One of the most common doubts among tourists who travel to London is if they should leave a tip and, if it is mandatory, how much more money to pay. In this article we will clear all your questions around this question.
Below you have an index with all the points that we are going to deal with in this article.
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Is it mandatory to tip?
The UK culture when it comes to tipping or not is similar to that of Spain: it's not mandatory. This means that the willingness to tip for the service received will depend on the level of customer satisfaction.
What does exist are a series of recommended and common percentages for certain types of services that will be detailed in the next subsections.
It is a form of appreciation, courtesy and appreciation that you can choose or not. UK residents are perhaps more reluctant than tourists to tip because, by law, they already receive the tip. national minimum wage or national minimum wage.
The best thing to do in these cases, as in everything, is to be guided by common sense: it is the easiest way to get it right. However, you should always keep in mind that in LondonAs in other UK cities, it is not always appropriate to tip.
What if I don't want to leave a tip? This is the question that many people ask themselves before starting their journey. Well, as we have said before, tipping is not mandatory, so the decision is in your hands and you should not feel pressured if you do not consider that you should do it. Obviously, it all depends on the situation, the context and the treatment received.
Also, you should know that, in English, tip is said type, noun that in turn acts as a verb when talking about tipping (to type o tipping).
In invoices and tickets, the usual thing is that a service charge is indicated using the formula service charge followed by included o not included as appropriate. Likewise, to ask for the bill in a restaurant we would say Can I have the bill, please? To the Waiter.
Restaurants, taxis and hotels
In London restaurants it is customary to leave between a 10 and 15% of the total of the account or, failing that, some currencies to round the total amount.
You must bear in mind that this not only applies when paying in cash, but also when paying with a card, since most dataphones are adapted and allow you to enter the amount of tip that the customer wishes to leave. In this case, the machine usually puts Add Free?
Very important when going to a London restaurant is the famous Charge for service o service charge. Despite this, not all establishments apply a service charge and, for those who do, their inclusion is usually done when the number of diners is greater than 6.
How do you know if the chosen restaurant charges a service charge? If so, it will appear on the invoice, in which case it will put service included. In the event that it appears on the account, it will not be necessary to leave a separate tip.
However, it is not a mandatory charge, so there is the possibility of requesting that it be withdrawn if we have not been satisfied with the service and / or treatment received.
On the other hand, in coffee shops there is a custom of leaving some change. In pubs, on the other hand, it is not customary to leave any type of tip and the same happens in chain cafeterias or fast food restaurants.
However, it could be that there was a boat on the bar, available for the customer, if he wishes, to leave some coins as a token of satisfaction.
In the accommodations no tip is left, generally neither in hotels nor in establishments Bed & Breakfast. Although this applies generally, it is true that in luxury hotels where the guest has a bellboy or a doorman, the most common thing is to leave them some coins. If the hotel has a restaurant, the operation will be the same as that explained above.
In taxis, the driver is usually left with up to 10% of the total at the end of the journey, although, as in restaurants, it is a mere custom and not a rule that indicates obligation. Likewise, the change is usually left after paying in cash, in which case we would use the phrase Keep the change to tell him to stay with him.
Donations at tourist attractions
Tourist attractions and tours guided in London they are usually free for the most part. Even so, you can always leave a few coins in the form of a donation at the end of our visit in the boxes provided at each attraction.
As always, this donation is given if the tour is considered worthwhile. In the case of the famous free toursThe normal thing is to give something to the guide, although it is not mandatory and he will not expect you to do it.
The vast majority of London museums are free because they are funded by the British Crown. He British museum (British Museum), one of the most visited attractions in London, is one of them.
However, at the entrance you can see some mailboxes enabled for donations for those visitors who wish to collaborate by expressing their satisfaction with the visit. So while admission is free, a £ 3 donation is suggested.
In non-free museums you can also see posters with suggestions about the donation, but of course it is not mandatory to give it And no one is going to pressure you to do it.
In this way, you may find yourself faced with cases in which, when purchasing the entrance ticket, you see a price of £ 24. However, in many cases the actual price is £ 21, which means that the price they are giving us includes the donation. If, when buying the ticket, you do not want to make this contribution, you have the right to claim it at the box office and pay only the real price of the ticket.
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