In the United Kingdom, the culture of tipping is less prevalent than in the USA, because companies – particularly in the hotel and catering industry – are required to pay their employees the living wage, increasing from €12 to €13/hour in April 2024. But tips remain an essential income supplement for many.
Generally, we add a minimum of 10% of the amount of the bill for the “
service charge
”.
The latter is not strictly speaking a tip, because it is often automatically included, unlike a “
tip
” or a “
gratuity
”.
What you need to know to avoid coming across as a stingy Frenchman.
To discover
Tailor-made trips: discover the offers from our partners
Tipping in restaurants and pubs
First of all, take a look at the bill to verify that the service is included, in which case you don't need to do anything.
Otherwise, count 10-15% of the total bill, and you can always add a
tip/gratuity
in cash, via the card payment terminal, or by scanning a QR code.
This all applies to restaurants, cafes and pubs when consuming food there.
If you order at the counter, takeaway or simply drinks, no tipping is required but you will certainly spot a box marked “
tips
” for this purpose.
Note that employers are now legally obligated to pass on their tips to employees.
Tipping in hotels
In most UK hotels it is not customary for guests to tip, except in 4-5 star hotels where you can add 10% to your total bill.
In these establishments, it is also common to pay 1 or 2 pounds per bag to the porter and a small amount to the room staff at the end of your stay, or to the concierge.
This is also done in small family structures, such as
bed and breakfasts
.
Tipping guided tours and taxis
Taxi drivers do not expect a tip, but you can add 10% of the fare.
Sam Dan Truong - Unsplash
If you have booked a sightseeing tour you can reward your guide with 10-15% of the price of the experience, or more for a volunteer.
On a bus tour, you will certainly find a box near the driver's cabin in which to slip 2 or 3 books.
Taxi drivers don't expect a tip, but you can add 10% of the fare (in cash, card or via apps like Uber), ask them to round up to the nearest pound or keep the change.