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Question: Tipping in the UK - When is it expected and how much should I tip ?
Everywhere I go the rules or "etiquette" of tipping are different. I've heard that tipping is included in the bill in the UK? Is that true? And if it isn't, how much should I tip and when should I tip?
Answer: Tipping in the UK, like tipping in most other places, can be awkward and embarrassing if you get it wrong. UK tipping when you don't have to is also one of the factors that can add to travel costs unnecessarily.
Find more answers to UK currency puzzlers
In the interests of saving you money (especially if you are a US traveler and used to 20% tips) and in making sure everyone gets treated fairly, here are some quick pointers about tipping in the UK.
Tipping in Restaurants
A service charge (tip) of 12.5% to 15% may be added to your bill but the practice is not universal in UK restaurants. And it may not always be easy to discover whether it is either. Some restaurants print their service charge policy on their menus (long gone by the time you pay your bill), while others make the service charge very clear on the bill.Don't be embarrassed to ask. And don't be too flustered to read your bill. It is not uncommon for waiters to leave the "total" line blank on credit card devices, tacitly inviting you to add a tip when you've already been billed for service.
If service is included, you are not expected to add anything further but you may want to add a small sum for particularly good service or extra attention. If service is not included, plan to leave a tip of 12 to 15 per cent.
Tipping in Pubs
You are not expected to tip with cash for drinks in pubs. If the barman gives you expecially good service or fills several big orders for you, you can offer a small sum (the price of half a pint of beer, say), with the words, "and have one for yourself" or something similar. The barman (or barmaid) may pour themselves a drink on the spot or may put the money aside to have a drink later.You're not expected to tip for food in pubs either but, with the growth of gastropubs, this has become something of a gray area. If you feel the "pub" is more of a restaurant with a bar than a pub that serves food, you may want to leave a tip similar to what you would leave in a restaurant.
Tipping Taxi Drivers
About 10 per cent of the total fare is usual for licensed, metered taxis. Rural taxis and minicabs usually charge a pre-agreed, flat fare and many people do not add an additional tip.
Tipping Chambermaids and Hotel Attendants
Only tip hotel staff if they do something special for you. Chambermaids are not usually tipped. You can tip a bellman a pound or two for helping with your bags or a doorman for getting you a taxi. Valet parking services are uncommon and, when available, there's usually a charge for them, so tipping is unnecessary. Some hotels have started adding an optional service charge to bills. This is most common at hotels with spas and gyms, where staff are expected to perform extra services for you, and is supposed to be distributed to staff members. If you would rather control the amount you tip particular individuals, you can have that service charge removed from your bill.Tipping Guides and Coach Drivers
At the end of guided walks or guided bus tours, guides often say, "My name is Jane Smith and I hope you enjoyed your tour." This is a subtle pitch for a tip. If you've had a good time and you've been well looked after and well entertained, by all means give the guide a little something extra. Consider, £2-5 for a single traveler, £1-£2 per person for a family.On a bus or coach trip, the driver will often have a receptacle near the exit where you can leave your tip. If you've been on a tour of a few days, tip the coach driver an amount based on the number of days you've been traveling (£1-2 per day per person) at the end of the trip.
Find out loads more about tipping around the world with About.com Culinary Travel's Guide to Tipping Worldwide
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