Fewer and fewer Londoners are offering tips to delivery riders, new data has found, as soaring inflation and squeezed incomes stifles the generosity of the capital’s takeaway customers. But the likelihood of leaving a tip varies enormously between different London boroughs.
Residents of Richmond are London’s most generous tippers, according to delivery driver earnings app Rodeo, with at least one in four leaving a tip, closely followed by those who live in Swiss Cottage, Notting Hill and Paddington.
On the bottom end of the scale, Barking, and Tottenham were among the London areas least likely to leave a tip, with just one in twenty residents offering a gratuity.
The likelihood of tipping delivery drivers broadly correlates to property values in different parts of London, the data shows, though there are some notable exceptions. Residents of Brixton and Lewisham are more likely to tip than residents of Mayfair and Canary Wharf, while residents in Walthamstow tip better than those in London Bridge.
The average proportion of Deliveroo drivers offered a tip fell 7% in 2022, according to Rodeo data, while tips offered to Uber Eats drivers fell further, down 8%. The average tip paid per Deliveroo order was broadly unchanged, while the average Uber Eats tip went up by 10%.
Alfie Pearce-Higgins, Co-founder of Rodeo, said: “While it’s great that so many people choose to say thanks to their delivery driver, the cost-of-living crisis has hit the takeaway industry hard, and it’s no surprise that fewer people can afford to include a tip with their food order.
“The good news is that those who are still tipping are giving more – with average gratuities rising year on year.”
Have a look at the map below to find out how generous your London area is at tipping delivery drivers.
