London and area tipping

We will be in London for a few days prior to a cruise. I read that you don't tip waitresses, but what about transportation drivers (like 247 & Smith's)? Also bellmen etc. What %?

We will be in London for a few days prior to a cruise. I read that you don't tip waitresses, but what about transportation drivers (like 247 & Smith's)? Also bellmen etc. What %?

Tipping has changed in London and it is probably the fault of our American influence. Many London restaurants now add between 10 and 12 1/2 % to your check especially if they servemostly tourists. Be sure to look if it is on your bill and if it is your covered. If it is not it is now normal to leave a few pounds or up to 10% for good service. You can, however, just round up to the next pound.

We give drivers from and to the airport 5£ But we only have one bag each. In taxis we either round up for a short drive or sever pounds for a longer 10-15£ ride. We are probably not typical for porters since we have been back to our hotel for years and stay for weeks each time. We tip £5 pounds for our two wheeled carry on bags.

Tipping has changed in London and it is probably the fault of our American influence. Many London restaurants now add between 10 and 12 1/2 % to your check especially if they servemostly tourists. Be sure to look if it is on your bill and if it is your covered. If it is not it is now normal to leave a few pounds or up to 10% for good service. You can, however, just round up to the next pound.

It's long been the custom in London to tip something in the order of 10% in restaurants with full table service. When credit cards were charged using paper slips that you signed and could add a tip to, that was the conventional way of doing so. Some restaurants started adding a service charge (usually described as optional, for tax reasons), which took the place of the conventional ~10% tip.

With the advent of chip and PIN, and the inability of most people to work the machines to add an appropriate tip, the service charge route has become increasingly adopted.

If there is no service charge on the bill, then ~10% would normally be about right. But (unlike in the US) nobody is going to chase you down the street if you tip absolutely nothing, or anything in between. It is truly optional.

As for taxis, the tip expectations of licensed taxi drivers (ie those driving "black cabs") are now very low. If the fare is £5.70, rounding up to £6.00 will satisfy them. Even on a £20 fare, £1 extra is normally fine.

My experience of specialist airport transfer minicabs is that their tip expectations are now also very low.

Have to agree with Globaliser, but I never add the tip on to the CC bill. I always leave mine as a cash tip. Yes, do check if it has been added on. If so, there is no need to leave any extra.

On some occasions I have asked for the service charge to be removed if I have not had good service. I would pay 5 to 10 per cent in a restaurant.

Globaliser, as usual a great explanation.

Keith

Thanks everyone

I tip people who go the extra mile when providing a service. 10% would generally be the maximum and a surly water gets nothing. A taxi driver who doesn't even open the door for me also gets little or nothing but the guy who loads the luggage in and out will do a lot better.

At home, our house is set back a little from the street - a taxi driver who sits in his cab and sounds his horn is off to a bad start :)