The Tourists' Guide To London's Tipping Culture
Tipping is a cultural practice that fluctuates depending on where travelers find themselves. In the United States, it's common practice to tip anywhere from 15% to 20% for standard services. Exceptional service may even warrant a 25% tip.
Tips can be a significant portion of an employee's wages. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the minimum cash wage for a tipped employee is $2.13 an hour. This makes tipping a vital economic component.
Travel elsewhere and expectations on this front vary drastically. In Japan, tipping can be considered rude. Here, the cultural reward for good work is often seen as customers returning for further service. A tip can be viewed as both confusing in this context and even offensive.
Tipping can also be seen as insulting in places like China and Hong Kong. Even across Europe, tipping expectations vary. In countries like Belgium, a service charge is included in restaurant and bar bills so there's no need to tip. In places like France, service charges are included at restaurants but it's customary to round up for smaller dishes and leave up to 10% at fine dining establishments.
Travelers exploring London will find it too is a destination with its own set of rules regarding tipping etiquette in place. Whether you're here for a few days or planning an extended stay, having a handle on tipping culture is helpful. Knowing what to leave behind in exchange for service can take some serious stress out of travel.
Tipping on arrival
Arriving in the vibrant city of London is always an exciting experience. Travelers often head from the airport or train station directly to their hotels. Many count on taxi services to get where they're going on that first day.
It's good to note that when you hop in a taxi in London, tipping isn't expected, but it's certainly appreciated. This is true whether you choose a standard black cab or a licensed minicab to get around. Typically, the expectation is that passengers will round up the total fare to the nearest pound to show their appreciation for a safe and smooth ride.
Once you arrive at your hotel, the type of accommodations you've selected to enjoy may determine your tipping practices. Generally, hotels in London will automatically add a service charge of anywhere from 10% to 12% to the final bill. If that isn't the case, it's customary to leave that amount as a tip.
If you've booked a stay at a hotel with concierge services and porters on hand, tipping is always good form. Following the 10% rule is a reasonable standard when tipping for concierge services like ticket bookings and restaurant reservations. The expectation for tipping porters is typically £2 per bag. Leaving a tip for housekeeping staff upon departure is up to each individual depending on the service they feel they've been provided during their stay.
Standards for tipping while out and about
A trip to London is a chance to get out and discover the many exciting attractions that await. Exploring places like the Tower of London, Big Ben, the London Eye, and Westminster Abbey on your own is always an option. However, if you book a tour or a guide service in London, you're going to want to be up-to-date on tipping etiquette.
Tour guides in London earn an average annual salary of around £24,296. While it isn't obligatory to tip a tour guide in London, it's always appreciated and a fairly common practice. Tip totals vary depending on the length of the tour, but a good rule of thumb is to plan on giving anywhere from £2 to £4 per person.
Exploring London often leaves travelers working up an appetite. Fortunately, the city is packed with great restaurants, cafés, and pubs to enjoy. Understanding the tipping etiquette here allows you to focus more on the flavor and less on the stress of how much you need to leave on the table.
Anytime you enjoy table service in London, you'll want to check the bill to see if a service charge has already been included. If it hasn't, it's customary to leave anywhere between 10% and 15% as a tip. There's no real need to worry about tipping at pubs. However, if you see a tip jar and service has been exceptional, feel free to drop in change for good measure.