We are travelling to London next week. What is the general rule of thumb when tipping bell hops, maids, taxi drivers, sky caps, waiters, etc.?

taxis 10-15%, I usually do 15% because that's what I do at home. <BR>I believe most restaurants add on a service charge; if they haven't, I'd suggest about 15% again, perhaps less in a very casual or simple place. Your hotel will likely add on a service charge as well; if you want to <BR>leave something extra for the chambermaid, I can only say it depends on what level of hotel it is, and ditto for the bellmen and doormen. I wouldn't give less than 50p-1 pound for any single service occasion or for one suitcase, and if the doorman went out in the rain to get me a taxi I'd tip more. <BR>I haven't used porters in trains or airports.

You don't have to tip taxi drivers. Many many Londoners don't because the prices are astronomical already. Sometimes they'll try to keep the change as a tip if you give them a note - don't be intimidated and ask for your change.

And don't tip the barman in a pub.

I agree with Brian.. Don't tip the bartender in a pub. I left a tip on a visit to a pub in Brighton. The bartender gave me my tip back saying, you don't tip in pubs in England. I work with a lady from London that works partime as a bartender in a British pub. She concurred, saying it is proper to say "Have a pint on me." The bartender will take out payment for the drink which I assume becomes a tip. -Dave- www.CrazyAboutTravel.com

Dave Hutchinson is right in the sense that this is how you would offer a tip to a barman - but please remember that this is not normal practice and that there is no expectation that you should do this. You might want to offer a drink to a barman if trade is slow and you end up having a chat with him, but in most normal circumstances people just pay for their drinks and that's it.

I had heard of this practice (offering the bartender a drink), but I never believed that it was really possible. In the puritanical US, this is illegal. <BR> <BR>What a great custom.

If you are tipping 15%, then please make sure that the service was worth it. I M H O, 10% is fine for bistros, pizza places, and any other place that is not too fancy. Some 'restaurants' put on a service charge anyway, but if you feel that it is not worth paying, then legally you are not obliged to leave any tip. Be careful too of the open credit card slip! Places that already have included a service charge sometimes expect more! <BR>Likewise, don't tip the barmaid/barman unless you have spent a lot of time in there and have struck up a relationship of sorts with her/him, and there is no need to tip the taxi driver. <BR>Americans might find this hard to do, ie, NOT to tip, but when in Rome...

The 15% standard in the US is replaced by 10% in UK.(less or zero if you're not happy) <BR>Don't leave 15% unless you think the service was special. <BR>Barmen are almost never tipped, it would spoil the relationship.Put your change back in your pocket as soon as you get it, don't leave in on the bar. <BR>In extreme situations you may need to tip a barman, an offer of money is an insult, you must pretend to buy him a drink ("and take one for yourself")which he will have "later", of course he will actually take the money. <BR>Personally I don't tip luggage grabbers or maids.