Do You Tip in London? All You Need to Know

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As a traveler, it’s always important to be aware of local customs and etiquette when visiting a new city. And one question that often comes up is: Do you tip in London?

The short answer is yes, tipping is generally expected in London. However, unlike in many other countries where tipping may be seen as mandatory, it’s more of a discretionary practice in the UK.

One important thing to know is that most of the time a tip or so-called service charge is already included in the bill at restaurants and there’s no need for tipping anything on top of that.

Now let’s dive into more things to keep in mind when it comes to tipping in London.

Table of Contents

Do You Tip in London?

Tipping in London Restaurants

In most restaurants in London with table service, a service charge is usually included in the bill, typically around 12.5%. This means that you don’t need to leave an additional tip.

Example of tipping etiquette in London, England, displayed on a restaurant bill including a service charge, highlighting the common practice of adding gratuity to dining charges in London. — Included service charge at Vantra, a vegan restaurant in London Soho

Even though tipping in London is not mandatory, it would be considered very rude to ask the waiter to remove the service charge from the bill. So even though it’s optional, it’s best to just pay the amount stated on the bill and not ask for any changes.

However, make sure to check your bill if the service charge is already included, as some restaurants may not add it automatically.

If there’s no service charge included, it’s common courtesy to leave a tip between 10% and 15% of the total bill, depending on the quality of service.

Tipping in a Self-Service Restaurant

In self-service restaurants, where you order and pay at the counter, tipping is not expected. However, if there’s a tip jar or donation box for staff, feel free to leave some change if you wish.

Tipping at Afternoon Tea in London

Afternoon tea is a very unique British experience at a restaurant or at a special themed location. In this case, the service is usually not included in the bill, so it’s polite to leave a tip between 10% and 15%.

Tina in wizard's robes with a wand sitting at a table with a lot of food on the table — Me at my Harry Potter afternoon tea, one of the cool things to do in London Soho

Usually, you prebook and prepay an afternoon tea before your visit and at the afternoon tea itself, you can leave a tip for the staff. This was the case when we did a Harry Potter-themed afternoon tea and when we did an afternoon tea bus tour through London.

Tipping in London Pubs and Bars

Unlike restaurants, tipping at bars and pubs in London is not very common. However, you can round up or tell the staff member to keep the change.

If you’re paying by card, some places may have a tipping option on the machine, so you can easily add a small amount there.

But like I said it’s not common to tip in a traditional self-service British pub.

Two vibrant cocktails on a bar counter, a popular indulgence among the best things to do in Soho London, with a background of polaroid photos adding a lively atmosphere. — Do you tip in London pubs and bars? Usually, no.

Tipping in London Taxi

Tipping taxi drivers in London is not mandatory, but it’s common practice to round up the fare to the nearest pound or leave a small tip of up to 10% if you’re satisfied with the service.

However, if your taxi driver helps you with heavy luggage or takes a longer route to avoid traffic, you may want to leave a larger tip as a gesture of appreciation.

Tipping in London Hotels

I’ll be honest with you, I’ve never stayed in a fancy hotel with services worth tipping. However, if you’re staying at a high-end hotel and receive exceptional service like a butler or a concierge, it’s common to leave a tip between £5 and £10.

For housekeeping staff and room service, leaving a small amount of £1-2 per day is also appreciated.

You can either hand the tip directly to the staff member or leave it in an envelope at the front desk or in your room when you check out.

🤩 Find the perfect hotel in London!

Tipping on Walking Tours

When it comes to tipping tour guides in London, it’s very much appreciated to leave a tip of about 10-15% as a token of your appreciation if you had a great experience.

During one of my London adventures, I did a fantastic Harry Potter walking tour, which, by the way, is hands down one of the best Harry Potter activities in London as you visit so many cool London Harry Potter locations.

The Harry Potter tour was brilliantly guided by a really nice young woman, who juggled two jobs just to afford to rent a shared apartment in London, so she truly appreciated the tips at the end of the tour.

🤩 This is the cool Harry Potter walking tour I did!

Tipping Street Performers

If you come across a talented street performer in London, it’s always appreciated to show your support and appreciation by leaving some spare change.

Even if you only have a few coins, every little bit counts and can make a difference for these hard-working artists.

A vivid snapshot of tipping culture in London, featuring a busker with a digital tip sign and CDs for purchase, highlighting the modern and supportive ways to tip street artists in the city. — Street performers have adapted to the cashless tipping culture in London

So if you enjoy their performance, don’t hesitate to drop a tip in their hat or instrument case.

Most professional street performers even tipping machines which are usually set at around 2-3£ for tipping by card. London is very big on cashless payments, so even the street performers have to keep up with this trend.

Currency in London England

The currency in London and the rest of the United Kingdom is the British Pound Sterling (GBP), or just the pound for short.

Cashless places are becoming more and more popular in London, so it’s best to have a travel debit or credit card with you that doesn’t charge international fees.

Check the current exchange rate of pounds to your own currency.

FAQ about Is Tipping Expected in London?

Do you tip in London if there is a service charge already included?

If there is already a service charge included on your bill, there’s no need to tip.

Final Thoughts: Is Tipping Customary in London?

Tipping in London is generally expected, but it’s not mandatory. It’s important to check if a service charge is already included in the bill, in that case, there’s no need to add a tip on top of that.

In the end, it’s up to your discretion whether you want to leave a tip between 10-15% of the total bill or not, but know that it is appreciated by those in the service industry.

So, you ready for London? Check out my 4-day itinerary for London with the best things to do and see!

Do You Tip in London? All You Need to Know