Tipping in the UK is generally discretionary. It is most familiar in full-service restaurants, less expected in cafes and pubs, and often handled by rounding up rather than a formal percentage in taxis.
A practical tipping map
| Situation | Good default | What to notice |
|---|---|---|
| Full-service restaurant | 10 to 15% when no service charge is added | London bills often include an optional service charge. |
| Pub ordering at the bar | No tip expected | A tip jar or card prompt is optional, not a command. |
| Cafe or takeaway | Optional small change or round-up | Counter service does not create a tipping obligation. |
| Taxi | Round up a convenient amount | A larger tip is optional for extra help or a long journey. |
| Hotel porter or exceptional help | Small discretionary tip | There is no universal fixed amount. |
| Tour guide | Optional, but often appreciated | Free walking tours may rely more heavily on tips. |
Service charge is the line that matters
Restaurants may add a service charge to the bill, commonly as a percentage. Read whether it is described as optional or discretionary. If service was poor or the charge is optional and you do not wish to pay it, ask the restaurant to remove it before paying rather than silently adding a second calculation.
A card machine may also ask for a tip after the bill already includes service. Pause before pressing a percentage: the prompt does not know what is printed on the receipt.
The pub is its own little country
When you order drinks at a British bar, tipping for every round is not standard. Pay the displayed amount. Leaving change, using a tip jar or offering something for unusually helpful service is your choice, but visitors do not need to reproduce restaurant tipping at the beer taps.
Card or cash?
Both can work. A card-added tip may be easier when you are not carrying coins; a small cash tip feels direct. Since 1 October 2024, UK law requires qualifying tips, gratuities and service charges to be passed to workers without deductions, supported by a statutory code on fair distribution.
Four ways to avoid the awkward moment
- Read the full bill before the terminal reaches you.
- Do not tip twice because a machine presents another button.
- At a pub bar, pay normally unless you genuinely want to add something.
- When uncertain, ask: “Is service already included?” It is a completely normal question.