Tipping in UK hotels?

[theclockticksslowly]

I very rarely stay in hotels and certainly not ones which offer room service - but I will be staying a couple nights in a Hilton/Radisson type one next week for work. After a day’s training I am looking forward to relaxing in my room and ordering room service but I was wondering what the tipping etiquette is in UK hotels. When my room service order is brought to my room is it expected I should hand the waiter/server a tip? If so, how much?

I know in the US you should tip everyone but I’m not sure here and am imagining either a really awkward silence where a tip is expected or me awkwardly trying to handover some money when it’s not the done thing.

Tipping is not expected at chain hotels like the ones you've mentioned. It's customary in high end hotels but even then no one's going to turf you out if you don't.

When I’ve had room service, there’s been a ‘tray charge’ added to the bill ( typically £3/4 ) and then a 10% ( at least) service charge. That’s enough

As *Bourdic"says, there is usually a tray charge for room service which I take to be the tipping element. I have never noticed a service charge being added as well as a try charge (but I am not always that observant!). It will be set out on the room service menu.

Thank you! I’ll check the additional charge on the menu.

There will be a tray charge plus you’ll need to sign for the room service and the cheque will have space to add a tip.

In a four star chain you won’t need to tip on other occasions and they won’t expect it. In higher end hotels I tip the porters and tipping well in the bar always ensures future good service

I do think the service charge is standard practice. I used to work away a lot- I had a ceiling for my evening meal and so had to calculate cost of food + tray charge + service charge. Otherwise I had to pay the extra.This was staying at a range of hotels - Raddison , Hilton, Malmaison - that type. It really added up.

One hotel I stayed at had a space to write in a tip on top of the tray charge and service charge 😱