麻豆APP

Tipping in London: A guide to Restaurant Tipping Etiquette

London being the great big busting metropolis that it is, can make you surge with embarrassment when you get your tips wrong.

The Brits have some contradictory tipping etiquette that is very much contextual to time, place and scenario. It takes getting it wrong a few times before you never make the mistake again.

Guides like this were what saved me during my first few weeks in the English capital, so read, memorize and read again.

Tipping In London

First things first: get your currency right!

Since hopping over into London is so easy from places like 麻豆APP and Amsterdam, a lot of people forget that once you cross the English channel, the currency changes from euros to pounds!

The first time I took a day trip to London from 麻豆APP, I confidently left 鈧�2 coins behind on a bill for 拢10. Moments after leaving the restaurant I was met on the street by a highly annoyed waitress who didn鈥檛 think my 鈥渏oke鈥� was very funny.

by Toa Heftiba –

The minute you get to London, change your money! There are forex exchange spots throughout the city center and surrounding neighborhoods where you can swap out small amounts of euros for the local notes and pennies.

Restaurants in London

Here鈥檚 where it gets interesting. Every dining out situation in London is different thanks to the ever changing service tax norms being adopted by restaurants in the city.

Service charge never used to be a factor in London, but ever increasing tourism drove restaurants owners to add said fees in attempt to improve the quality of life of their staff.

When you eat out in London, you will need to check each bill you receive for added service charge at the bottom. This amount is usually between 12 and 15% of the total bill, and if it is present then there is no need for you to leave a tip in addition to this amount.

by Rod Long –

If there is no service charge added to your bill, then tipping roughly 10% of the total amount is standard.

In addition to this, some restaurants might add an automated tip to the end of a bill when there is a table of 8 or more people dining. This is simply to ensure that the server in question doesn鈥檛 walk away with nothing after slaving away over a large group of people all evening.

When it comes to fine dining in London, expect to tip a bit more that 10%, especially if you were greatly impressed by the experience all around. The same goes for any high teas you might attend at upscale hotels.

Takeaway restaurants and coffee shops will usually have a tip jar present somewhere at the counter where orders are made. There is no pressure to tip in these instances, but any spare change is usually greatly appreciated by the staff.

by Dan Smedley –

Bars in London

If you go out drinking in bars while in London, you鈥檙e usually not expected to tip at all.

In an instance where you wish to show your bartender some gratitude, it would be appropriate to tell them to pour a drink for themselves if they wish to. In this way you鈥檙e able to thank them for the service by buying them a drink of their own; most of whom might simply pocket the money for the drink.

by Crew –

The same goes for pubs, however there is an ever increasing grey area around pubs in London that serve food.

In these instances, the pubs become like restaurants and tipping feels necessary. At the moment, it鈥檚 left in the hands of the tipper to decide what feels most appropriate or not, and no one is going to run after you if you leave with your change.

Other Tipping Info for London

Similar to restaurants, hotels in London have a fairly up in the air tipping culture of their own. When you check into a hotel in London, I recommend asking whether service charges get added to your bill upon checkout or if there is no such thing at said hotel.

This will give you a good idea as to when and how much you need to tip during your stay. If service charge is not included at the end of a stay, then it鈥檚 customary to tip hotel staff around 拢1 whenever they do something helpful for you.

Doormen usually expect between 拢1 and 拢5 should they hail you a taxi on a busy day, but this also depends on how upmarket the hotel in which you are staying is.

by Clay Banks –

There is no need to tip for room service and cleaning at hotels in London.

Tipping your taxi driver is something you will have to do while in London. The standard rate is typically 10% of the total fare, or simply up to the nearest pound when it鈥檚 a very short trip.

Like most of Europe, tipping tattoo artists isn鈥檛 necessary. The cost of being tattooed in London is generally high and so adding tips in addition makes the service somewhat unmanageable, especially for foreigners with weaker currencies.

That being said, it is generally good practice to tip your hair stylist and/or manicurist if you employ either of these services while in London. 10% of the total amount will suffice, and if you are paying by card it鈥檚 very much appreciated to tip with cash.

by Philip Veater –

Should you encounter any valet services while out and about in London, try to remember there is no need to tip at all for this service. Valet almost always comes with a fee of its own, so this is all you will need to pay.