If you are visiting the UK and landing at Manchester Airport, one of the first things you need to do is buying a SIM card to stay connected. Getting a SIM card at this airport ends up being very simple. In this guide, we will go over how to buy a SIM card at Manchester Airport (MAN), the best plans, and the finest alternative to get Internet during your trip to Manchester, UK.
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To purchase a UK SIM card upon arrival at Manchester Airport, there are also some other better options available.
The table below shows the pros and cons of getting a SIM card at Manchester Airport versus ordering beforehand or shopping in the city center:
| Where to buy | Pros | Cons |
| At Manchester Airport | – Convenient – Immediate Internet access upon arrival | – Limited plans – Fewer operator options- Rather expensive |
| Online before trip | – A larger range of plans – Reasonable rates | – Wait for delivery (prepaid physical SIM) – Additional delivery charges |
| In Manchester center | – Widest options of plans available – Cheapest rates | – Need to commute to the city center |
► Our recommendations:
It is so easy to get a SIM card at Manchester Airport: ordering a UK SIM card online before your flight then picking it up at Manchester Airport or purchasing a UK SIM card upon arrival. Let’s explore the details of each way.
There are 03 terminals at Manchester Airport. Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 are used for flights from outside Europe and Terminal 3 is only for flights in Europe. Both Terminal 1 and 2 are simple to traverse and you can easily purchase a SIM card at Manchester Airport.
At this airport, there are no mobile network operator stores so you may only buy SIM cards at Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 with the four options as below:
What to prepare: passport, cash/ credit card, unlocked phone to insert your SIM
Cost: Expensive than buying in Manchester center or ordering online
Pros: quick Internet connection after landing, staff support
Cons: Shops do not always stay open late. If you reach late at night, some outlets are closed, and you will be unable to purchase a UK SIM card.
Location: Near the luggage belts at Terminal 1 and 2.
Plans: EE, Three, Vodafone SIM cards with various data plans and call/ text minutes (£20-45 GBP).
Location: Terminal 1, 2 and 3
Opening hours: Open 24 hours
Plans: Various UK SIM cards but you need to top up the credit yourself. SIM cards cost £2.99 GBP and 3GB of data costs £10 GBP.
Location: Terminal 1, 2 and 3
Plans: Lebara UK SIM cards with calls, texts, and data (£25 GBP)
Location: Terminal 1, 2 and 3
Opening hours:
Plans: SIM cards from Vodafone, EE, Lebara with data and call/ text (£20-30). Staff is available to help.
If landing at other UK airports, you can learn our guides on buying a SIM card at London Heathrow airport (LHR) and Gatwick Airport (LGW).
Yes, most shops selling SIM cards at MAN Airport are usually open after midnight, such as Travelex Currency Exchange and the Spar shop. However, WHSmith convenience stores are only open until 10:30 PM at the latest.
This means that if you arrive late at night, you may find these stores closed and won’t be able to buy a SIM card right away. You should plan accordingly and consider alternatives, such as pre-booking a SIM card online or using an eSIM if your phone supports it.
For only 19 EUR, tourists can have 4G or 5G network with unlimited calls and messages for 1 month. Below are the popular plans commonly used by tourists:
Good to know: £1 GBP = $1.28 and $1 USD = £0.78 GBP (January, 2024)
At Manchester Airport, stores offer UK SIM cars from major UK carriers such as EE, Vodafone, Three. They also offer UK SIM cards from Lycamobile that uses O2 networks.
| Operator | Data/ Calls/ Texts | Validity | Price |
| EE | 10.5GB, 150 minutes | 30 days in Europe | £20/ $25 |
| EE | 13GB, 250 minutes | 30 days in Europe | £25/ $32 |
| Three | 12GB, unlimited calls/ texts | 30 days in Europe | £30/ $38 |
| Vodafone | 20GB, 250 minutes, unlimited texts | 30 days in the UK | £25/ $32 |
| Lebara | 1GB, 500 minutes (international), 500 minutes (UK) | 30 days | £20/ $25 |
| Lebara | 5GB data, £5 credit, 1000 minutes (international), unlimited minutes (UK), 1000 UK texts | 30 days | £30/ $38 |
| Lycamobile | 6GB, Unlimited calls/ texts | 30 days in Europe | £25/ $32 |
| Lycamobile | 20GB, Unlimited calls/ texts | 30 days in the UK | £35/ $45 |
You have to prepare the right documents and items for purchasing a UK SIM card at Manchester Airport, such as: passport, ID card, ….
Pro Tip: You don’t need to bring a SIM removal tool with you as store staff will insert and activate the UK SIM card for you.
Tourists visiting Manchester, UK can buy a prepaid eSIM plan instead of physical SIM card to stay connected. This is why:
Gigago is a trusted UK eSIM provider that delivers a wide range of UK eSIM plans at competitive rates. For example, Gigago offers 10GB of data valid in 30 days for only $30, which is much more budget-friendly than UK SIM cards provided at Manchester Airport.
Pro Tip: You need to have an eSIM-compatible cell phone ready to download eSIM plans. Learn how to check if your phone supports eSIM by yourself or refer this eSIM compatiblity device list for quick check.
Your cell phone must be carrier-unlocked to use a UK SIM from a different network provider.
Tourists can easily buy a UK SIM card from stores like WHSmith and Spar Shop located in both Terminal and 2. There are also vending machines near the baggage belts.
Definitely. You will need to show your passport for age verification and ID checks.
In conclusion, you can easily purchase a SIM card at Manchester Airport, in the city center, or online before your UK trip. An eSIM is also an excellent choice thanks to its flexibility, diverse plans, and budget-friendly rates. Remember to choose the way to stay connected that best suits your priorities and needs.
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Getting a UK SIM card with cellular data is the most convenient and affordable way to stay connected
