Guides
How to choose, and how to check
Some UK trades are tightly regulated and some are not regulated at all. These guides set out which is which, which registers you can search for free, and what to ask before you hand over any money.
Topic
Food and drink
- Food hygiene ratings explained: what 0 to 5 meansA food hygiene rating is a score from 0 to 5 that a council inspector gives a food business after a visit. A 5 is very good. A 0 means urgent improvement is needed. The score covers hygiene only, not taste or service. You can look up any rating free on the Food Standards Agency website. 5 min read
- Takeaways: hygiene ratings, allergens and your rightsA takeaway must tell you which of the 14 main allergens are in its food when you ask, including for phone and online orders. Tell them about your allergy each time. If staff cannot say for sure, do not order it. Check the hygiene rating on the Food Standards Agency website. 4 min read
- What to check in a cafe: hygiene, allergens and accessA cafe must tell you which of the 14 main allergens are in its food when you ask. Cafes must register with the council, and you can check any hygiene rating free on the Food Standards Agency site. For step-free access, phone ahead, because websites are often wrong. 5 min read
- How pub and bar licensing works in the UKIn England and Wales, a pub needs a premises licence from the local council and a named Designated Premises Supervisor who holds a personal licence. The premises licence sets opening hours and rules, and it is a public record. Scotland has a separate system. Residents can ask for a review if there are problems. 4 min read
Topic
Trades in your home
- Plumbers · 119 listingsHow to choose a plumber in the UKAnyone can call themselves a plumber in the UK, so you have to do the checking. The one legal rule is for gas: any work on a boiler, hob or gas pipe must be done by an engineer on the Gas Safe Register. Get three written quotes and check what each one includes. 6 min read
- How to choose an electrician in the UKNo law says an electrician must be registered, but in England and Wales some home jobs must be done by a registered electrician or approved by building control. Check the electrician with their scheme, ask which certificate you will get, and keep it. It is your proof the work is safe. 5 min read
- How to choose a builder in the UKBuilding is not a licensed trade, so the checking is up to you. Get three written quotes, see proof of insurance, and agree a written contract. Pay in stages tied to finished work, keep any deposit small, and ask who will deal with building control. 5 min read
- How to choose a hairdresser in the UKHairdressing is not regulated in the UK, so there is no licence to check. Look for a salon that does a skin allergy test before colour, keeps its tools and hands clean, and explains the price first. Ask to see their work, and book a consultation before any big change. 5 min read
Topic
Health and care
- How to check a UK pharmacy is registeredEvery pharmacy in Great Britain must be on the General Pharmaceutical Council register, and so must its pharmacists. Search it free by name or registration number. If an online pharmacy is not on it, do not use it. Northern Ireland has its own register, run by the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland. 4 min read
- Opticians: your rights, and how to check the practiceOnly a registered optometrist, an ophthalmic medical practitioner or a doctor can test your sight in the UK. Check them on the General Optical Council register, which is free. After the test you are entitled to a copy of your prescription, and you can use it to buy glasses anywhere. 4 min read
- How to choose a vet, and what the RCVS register tells youAnyone treating your animal as a vet must be registered with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, and you can search the register free. Practices can also join the RCVS Practice Standards Scheme, which is voluntary and inspected. Ask about out-of-hours care and costs before you need them. 4 min read
- How to choose a dentist in the UKEvery dentist in the UK must be on the General Dental Council register, and you can check it free. Next, decide between NHS and private care. NHS charges in England come in three fixed bands. Private prices are set by each practice, so ask for a written plan with costs. 4 min read
Topic
Money, law and property
- How to choose a solicitor in the UKIn England and Wales, check any solicitor or firm on the Solicitors Regulation Authority register. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own regulators. Ask how you will be charged and get it in writing before you start. If a firm does not show up on the register, do not assume it is regulated. 6 min read
- How to choose an accountant in the UKIn the UK, anyone can call themselves an accountant. What counts is membership of a professional body such as ICAEW, ACCA, ICAS, CIMA or AAT. Ask for the body and the membership number, then check it on that body's own register. A logo on a website proves nothing. 5 min read
- Estate agents: the checks that are legally requiredEvery estate agent must belong to an approved redress scheme, either The Property Ombudsman or the Property Redress Scheme. Letting agents in England must also have Client Money Protection. Ask for the agent's membership, then check it on the scheme's own website. Both checks are free. 5 min read
- Car repairs and MOTs: what UK drivers should knowAn MOT is a yearly safety test for most cars over three years old, and only authorised test stations can do it. The most a garage can charge for a car test is set by the government. Repairs are not licensed, but a garage must do the work with reasonable care and skill. 5 min read
City shortlists
Best local services by city
Editorial shortlists to help you compare local businesses. They are starting points, not rankings, and we have not tested the businesses.
Electricians by city
- LondonElectricians in London
- BirminghamElectricians in Birmingham
- ManchesterElectricians in Manchester
- LeedsElectricians in Leeds
- LiverpoolElectricians in Liverpool
- BristolElectricians in Bristol
- SheffieldElectricians in Sheffield
- GlasgowElectricians in Glasgow
- EdinburghElectricians in Edinburgh
- CardiffElectricians in Cardiff
