Quick Facts
Delivery Apps in the UK
Deliveroo
PremiumDeliveroo is a British-born delivery platform and one of the UK's most popular apps. Known for its curated, premium restaurant partnerships, Deliveroo offers an excellent selection of quality restaurants across London and all major UK cities. The app is natively in English, accepts all foreign credit cards, and offers Deliveroo Plus subscription for free delivery. Deliveroo also operates Deliveroo HOP for quick grocery and convenience items. London coverage is outstanding, reaching virtually every neighborhood. Edinburgh, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, and other major cities have strong coverage too.
Uber Eats
HugeUber Eats is massive in the UK, with wide coverage across London and all major cities. It offers the familiar global Uber experience with seamless foreign card acceptance and your existing account works perfectly. The restaurant variety is excellent, ranging from local independents to major chains. Uber Eats also offers grocery delivery through partnerships with supermarkets. One of the best options for tourists due to the zero-friction experience of using your existing global Uber account.
Just Eat
Biggest by VolumeJust Eat is the UK's largest delivery platform by number of restaurant partners. It includes thousands of local takeaways, chip shops, curry houses, kebab shops, and independent restaurants that are not available on Deliveroo or Uber Eats. This gives you access to the most authentic local British takeaway experience. Just Eat accepts all foreign credit cards and is, of course, natively in English. Coverage extends to smaller towns and rural areas where other apps may not reach. If you want a traditional British fish and chips delivery, Just Eat is your best bet.
Getir
Quick GroceryGetir offers ultra-fast grocery and convenience delivery in major UK cities, particularly London. Perfect for tourists who need water, snacks, breakfast supplies, toiletries, or other essentials delivered in minutes. The app is in English, accepts foreign cards, and offers a wide range of grocery items. Getir is not a restaurant delivery app, but it fills an important gap for travelers who need quick essentials without visiting a shop.
Grocery & Convenience Delivery
The UK has outstanding grocery delivery options. From ultra-fast delivery services to major supermarket online shopping, you can easily stock your accommodation without visiting a shop.
Tourist Reality Check
For English-speaking tourists, the UK is the absolute easiest country in Europe for food delivery. Everything is natively in English — no translations needed, no language barriers at all. Every major app accepts foreign credit cards without any issues. No local phone number is required. You can literally land at Heathrow, open Deliveroo or Uber Eats, and order food to your hotel within minutes. It does not get easier than this.
London is one of the best cities in the world for food delivery. The diversity of cuisine is staggering — Indian, Chinese, Thai, Japanese, Middle Eastern, Italian, British, African, Caribbean, and much more. Coverage extends across all London zones, from Central London to the outer boroughs. Other major UK cities like Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Bristol also have excellent delivery coverage. Even smaller towns are covered by Just Eat.
You cannot visit the UK without trying fish and chips, and delivery is one of the best ways to enjoy it. Just Eat has the widest selection of traditional fish and chip shops (chippies). Look for well-rated local shops rather than chains for the most authentic experience. Other British delivery classics include a full English breakfast (available for brunch delivery), curry (the UK is famous for its Indian restaurants), and Sunday roast.
Tipping & Etiquette
Tipping on food delivery in the UK is optional but appreciated. A tip of £1–2 is common and considered generous. Delivery apps show a tipping option after your order is delivered. Many UK customers do tip on delivery orders, but it is not required or expected. Drivers will not be offended if you do not tip.
UK delivery drivers are professional and courteous. Delivery instructions are straightforward since everything is in English. If you have a complex address, add a note. "Leave at door" instructions are common and well-understood in the UK. Contactless delivery became standard during the pandemic and remains popular.
Hotel Delivery
Hotels in the UK are very delivery-friendly. Use the full hotel address and add the hotel name in your delivery notes. Most hotel receptionists will accept delivery orders without question. Many London hotels have a specific area for delivery pickups.
For flats and apartments, share the buzzer code with the driver in your delivery notes. UK apartment buildings typically have intercom systems. Student halls and some managed buildings may have restrictions on delivery access — check with your host. For Airbnb flats, the host usually provides entry instructions that work well for delivery drivers too.
Download Before You Land
The UK makes it incredibly easy for tourists. Here is your pre-flight prep.
Priority 1: Deliveroo — premium British app, curated restaurants, Deliveroo HOP for groceries.
Priority 2: Uber Eats — works with your existing account, wide coverage, grocery delivery available.
Priority 3: Just Eat — most restaurants by volume, local takeaways, fish & chips shops.
Optional: Getir — for ultra-fast grocery and convenience delivery in London and major cities.
Frequently Asked Questions
London is a paradise for food delivery. Deliveroo is the premium choice with curated restaurants and fast delivery across all London zones. Uber Eats is equally convenient and works with your existing global account. Just Eat has the most restaurants, including traditional British takeaways. All three are in English and accept foreign cards. For the best London experience, we recommend having both Deliveroo and Uber Eats installed.
It depends on what you are looking for. Just Eat has the most restaurants by volume, including local takeaways and chip shops. Deliveroo has the best curated, premium restaurant selection. Uber Eats offers wide coverage and a familiar global experience. All three are excellent for tourists. If you only download one app, Deliveroo or Uber Eats gives you the most polished experience. If you want access to the widest variety of local takeaways, add Just Eat.
Both are excellent in London and the choice often comes down to personal preference and specific restaurant availability. Deliveroo is known for higher-quality, curated restaurant partnerships and sometimes has exclusive restaurants. Uber Eats tends to have slightly wider coverage including more fast-food chains. Deliveroo Plus offers a subscription for free delivery. In practice, most London food delivery users have both apps installed and switch depending on which has their desired restaurant.
Yes, absolutely. All major UK delivery apps — Deliveroo, Uber Eats, Just Eat, and Getir — accept foreign Visa, Mastercard, and American Express cards. Apple Pay and Google Pay are also widely supported. The UK is one of the most card-friendly countries in the world, and delivery apps are no exception. You will have zero payment issues as a tourist.
Yes, the UK has excellent grocery delivery options. Getir offers ultra-fast delivery (10–15 minutes) of essentials. Deliveroo HOP provides quick convenience items. Major supermarkets like Sainsbury's, Tesco, Asda, and Ocado all offer online delivery — though these typically require a delivery slot booked in advance. Amazon Fresh is available in London. All accept foreign credit cards. These services are perfect for stocking your hotel or Airbnb.
Yes, London has excellent late-night delivery. Deliveroo and Uber Eats both have restaurants available until late, often past midnight. On Friday and Saturday nights, some restaurants stay on the platforms until 2–3 AM. Central London areas like Soho, Shoreditch, Camden, and Brixton have the best late-night selection. Just Eat also has numerous late-night takeaways. Kebab shops and fried chicken places are classic late-night London delivery options. Getir also operates late for grocery essentials.