Tipping in the UK: Service Charge or Tip?

The short answer: check the bill first. If there’s a service charge (usually 12.5%), you don’t need to tip. If not, 10–15% is usual at restaurants – and nothing at the bar in a pub.

Country

Occasion

Bill amount

How was the service? Typical in the UK: 10–15%

Custom percentage

People

Check the bill: many restaurants add a discretionary service charge, usually 12.5%. If so, there’s no need to tip on top – set the percentage to 0. Otherwise, 10–15% is usual.

Tip (10%): £0.00
Total incl. tip: £0.00
Per person: £0.00

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Tipping in the UK at a glance

Situation	What’s usual
Restaurant	10–15%, unless a service charge is already added
Café / Bar	Nothing at the pub bar, about 10% for table service
Taxi / Rideshare	Round up or 10–15%
Hotel	Porters about £1–2 per bag, housekeeping optional
Tour guide	Group £5–10 per person, free tours £5–20
Service charge	Usually 12.5% and discretionary – then no extra tip
Paying by card	Terminal asks at the table – skip it if service is included

Restaurants: look for the service charge first

Many UK restaurants, particularly in London, add a service charge straight onto the bill – usually 12.5%, and at some London restaurants now 15%. If you see one, the tip is already taken care of. If not, 10–15% is the norm, as the official London guide Visit London also advises.

A service charge marked “discretionary” or “optional” is exactly that. If the service was poor, you can ask for it to be taken off the bill.

The 2024 tips law

Since 1 October 2024, the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act has required employers in England, Scotland and Wales to pass all tips, gratuities and service charges they control on to workers in full – no deductions, not even for card fees. Some restaurants also add a separate cover charge – that’s part of the price, not a tip.

Pubs and cafés

In a pub you order and pay at the bar, and you don’t tip. If you want to say thanks, add “…and one for yourself” when you order and pay for a drink for the bartender. At a gastropub or café with table service, round up or leave about 10% unless a service charge has been added. Nobody expects a tip at a café counter.

Black cabs, Uber and Bolt

In a London black cab, round up to the next pound or add 10–15%; for a long ride with lots of luggage, a few pounds more is appropriate. With Uber and Bolt, tipping is optional and done in the app.

Hotels

Porters: around £1–2 per bag.
Housekeeping: not expected; £1–2 a night is a kind gesture.
Concierge: £5–10 for special help, such as sorting out theatre tickets.
Room service: check for a service charge before adding anything.

Tours and guides

On group tours of London, Edinburgh or Oxford, £5–10 per person is a common, optional tip. Official Blue Badge guides charge substantial fees, so a tip is only for exceptional service. On free walking tours the tip is the guide’s pay – usually £5–20 per person.

Tipping by card

Restaurants usually bring the card machine to your table, and it asks about a tip before you tap. If a service charge is already on the bill, just skip that step. Thanks to the 2024 law, card tips now reach staff in full.

Worked example: dinner in London

A bill of £84.00 for two:

Situation	Tip	Total	Per person
12.5% service charge already added	£10.50	£94.50	£47.25
No service charge, 10%	£8.40	£92.40	£46.20
No service charge, 15%	£12.60	£96.60	£48.30

If the bill already includes a service charge, set the percentage in the calculator above to 0. Coming from the US? Expect lower percentages – and no tipping at the pub.

Sources

Last reviewed: September 2026. Based on official tourism boards, laws and public authorities, consumer organisations, and established travel guides and media. Tipping is always voluntary – all figures are guidelines.

Visit London (official tourism site): tipping in London visitlondon.com
GOV.UK: new tipping law in force since October 2024 gov.uk
Acas: tips and service charges acas.org.uk
Which?: guide to tipping, including discretionary service charges which.co.uk
Time Out London: why many restaurants now charge 15% timeout.com

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Tipping in the UK: FAQ

How much should you tip in the UK?

At restaurants, 10–15% if no service charge has been added. If the bill already includes one – usually 12.5% – you don’t need to leave anything more. In pubs, you don’t tip at the bar.

Is the service charge compulsory in the UK?

Not if it’s marked “discretionary” or “optional”. You’re entitled to ask for it to be removed, for example if the service was poor. If you’re happy, it simply replaces the tip.

Does the service charge go to staff?

Since 1 October 2024, employers in England, Scotland and Wales must pass on all tips and service charges they control to workers in full, with no deductions – card tips included.

Do you tip in pubs in the UK?

Not when you order at the bar. If you want to thank the bartender, say “…and one for yourself” and buy them a drink. For table service at a gastropub, tip as you would at a restaurant.

How much do you tip a London black cab?

Round up to the next pound or add 10–15%. With Uber and Bolt, tipping in the app is optional.