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United Kingdomchecked Jul 2026Tipping in the UK
The UK tips more than most of Europe but far less than the US. The main thing to watch is the discretionary service charge already on restaurant bills, which is optional. Here is what you actually owe.
At a glance
Restaurants
Often a 12.5% service charge
The charge
Discretionary, can be removed
Pubs
No tip at the bar
Since 2024
All tips go to staff
In the UK, sit-down restaurants often add a discretionary service charge of about 12.5% to the bill. It is optional: if service was poor you can ask for it to be removed, and if it is there you need not tip on top. If no service charge is added, 10 to 15% is customary at table-service restaurants. At pubs, there is no tipping when you order at the bar. Round up for taxis. Since a 2024 law, all tips must go to staff, so a card tip now reaches them, though cash is still simplest.
The discretionary service charge
Most sit-down restaurants add a discretionary service charge, typically 12.5%, straight onto the bill. The word discretionary matters: it is optional. If service was poor, you can politely ask for it to be removed, and no one will object.
If the service charge is already on the bill, that is the tip, so you do not need to add more. If no service charge is shown, 10 to 15% is the customary tip at a table-service restaurant.
Pubs, taxis and the rest
At a pub, when you order and pay at the bar, there is no tipping. For table service in a gastropub or restaurant, the restaurant rules above apply. You can offer to buy the bartender a drink in a traditional pub, but it is not expected.
For taxis, round up to the nearest pound, or about 10% for a good black-cab driver. Hotel porters, 1 to 2 pounds a bag; housekeeping, a pound or two a day if you like. Coffee-shop tip jars are entirely optional.
The 2024 tips law, and paying
A 2024 law (the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act, in force from 1 October 2024) requires employers to pass on 100% of tips to workers, with no deductions. So a card tip now reaches the staff, unlike in the past when some was skimmed.
Even so, cash is the simplest, and it goes directly to the person who served you. Keep a few pound coins and small notes for tips and taxis.
Common questions
Quick answers.
Do you tip in the UK?
Yes, but less than in the US. Sit-down restaurants often add a discretionary 12.5% service charge, which is optional and can be removed if service was poor. If none is added, 10 to 15% is customary. There is no tipping at a pub when you order at the bar.
What is the service charge on UK restaurant bills?
A discretionary charge, usually 12.5%, added to sit-down restaurant bills. Discretionary means optional: you can ask for it to be removed, and if it is there you need not tip on top. If it is not added, 10 to 15% is customary.
Do you tip at pubs in the UK?
Not when you order and pay at the bar. For table service in a gastropub or restaurant, normal restaurant tipping applies. In a traditional pub you can offer to buy the bartender a drink, but it is not expected.
Do UK card tips reach the staff?
Yes, since a 2024 law. The Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act, in force from 1 October 2024, requires employers to pass 100% of tips to workers with no deductions. Cash is still the simplest way, and goes directly to the person who served you.
More on United Kingdom
The little money things nobody warns you about.
- Do US citizens need an ETA for the UK?Short answer: yes, now you do, and it even applies to a layover. The UK ETA is not a visa, and it is quick and cheap, but only from the official source. Here is what it costs and how to get it right.
- Do I need cash in the UK, or can I use cards?Short answer: you can do the whole trip without cash. Contactless runs everything, including all of London's transport, and many places no longer take notes at all. Here is how to pay, and the couple of things to get right.
- Bringing your dog or cat to Great Britain.Compared with Japan or Australia, the UK is quick: the lead time is weeks, not months, because there is no rabies blood test for pets coming from the US. The cost surprise is the flight, since pets almost always travel as cargo into Britain, not in the cabin. Here is the order, the official route, and what to budget.
- Can tourists get a VAT refund in the UK?Short answer: no, not in England, Scotland or Wales. This is the opposite of what most European trips teach you, and it catches shoppers out at Heathrow. Here is what changed, and the only two ways left to shop tax-free.
- Staying connected in the UK.The UK is easy: coverage is excellent almost everywhere, including on the Underground now. The only real decision is how you pay for data, and for most US travelers an eSIM is far cheaper than the carrier day pass. Here is the math.
- London taxis, Uber, and the Heathrow transfer.London gives you real choice: a hailable black cab or a pre-booked Uber. But the money is made or lost on the airport run, where the train quietly beats a cab by fifty pounds or more. Here is how it all compares.
Sources, and how this was checked
Last checkedJul 2026
- US State DepartmentUnited Kingdom country information
Our own readUK tipping norms are cultural, but the 2024 Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act is a real law requiring all tips to reach staff. Amounts here are our own read from recent traveler reports and local guidance, not a single official table. Checked July 2026.