tipping
Tipping in the United Kingdom: service charges and restaurant etiquette
A practical guide to tipping in the UK, including discretionary service charges, when to add 10–15%, and how to read the bill.
Updated 2026-05-10
Tipping in the United Kingdom is less percentage-driven than in the United States, but restaurant bills can still be confusing because many places add a service charge.
The short version: if there is no service charge, leaving 10–15% at a sit-down restaurant is common. If a discretionary service charge is already on the bill, you usually do not need to add more.
Quick answer
| Situation | Practical amount |
|---|---|
| Restaurant with no service charge | 10–15% |
| Discretionary service charge included | No extra needed, unless you want to |
| Pub drinks at the bar | Usually no tip |
| Counter service | Optional |
| Excellent service | Round up or add a little extra |
If you are splitting a restaurant bill, first decide whether the service charge stays on the bill, then divide the final total.
What is a discretionary service charge?
Many UK restaurants add a discretionary service charge, often around 12.5%. It is usually shown near the bottom of the bill. Because it is already a service amount, adding another full tip on top is not expected.
If service was poor, you can ask for a discretionary charge to be removed, though many travelers prefer to avoid the awkwardness unless there was a real problem.
Pubs are different
If you order drinks at the bar, tipping is not normally expected. You may see tip jars, and you can leave change if you want, but it is not the same as table service in a restaurant.
Bottom line
In the UK, read the bill before deciding. No service charge? Add around 10–15% for good table service. Service charge already included? You can simply pay the total.
Example
If a restaurant bill is £58 and there is no service charge, a 10% tip is £5.80 and a 12.5% tip is £7.25. Rounding the total to about £65 would be reasonable for good service.
If the same bill already includes a 12.5% discretionary service charge, pay the total shown unless you have a reason to change it. You can add a little extra for exceptional service, but most visitors do not need to calculate a second tip on top of the first.
Common mistakes
The main mistake is adding a full tip on top of a discretionary service charge without noticing it. In many restaurants, the service charge is already the tip-like amount. Read the bottom of the bill before paying.
The opposite mistake is treating pubs like American table-service restaurants. If you walk to the bar, order, pay, and carry the drink yourself, tipping is not normally expected. If you receive table service in a restaurant or hotel dining room, the situation is different.
Traveler note
If you are uncomfortable with a service charge because service was genuinely poor, you can ask for it to be removed. For normal meals, most visitors simply pay the bill as shown when the service charge is already included.