UK Tipping Etiquette — Definitive Guide (2025)

Core principle

Service workers in the UK must be paid at least the National Living Wage, so tips are a thank‑you, not a wage substitute. When no discretionary service charge is shown, leaving roughly 10 % for good service is a polite norm. From 1 July 2025, the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act requires businesses to pass 100 % of tips and optional service charges to staff; you may still ask for a service charge to be removed if the service was poor.

Dining

Setting	When to tip	How much	Notes
Full‑service restaurant	No service charge on bill	10 – 12.5 %	Add on card reader or leave cash; round up small bills.
	Service charge (10 – 12.5 %) already added	None (unless exceptional)	Service charge is voluntary; you can ask for removal.
Pubs & bars	Ordering at the bar	Not expected	You can say “and one for yourself” and let staff take ~£1, or drop coins in a tip jar.
	Table service for food	Up to 10 % or round up	Follow restaurant rules if a service charge appears.
Cafés & coffee counters	Tip jar / round‑up	Coins / £1	Entirely discretionary.

Getting around

Black cabs & licensed minicabs : Round the fare up to the nearest pound or add ~10 % on long or luggage‑heavy rides.
Uber & other ride‑apps : Tipping is optional; the app will prompt after you rate, or hand £1‑2 cash.

Hotels

Service	Typical gesture
Porter	£1–2 per bag (more for heavy/awkward items)
Housekeeping	£1–2 per night left daily, or £5–10 in an envelope on departure
Concierge (complex reservation, hard‑to‑get ticket)	£5–10, depending on effort

Tours & other services

Free walking tours : £5–10 per person at the end.
Paid day tour / private driver‑guide : 5–10 % of the tour price, or £10–20 per full day.
Hairdresser / spa therapist : 5–10 % if you are pleased with the result.

Situations where Brits usually don’t tip

Supermarkets, fast‑food counters, take‑away windows
Drinks ordered at the bar in pubs
Routine retail purchases or petrol stations
Poor or indifferent service (you can also ask to remove an automatic service charge)

Practical tips

Keep a few £1/£2 coins for small thank‑yous; cash is still handy. You can ask hotel reception, Post Office counters, or any bank branch to swap notes for £1/£2 coins.
If tipping by card, you can ask whether the tip line reaches staff directly (it legally should under the 2025 Act, but independents may prefer cash).
Avoid foreign coins — staff can’t exchange them.
Tip discreetly: leave cash on the bill tray or hand it over with a quiet “thank you”.