Money, tipping, and prices in Reading
Contactless everywhere, 12.5% service on restaurant bills, and a realistic sense of what things actually cost.
Contactless card reader at a Reading pub bar
Paying for things
Reading is effectively cashless. Contactless card, Apple Pay, and Google Pay work in every pub, restaurant, taxi, and shop — including small independents and market stalls. ATMs are common but you’ll rarely need them. Avoid Euronet standalone ATMs (the pink-and-yellow ones) which charge $5+ per withdrawal; use bank-branded ATMs at NatWest, Barclays, or Lloyds on Broad Street. Foreign cards work fine but always choose to be charged in the local currency, not your home currency.
Tipping
Restaurants typically add 12.5% service to the bill — check before adding more. Where service isn’t added, 10% is normal for good service. Pubs: no tip for a pint at the bar, though rounding up or 'and one for yourself' is friendly. Taxis: round up to the nearest dollar or add 10% for longer rides. Hotel porters $2-3 a bag. Hairdressers 10%. No tipping in coffee shops, bakeries, or fast-food chains.
What things actually cost
Pint of beer $6-8, glass of wine $8-11, flat white $4.50, bacon roll from a cafe $5-7. Mid-range restaurant main course $18-25, upmarket $28-40, Michelin-starred tasting $80-120. Bus single $3, taxi across town $10-15. Reading Museum free, Reading Abbey Ruins free, most major museums free. Cinema $12-15 at the Vue in the Oracle. Hotel breakfast add-on typically $15-20, standalone breakfast in a cafe $10.
Frequently asked questions
What people ask before they set off on this one.
Almost never. Contactless works everywhere including buses, market stalls, and taxis.
12.5% is standard and often already added to the bill. Check before tipping again.
Roughly 15% cheaper than central London for food and drink, similar for hotels. Cheaper than Oxford and Bath in most categories.
Yes, universally. Choose to be charged in the local currency for the best exchange rate.
Hotels in Reading
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