-notice transport.
Room service	10%, or £2–£5	A service charge is usually already added — check the docket.
Doorman	£1–£2	For hailing a black cab or handling luggage.

Sourced guidanceHotel norms in the United KingdomLast verified Aug 5, 2026Source: UK Department for Business and Trade, Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023: Code of Practice (2024)

Comparing with the US? See the full hotel tipping guide.

Mistakes visitors make in the United Kingdom

Work out the exact amount

Enter your bill in GBP and pick a percentage — the calculator handles the split and the rounding.

Open the tip calculator Split a bill

Tipping in the United Kingdom: FAQ

Tipping in other countries

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Sources

Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023: Code of Practice — UK Department for Business and Trade (2024)
Tipping Etiquette Around the World — Condé Nast Traveler

See our methodology for how we research and update tipping guidance.

World Tipping Guide

Country-by-country tipping norms for 50+ destinations in one reference table.

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Tipping in the United Kingdom: Who to Tip and How Much