Short answer: Appreciated, not expected. Tipping in the UK is not expected the way it is in North America, but it is polite for good table service. Many restaurants, especially in London, already add a discretionary service charge of about 12.5%, so check the bill. Where nothing is added, 10 to 15% is standard.
Is service included?
Restaurants often add an optional 'service charge' (sometimes called a 'discretionary' or 'optional' service charge), usually 12.5% in London. It is technically optional and you can ask for it to be removed if service was poor. If it is on the bill, no extra tip is needed.
How much to tip in the United Kingdom
| Who | Usual tip | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurants (sit-down) | 10 to 15% | Only if no service charge is on the bill; around 12.5% is typical in London. |
| Cafes and bars | Not expected | No tip when you order at the pub bar or a counter; table service may carry a service charge. |
| Taxis and rideshare | Round up | Rounding up to the nearest pound is customary; 10 to 15% is a nice gesture. |
| Hotel housekeeping | Optional | A small tip left in the room is nice but not expected. |
| Hotel porters | About £2 | If they take your bags to the room. |
| Tour guides | Optional | Small tip for a good tour; no firm custom. |
| Hairdressers and spas | Optional | The British generally do tip hairdressers; no fixed amount. |
| Food delivery | Optional | Small tip or round up if you like; no firm custom. |
Amounts are in the local currency (GBP). They are common customs, not rules: tip more for great service and less where it was poor.
How to tip
Cards and contactless are used almost everywhere, and a tip can go on the card or be left in cash. By law, staff must receive all the tips customers pay, whether by cash or card.
What to avoid
Do not tip twice: if the bill already shows a service charge, you do not need to leave anything more.
Tipping by card
Card machines often offer a tip step in restaurants and sometimes at counters, and asking the server to add a tip to a card payment is normal. Since October 2024, employers in Great Britain have to pass on tips paid by card in full, apart from tax, so card tips reach staff.
Tips and the law in the United Kingdom
Who keeps the tips
In England, Scotland and Wales the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023, with a statutory code of practice in force since 1 October 2024, says employers must pass on all tips, gratuities and service charges to workers without deductions, apart from tax. Tips must be shared fairly using clear criteria, paid out by the end of the month after the customer pays, covered by a written tipping policy, and recorded for three years. It covers employees, agency workers and zero-hours workers but not the self-employed. Workers can complain to an employment tribunal. The Act does not apply in Northern Ireland.
Are tips taxed?
Employees pay Income Tax on tips. Tips paid directly to you must be reported to HMRC by you (Self Assessment, personal tax account or phone) and are not subject to National Insurance. Tips passed on through the employer or a tronc have Income Tax deducted through pay, and National Insurance depends on how much the employer influences how tips are shared. A compulsory service charge is not a tip and is treated like wages.
Tips and the minimum wage
No, tips do not count towards the National Minimum Wage.
This is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Work out a tip
The tip calculator is set to the United Kingdom and the local currency: enter the bill, pick a percentage and split it between the table.
Tipping with no cash
When you have no local cash, ask whether a tip can go on the card. More and more guides, drivers and performers show a QR code instead: point your phone camera at it and you can tip by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay without installing anything. Workers in the United Kingdom can read how QR code tipping works in the United Kingdom.
Street performers
Tipping a busker is always optional. If you enjoy the show, a coin or a note in the case is the custom, and more performers now show a QR code so you can tip by card. Rules for buskers by city:
- Busking in Aberdeen
- Busking in Bath
- Busking in Belfast
- Busking in Birmingham
- Busking in Bournemouth
- Busking in Brighton
- Busking in Bristol
- Busking in Cambridge
Sources
- VisitBritain: UK travel advice and useful information
- Time Out London: Is London's tipping culture out of control?
- Rick Steves: Tipping in Europe
- Tips at work
- Tips at work: tips and tax
- Code of practice on fair and transparent distribution of tips
- Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023
Checked in October 2026 against the sources above. Customs change and vary between cities and venues.
Common questions
Is tipping expected in the United Kingdom?
Appreciated, not expected. Tipping in the UK is not expected the way it is in North America, but it is polite for good table service. Many restaurants, especially in London, already add a discretionary service charge of about 12.5%, so check the bill. Where nothing is added, 10 to 15% is standard.
How much should you tip at a restaurant in the United Kingdom?
10 to 15%. Only if no service charge is on the bill; around 12.5% is typical in London.
Is a service charge added to the bill in the United Kingdom?
Restaurants often add an optional 'service charge' (sometimes called a 'discretionary' or 'optional' service charge), usually 12.5% in London. It is technically optional and you can ask for it to be removed if service was poor. If it is on the bill, no extra tip is needed.
Do you tip taxi drivers in the United Kingdom?
Round up.
How much do you tip hotel housekeeping in the United Kingdom?
Optional.
Are tips taxed in the United Kingdom?
Employees pay Income Tax on tips. Tips paid directly to you must be reported to HMRC by you (Self Assessment, personal tax account or phone) and are not subject to National Insurance. Tips passed on through the employer or a tronc have Income Tax deducted through pay, and National Insurance depends on how much the employer influences how tips are shared. A compulsory service charge is not a tip and is treated like wages.
App Store
Google Play