Visiting the UK soon? Wondering whether you can access the Internet for map navigation, social media browsing, or staying in touch with your family and friends? The short answer is yes and prepaid tourist UK SIM cards can help you. Check out this essential guide to know how and where to buy UK SIM cards, costs, and data plans.
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Tourists have 04 major ways to buy a UK SIM cards for travelers: buying before departure, buying at UK airports, buying online and buying in the cities.
The first way is to buy UK eSIM online before traveling. You can get it from reliable eSIM providers like Gigago. Setting up is straightforward as you can activate it online right on your phone via a QR code.
Pros: No need to get to SIM stores, no need to wait for delivery, immediate Internet connection as soon as you reach the UK.
Cons: only for eSIM-compatible cell phones.
It is easy to get a suitable physical SIM card at carrier stores or kiosks which are located at airports such as Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted, or Manchester.
Pros: Convenient to have an Internet connection upon arrival
Cons: Limited plan options, more costly than stores outside airports
Another way to get a UK SIM card is by ordering it online and the international SIM provider will ship it to your home address before your trip. Then the activation and package selection may be arranged online.
Pros: No UK address required, convenient, good value bundles
Cons: Additional shipping fees, still more expensive than local city purchases
You can visit official retail stores of UK mobile network providers like EE, O2, Three, and Vodafone in cities across the UK. You may also get to convenience stores like Sainsbury and Tesco to buy a SIM card for UK.
Pros: widest selection of plans, competitive rates, best guidance and customer service at official stores.
Cons: Require searching for stores, staff at convenience stores may have no exact knowledge about UK SIM cards.
► Our Recommendations:
The finest option for travelers in the UK will depend on their priorities and preferences:
To further understand why a UK SIM card is the best option, check out this comparison table:
| Criteria | SIM Card | Free Wifi | International Roaming |
| Availability | – Diverse operators – Extensive coverage | Available at limited cartels, cafes, restaurants | Coverage depends on your home provider |
| Convenience | – Easy purchase – Internet access from your device anywhere | Need to find hotspots, inaccessible when in remote areas | Use existing number |
| Price | Reasonable | Free | High fees for data usage, calls, texts |
| Device | Any unlocked phone | Your phone | Your own phone |
| Privacy | Private connection | Unsecured connection | Operator tracks your usage |
Important Notes:
Good to know: £1 GBP = $1.28 USD and $1 USD = £0.78 GBP (as of January 2024)
Insight: Three UK seems to offer competitive plans, especially for heavy users. It still offers free EU roaming, making its plans suitable for traveling within Europe.
Insight: EE’s plans seem to be reasonably priced with decent data allowances and call/ SMS bundles. However, prepaid users cannot use EE’s 5G network.
Insight: O2 offers affordable plans and offers free EU roaming on the first three packages. O2 plans are a decent choice for tourists traveling in the UK as well as in Europe.
Insight: Vodafone is a suitable option for tourists traveling to the UK as its plans include generous allowances and offer value for money. If you are not a heavy user, 7G will be enough to keep in touch, map navigation, emails, etc. All the plans are only on the 4G network.
Note: The details and prices of plans are subject to change. You should visit your chosen carrier’s website for the latest information.
► Our Recommendation:
Of all UK mobile network carriers, Three provides the best balance of cost, network coverage, and roaming benefits suited for tourists traveling in and beyond the UK. EE is also a solid choice for tourists with roaming add-ons which can be useful for tourists. O2 and Vodafone also have strong coverage and their pay-as-you-go plans offer flexibility but they are not as competitive as Three.
Yes! Definitely!
Prepaid UK SIM cards are the most convenient and cost-effective way that keep you online in the UK. Having an Internet connection on your phone makes your trip much easier. Getting directions from Google Maps, ordering a cab on the street, browsing social media, and sending calls or messages to relatives and friends are all made simple.
When buying a SIM card in Italy, it will be linked to your name and passport number. The process typically involves the following steps:
To avoid this registration process, you might want to consider ordering an eSIM card online before traveling to Italy. This can save time and make the setup process more straightforward.
UK SIM cards can be categorized into 2 main types based on their forms:
Each type is also further classified by function:
Let’s look further into the two types: physical prepaid SIM card and prepaid tourist eSIM in the UK:
A prepaid physical UK SIM card is a SIM card that exists in a tangible form. To activate it, you need to insert it into a designated slot of your phone or remove it from your phone. Tourists traveling to the UK can choose a data-only SIM or data + voice + text SIM depending on their priorities and needs.
eSIM is a chip that is built-in to your mobile phone. Unlike a physical SIM card, you do not need to insert or remove a physical SIM when switching carriers or packages. eSIM can be bought and activated online and also has two sorts (data-only plan and data + voice + text plan). To use UK eSIM, you will need an eSIM-compatible cell phone.
The table below features the pros and cons of the two types of UK SIM cards for tourists:
| SIM Type | Prepaid physical UK SIM | Prepaid UK eSIM |
| Pros | – Widely available – Offerd by all mobile network carriers in the UK – Affordable | – Available anywhere, anytime – No need to visit SIM stores – Simple online activation – No risk of SIM loss |
| Cons | – SIM might get lost when uninstalled – Unlocked cell phone needed – Need to purchase | – Only for eSIM -compatible devices – Need to unlock phone before use – Tied to a single activating phone |
► Our Recommendation:
Select prepaid UK eSIM with a data-only package if you already have an eSIM-compatible cell phone and need Internet connection for entertainment or to stay connected via online chat apps. This is an incredible choice for tourists visiting the UK in 2024.
Tourists to the UK may have an Internet connection via different options like international roaming, free Wifi, pocket Wifi, and physical UK SIM cards. However, eSIM for the UK provides outstanding features over those alternatives:
If you are in the UK or are planning a trip to the UK and are looking for a reliable eSIM provider, Gigago should be a great choice thanks to its competitive eSIM packages. Unlike other suppliers, Gigago provides tourists with data-only options and call-inclusive plans.
The provider offers multiple data plan options for the UK, starting from a 3-day plan with 300MB per day for $5 as their most minimal plan. They also have 5-day, 7-day, 10-day, 14-day, 15-day, 20-day, 25-day, 28-day, and 30-day plans ranging from 1GB to 50GB of data, with prices from $5 up to $136.90.
Buying a UK eSIM from Gigago is undoubtedly the top choice for tourists seeking budget-friendly and hassle-free Internet access during their UK trip.
The validity of a tourist SIM card in the UK typically depends on the specific plan and provider you choose. Here are some general options:
It’s advisable to check the specific terms of the SIM card plan you are considering to ensure it matches the length of your stay in the UK.
You have chosen the best network operator and data packages for your trip to the UK. Here is how to get online with UK prepaid SIM cards and eSIMs.
Firstly, you purchase a prepaid SIM card for the UK. Then:
To utilize a prepaid eSIM in the UK, you need to follow these simple steps:
Yes, of course. Your mobile phone needs to be unlocked to work with a UK SIM card. To be sure, check your phone’s locking status with your home provider before traveling.
Most UK SIM cards no longer include free EU roaming since Brexit. Check the plan details to see if roaming is included for a fee or not supported.
You can pick one up upon arrival at UK airports, purchase from official stores of network carriers located throughout the country, or order online from trusted providers before your trip.
You will need a valid passport to get a prepaid SIM card in the UK.
To sum up, prepaid UK SIM cards and eSIMs will help you stay connected during your trip. Major network carriers such as Three, EE, O2 offer extensive coverage and competitive plans, so going online and enjoying reliable data and call/ text services will be easy and quick. An eSIM will be the best option for those who have eSIM-compatible mobile devices.
With extensive coverage and fast data speed, Three let visitors access a secure and easy Internet connection. This guide will go over everything you need to know about Three SIM cards and eSIM: the best option, how to get and activate, and the finest alternatives.
There are several great options for getting mobile data, calls, and text during your stay and the two handy choice are Vodafone SIM cards and eSIM. Both allow access to Vodafone’s fast and reliable network coverage. This guide will outline how tourists can set up Vodafone SIM for use, the best options, and how and where to buy.
Renting a pocket Wifi in the UK is one of the ways for tourists to navigate the destinations, use travel apps, and keep in touch with their loved ones.
This guide will provide an overview of EE SIM cards and eSIM to help you get online while visiting the UK.
As one of the largest and most reliable networks in the UK, O2 provides fast data and calls throughout the country via their extensive network coverage
Getting a UK SIM card with cellular data is the most convenient and affordable way to stay connected
