Have I Got a Tip for You!

We were asked by a visitor to the site about the issue of tipping in the UK.

Americans are known as generous tippers. I think it’s because we think people who serve us in restaurants, hotels, garages, etc., don’t get a sufficient wage, and that thinking is probably correct. However, in other parts of the world the wages those folks get are more substantial and tipping is not essential to their financial survival.

So, the question is, should we tip in the UK? Well, in the UK, tipping used to be pretty much unheard of. However, in more recent times tipping and the related “service charge” on bills is increasing, so it’s time to review how one goes about tipping in the UK. Be aware, however, that not everyone agrees, including some Brits themselves. We take the position that it’s better to err on the side of generosity than to be seen as stingy, so we do tip in the UK. And the recommendations here are from other references that endorse tipping in the UK, so maybe that one article is not the final authority.

Generally, in restaurants a tip of 10-15% is considered proper. However, look at the bill to see if a service charge has been added, and if it has, that is the tip. Typically, service charges are in the 10-12.5% range, so if your server has done excellent work, you can add more to the tip, but there is no need to tip more if a service charge has been added. There have been some reports that not all restaurants pass the service charges on to the waitstaff, so you are not sure if the server will get the tip, you can ask to have the service charge removed from the bill and leave cash instead, making sure the server sees that you have done so. We have read that Parliament is considering legislation to deal with the issue of service charges and the pass-through to servers, so it might be wise to do an internet search on tipping in the UK just before your journey.

Licensed, metered cab drivers (black cabs) should be tipped about 10%, particularly if they have helped with loading your luggage. I don’t use Uber or Lyft but am told that the charge is pre-agreed and tipping is not required. In smaller villages, mini-cabs and taxis are similar to Uber and Lyft as they are generally not metered.

The general thoughts about tipping chambermaids and hotel staff is all over the place. Some folks think that one should tip a chambermaid in the hotel £1-2/day at the end of your stay. Others don’t think anything is needed. I’d say that’s up to you. Bellmen and doormen who help with luggage and call a cab for you should receive £1 or £2 for their help. Because we tend to travel with a lot of bags, I generally tip the bellman who takes the luggage to our room £1 or £2 per large bag. That means for us the bellman gets £4-8 overall for his effort.

In pubs one does not generally tip, although I do usually leave any change under £1 for the barman. Be careful with this one as it is really easy to miss a £1 or £2 coin in the change!  If you have spent a good evening and want to reward the barman, tell him, “Have one on me.” He’ll then charge you for a beer for himself.

If you decide to get takeaway food (coffee and sandwich shops, hamburger and fast food outlets, etc.), there may be a tips jar on the counter, in which you can leave small change if you want.

(UPDATE: There has been a real grown in delivered food in the time since this article was written. We personally have not had food delivered, but I would suspect that the driver from Deliveroo, or Uber would expect a tip. You might ask at the time you order what they think is customary.)

(Image taken from the Daily Mail article linked above)