Traveling to the UK and wondering what is the best way to stay connected? Don't waste money on high roaming costs or slow overseas data roaming plans. In this complete guide for finding the best sim card for your trip to the UK you will read everything you need to know about buying a prepaid sim card in the UK.
Find out everything about the best 4G/5G network coverage, a comparison of the UK mobile internet providers, up to date prices as per June 2024, the best e-sim cards for the UK, where to buy a sim card, all about EU roaming with UK prepaid sim cards, international sim cards and more.
The easiest place to buy a sim card in the UK is directly on arrival at the airport. More expensive but very convenient. Check out my guides for buying a UK sim card at: London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Stansted, Luton or Manchester Airport and I will tell you exactly where to go, how much UK sim cards cost at the airport, if you can get an e-sim card at the airport and more.
In this article you will find a UK sim card comparison of all the pay-as-you-go deals from the mobile internet providers in the UK and the most well known MVNO's. All the prepaid sim card deals mentioned in this article can be bought in any official retail store or reseller shops across the UK.
Unfortunately as per June 2024 you can still only get physical prepaid sim cards, there are no e-sims for tourists available. Are you looking for e-sims for the UK then check out my comparison of the best e-sim cards for traveling to the UK in 2024.
Being a full time nomadic travel blogger since 2012 and also trying to visit every country in the world you can understand why I constantly change countries. In 2022 I visited a total of 62 different countries and in 2023 I traveled to 34 countries.
Nowadays I pretty much all the time use e-sim cards as they are the easiest way to stay connected, but sometimes I prefer local prepaid sim cards, depending on my trip.
Looking for the best to stay connected is the first thing I do when I get to a new country and I like to document my research for the best sim cards and all my travel tips. Therefore on Traveltomtom you can already find more than 200 sim card guides from all over the world: USA, Asia, Malaysia, Brazil, Cameroon, Kenya, South Africa, Costa Rica, Bali, Indonesia, Philippines, Australia.
But also places like New York, Paris, Rome, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Mexico, Canada, Panama, Thailand, Bangkok, Hong Kong, etc.
So next time you are planning your adventure abroad come check out Traveltomtom for the latest prepaid and e-sim card advice for your next holiday destination. Bookmark me!
My recommendation
Traveltomtom recommends a Three (3) sim card for traveling to the UK. For £20 GBP ($25 USD) you get 50 GB data for 30 days on one of the best 4G/5G data networks in the UK. Plus Three UK still offers (limited) free data-roaming in Europe with their prepaid sim cards plans.
None of the mobile internet providers in the UK offer e-sim cards for prepaid users. So tourists that looking to get an e-sim card for the UK will have to order one online. But don't worry...
Traveltomtom wrote a complete guide for the best e-sim cards for traveling to the UK in 2024.
The easiest way to get internet on your phone when traveling to the UK in 2024 is an e-sim card. E-sim cards are Traveltomtom's first recommendation on how to stay connected when traveling to the United Kingdom.
You can get a UK e-sim card for with 30 GB data + unlimited calls in Europe for $44.90 USD. Or simply get an e-sim card for just $5 USD, the cheapest way to stay connected when traveling to the UK.
Traveltomtom recommends ordering UK e-sim cards via either Airalo, Nomad or SimOptions.
Traveltomtom mostly recommends local prepaid sim cards over international physical prepaid sim cards. However, especially since Brexit and the end of free EU roaming, some international sim cards are amazing deals for traveling Europe.
Check out my article with a comparison of the best international sim cards for traveling in 2024 or my complete guide for the best prepaid and e-sim cards for Europe travel.
If you are NOT a fan of swapping sim cards and changing phone numbers then you might want to look into the option of getting a portable WiFi device for your trip to the UK. Personally I am not a fan and I will tell you why in my HONEST review about using a pocket WiFi when traveling.
Best e-sim cards for the UK
E-sim cards are the easiest, fastest and cheapest way to stay connected when traveling to UK in 2024.
However, as of June 2024 no mobile internet provider in the UK provides e-sim cards for tourists. All the Vodafone, O2, Three and EE stores in the UK do NOT sell e-sim cards in stores across the UK, only physical prepaid sim cards are offered for tourists
The only place to buy an e-sim card for the UK is on the internet.
Which is actually even easier. No more visiting a sim card store, no more swapping physical sim cards! You arrange everything online within just a couple minutes.
You order an e-sim card for the UK on the internet, you receive a QR code, scan it, follow the simple steps and within less than 2 minutes you have a UK e-sim card installed on your phone.
Upon arrival in the United Kingdom it automatically connects you to an available network and you enjoy data on your phone pretty much when the plane lands.
There are 3 trusted e-sim card providers that Traveltomtom has tested and reviewed multiple times: Airalo, SimOptions and Nomad.
For much more detailed info and an answer to all FAQ's about using e-sim cards check out Traveltomtom's complete guide with everything you need to know before ordering an e-sim card for traveling to the UK in 2024.
Airalo
Traveltomtom has used Airalo uncountable times without ever facing a problem. Airalo offers e-sims for pretty much every country in the world.
Check out the Airalo e-sim card plans for the UK in 2024:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $5 USD
- 2 GB data for 15 days = $7.5 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $10 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $15 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $22.5 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $36 USD
Click here to directly order an Airalo e-sim card for the UK.
All the above e-sim cards for the UK from Uki Mobile are data-only and calls are NOT supported. The data allowance is only valid in the UK, there is no free EU roaming with these e-sim cards. They operate on the 4G/LTE networks of O2 and Three.
SimOptions
SimOptions offers different kind of e-sim cards, so called international e-sims. Traveltomtom has used SimOptions in more than 50 countries around the world.
If you are looking for UK e-sim cards that support call and texting as well as EU roaming then check out the following international e-sim cards for the UK from SimOptions:
- 15 GB data + unlimited calls for 15 days = $21.90 USD
- 10 GB data (5G ready) for 30 days = $24.90 USD
- 12 GB data + 30 minutes international + unlimited calls/text for 14 days = $29.90 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $34.90 USD (data-only, no EU roaming)
- 30 GB data + unlimited calls for 30 days = $44.90 USD
- 30 GB data + 120 minutes international + unlimited calls/text for 14 days = $49.90 USD
- 50 GB data (5G ready) + unlimited calls/text for 28 days = $59.90 USD
Click here for more info or to order an international e-sim card for the UK via SimOptions.
Before ordering an e-sim card for the UK make sure your phone is e-sim compatible and unlocked. If not sure contact your mobile internet provider in your home country before traveling to the United Kingdom.
For more info about using e-sim cards when traveling to the UK check out my guide with everything you need to know about UK e-sim cards, including up to date prices, a comparison of the best e-sim cards, my recommendations, more about UK e-sim cards with unlimited data, FAQ about e-sim cards and much more.
If your phone is not e-sim compatible there is also still the possibility of ordering an international physical prepaid sim card with coverage in the UK. You order online and a physical sim card gets delivered to your home address before your trip.
For $49.90 USD you get 30 GB data + unlimited calls within Europe and 120 minutes worldwide. Click on the link to get more info via SimOptions.
Do UK prepaid sim cards allow free EU roaming?
One of the best things the European Union came up with after the Euro was the ban on roaming charges within the EU countries. That means you can use a sim card from Italy also in France, Spain, etc. without extra charges, so called free EU data roaming.
The UK was always part of this deal but unfortunately since Brexit most mobile internet provider in the UK stopped offering free EU roaming. That means if you buy a sim card with 30 GB data in London and 2 days later you travel to Paris your sim card won't work unless you pay an extra fee per day!
Only Three UK still offers free EU roaming on their prepaid sim cards. Vodafone UK, EE and O2 started charging an extra fee for EU data roaming on their pay-as-you-go plans.
This makes UK prepaid sim cards pretty useless for traveling to Europe. If you are traveling in Europe onwards after visiting the UK, you better have choose one of these sim cards for traveling in Europe in 2024, which you can also use in the UK.
Read more info about EU roaming and all my tips and tricks in my guide for buying a local sim cards in Europe in 2024.
Why buying a sim card for the UK?
Being connected to the internet makes life so much more easier! Imagine having no data connection on your phone when you travel to the UK! Ordering a cab on the streets or getting directions from Google Maps, finding a nearby restaurant with good reviews, etc. suddenly all becomes pretty difficult. So many simple things that you can only do when you have a working internet connection on your phone: check your banking apps, sports results, staying in touch, finding nearby friends and so on.
You can of course use data roaming or overseas data plans, but these plans work with reduced internet speed. Plus, why pay $10 per day when for $25 USD you can get unlimited 4G/5G data for a whole month!? Data roaming is much more expensive than local prepaid sim cards and buying a sim card in the UK is easy. Getting an e-sim card for the UK is even easier!
Yes, all hotels, bars, restaurants, sometimes even trains and busses have free public WiFi. However, keep in mind that public WiFi is through an UNSECURED internet connection? The use of a VPN service is recommended.
Just don't rely on WiFi, thank me later! Traveltomtom recommends buying a local prepaid sim card for traveling in the UK or an e-sim card.
However, since the United Kingdom left the EU following Brexit, there are now EU roaming charges. So if you are traveling to Europe, you might want to look into buying a sim card for Europe rather than a UK sim card. More about that later.
RELATED: Best E-Sim Cards for Traveling to the UK in 2024.
Mobile internet operators in the UK
Before I make a UK prepaid sim card comparison I will first show you all the available mobile internet operators in the UK.
There are 5 main mobile internet providers in the UK:
- Vodafone
- O2
- Three (3)
- EE Mobile
- Virgin Mobile
Virgin Mobile UK does not offer prepaid or pay as you go sim cards for the UK! All the other providers sell prepaid sim cards for tourists. In the UK they call them often pay-as-you-go sim cards.
On top of the above available mobile internet providers there are a dozen of other local sim cards available in smaller shops which I did not take into consideration, so called MVNO's. For tourists on a short stay I do not recommend any of these sim cards. But you can check out Lebara or Lycamobile sim cards for the UK. Sometimes they have good prepaid sim card deals.
When arriving at London Heathrow, London Gatwick, London Stansted or London Luton Airport you are able to buy a Lebara sim card or a Lycamobile sim card at the airport. Both sim cards also work fine for traveling in Europe. The problem is they have a lot of restrictions, surprises and hidden fees or very limited EU roaming, etc.
Where to buy a UK sim card for tourists
International Airport on arrival in the UK
If you are flying to the UK and landing at one of the following airports: Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton or Manchester Airport then click on the links for a detailed guide for buying a UK sim card on the airport.
At Heathrow Airport you can now buy e-sim cards as well, but the prices of UK e-sim cards you buy on the internet are cheaper.
Official retail stores
When looking to buy a sim card in any city in the UK, it is best to use Google Maps to find the nearest mobile phone shop or official retail store nearby. Simply type in your preferred mobile internet operator and add store to it. For example your search term would be: ‘Vodafone store’.
The search results on Google Maps will then show you all the Vodafone shops around you. Simple as that! :)
At the official retail stores you will get the best service and the staff will make sure everything is working perfect and smooth and you are connected before you walk out of the store.
Convenience Store
You can also buy a prepaid sim card for the UK in a convenience store. But is that convenient? Well, if you know what you are doing and are ok with the registering the sim card yourself online then it is an option. Some bigger supermarkets also sell UK sim cards. Traveltomtom does not recommend buying a sim card for a convenience store as the staff has no exact knowledge about these sim cards. Is EU-roaming included or not? How to do the registration? Scan your own passport, etc. Just too complicated for tourists.
Online
Tourists can also order sim cards for the UK online. International sim cards are physical sim cards that will be shipped to your home address before your trip and are ready to use when you travel to the UK. International and e-Sim cards for the UK can only be bought online and not in a store.
Another popular way of staying connected when traveling to the UK are e-Sim cards. As mentioned before it is very easy to order a UK e-sim card on the internet. Check out my comparison of the best UK e-sim cards in 2024 and find the best e-sim card for your trip to the UK.
UK prepaid sim card comparison in 2024
Prices for prepaid sim cards and data plans constantly change. Traveltomtom does everything in his power to keep all the information up to date. The below info and data plans are updated as per June 2024. Prices are in GBP: £1 GBP = $1.27 USD and $1 USD = £0.79 GBP.
Vodafone UK pay as you go sim card
Vodafone has 5 different UK prepaid sim cards, so called pay-as-you-go plans. If you are not a heavy data user the smallest plan with 7 GB will be enough to use data for keeping in touch, navigation, emails, etc. All plans are valid for 30 days, but only on 4G.
- 7 GB data + unlimited calling and texting = £10 GBP - $13 USD
- 20 GB data + unlimited calling and texting = £15 GBP
- 40 GB data + unlimited calling and texting = £20 GBP - $25 USD
- 100 GB data + unlimited calling and texting = £30 GBP
If you want to use the Vodafone 5G network and you are looking for a UK sim card with unlimited data:
- Unlimited data + unlimited calling and texting = £40 GBP - $51 USD
There is NO free EU-roaming included anymore in the Vodafone pay-as-you-go prepaid sim card. For using your data allowance in Europe you have to pay £2 GBP per day, £8 for 8 days or £15 GBP for 15 days. For some reason there is free roaming in Norway and Iceland.
Vodafone does NOT offer e-sim cards for prepaid users. For more info see the Vodafone UK website.
Three UK prepaid sim card
There are 4 different Three UK sim card plans for tourists available. Three UK sim cards are free, no activation costs required and great thing is that they are all 5G ready at no extra costs.
- 10 GB data + unlimited calls/sms = £10 GBP - $13 USD
- 25 GB data + unlimited calls/sms = £15 GBP
- 50 GB data + unlimited calls/sms = £20 GBP - $25 USD
- Unlimited data + unlimited calls/sms = £35 GBP
Three UK still offers free EU roaming on their prepaid sim cards and even better for those who travel even further. Three UK offers free roaming in over 70 destinations: Australia, Brazil, United States, etc. Data roaming packages are capped at 12 GB data.
Three Mobile does NOT offer e-sim cards for prepaid users. Online orders are ONLY available for UK residence. For more info and offers check out the Three UK website.
For more on how to order a sim card for the UK online scroll down below!
O2 UK prepaid sim card
There are 4 different O2 UK prepaid sim cards available. The sim card is free, but you have to top up with one of the following 4 pay-as-you-go options valid for 30 days:
- 7 GB data + unlimited calls/sms = £10 GBP - $13 USD
- 20 GB data + unlimited calls/sms = £15 GBP
- 30 GB data + unlimited calls/sms = £20 GBP - $25 USD
- 100 GB data + unlimited calls/sms = £30 - no free EU Roaming included
O2 allows free EU roaming on the first 3 packages. O2 does NOT offer e-sim cards for prepaid users. Check the O2 UK website for more info.
EE UK pay as you go sim card
What I like about EE is that they have a wifi signal at every London Underground station. There is no phone signal in the London Underground so if you are about to buy a sim card for the UK and you know you gonna travel a lot in the London Underground this is something to keep in mind.
Although EE has the best 4G/5G network in the UK EE does NOT allow prepaid sim card users to use their 5G network. That means although there is 5G everywhere, the max data speed with EE prepaid sim cards is 4G/LTE.
These are the EE prepaid sim card deals for 2024, all valid for 30 days:
- 5 GB data + 500 minutes + unlimited sms = £10 GBP - $13 USD
- 15 GB data + unlimited calls/sms = £15 GBP
- 70 GB data + unlimited calls/sms = £20 GBP - $25 USD
- 100 GB data + unlimited calls/sms = £30 GBP
EE offers competitive prepaid data plans. An EE prepaid sim card is free and for £20 GBP you get 70 GB data + unlimited calls/text in the UK. Data roaming in the EU is NOT included anymore. EE does NOT offer e-sim cards for prepaid users. For more info check the EE website.
When doing my research for buying a sim card at London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Luton and Stansted Airport I rated EE UK as one of the best buy sim cards at the international airports in the UK.
GiffGaff UK sim card
Looking for another free sim card for the UK then have a look at GiffGaff. A Giffgaff prepaid sim card will be send to your home address for free before your trip to the UK. GiffGaff operates on the O2 network in the UK.
Rates for GiffGaff UK sim cards are actually pretty good! All the pay-as-you-go data packages INCLUDE unlimited calls/text within the UK and are 5G ready. For £35 GBP ($45 USD) you get 150 GB data in the UK.
EU roaming is NOT included in GiffGaff sim cards and also the process of obtaining one is rather difficult. I tried to send myself a free GiffGaff sim card to Dubai and it wasn't a success. The sim card came a couple weeks too late for some reason and when I tried to activate it I ran into problems and I gave up.
Lebara UK sim card
Lebara also offers prepaid sim cards for the UK. The pay as you go bundles already start from £5 GBP but only give you 5 GB data for 30 days. But there are more data bundles available, see the picture above.
For most tourists traveling to the UK the Lebara £15 GBP sim-only plan with 30 GB data is a good deal, but it give you much less value for money than prepaid sim cards from Vodafone, EE, Three or O2. Free EU roaming is limited, therefore Lebara UK is NOT a recommended sim card for traveling in Europe.
What Lebara separates from the other UK sim cards is that they offer free international calling minutes not only to the EU, but also to the USA, India, Thailand, Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Malaysia, Israel, South Korea, Singapore.
Another positive thing about a Lebara UK sim cards is that you can buy them in mobile phone shops and convenience stores across the UK like Tesco, WH Smith, Argos, Sainsbury's. If you see shops with a Lebara sign that means you can get the same sim card deals as online. Lebara operates on the 4G/5G network of Vodafone UK.
Best 4G/5G network in the UK in 2024
To make a fair UK prepaid sim card comparison let's also have a look at the 4G/5G network coverage in the United Kingdom. It would be a bummer if you are on a UK road trip and as soon as you leave London there is no phone signal anymore. Also who is happy with a 3G signal nowadays!? As much as we can, we want 5G and fast mobile data speed.
Find below the UK 4G/5G network coverage maps per provider and my conclusion.
4G/5G Network coverage map Three UK
4G/5G Network coverage map Vodafone UK
4G/5G Network coverage map O2 UK
4G/5G Network coverage map EE Mobile UK
Three UK has excellent network coverage and covers all the tourist destinations in the UK. Vodafone and O2 have the weakest 4G/5G network in the UK as of 2024 and EE has the best 4G/5G network in the UK in 2024 compared to the other mobile internet operators.
However, pretty much all the tourist destinations in the UK are covered with a 5G signal.
Best sim card for the UK in 2024
When we compare e-sim cards for the UK with local prepaid sim cards Traveltomtom comes to the conclusion that local prepaid sim cards are slightly cheaper than e-sim cards.
You can only buy a local prepaid sim card in a store in the UK and not on the internet. Unfortunately some of the UK prepaid sim cards are still not 5G ready and they also not include free EU roaming.
If you want a 5G ready sim card for the UK including EU roaming then have a look at the following e-sim card.
If your phone is is e-sim compatible then this is an amazing sim card for traveling to the UK with a lot of data, 5G ready and valid all over Europe for 28 days. You can order this Orange Holiday Europe e-sim card via SimOptions.
Check out Traveltomtom's complete guide with detailed info about using e-sims and a list of the best e-sim cards for traveling to the UK in 2024.
If your phone is not e-sim compatible then international sim cards for the UK are worth considering especially for those who are traveling onwards in Europe and want to arrive prepared in the UK. For $24.90 USD a physical prepaid sim card will be delivered to your home address with 10 GB data in the UK and all of Europe, including unlimited calls and sms.
This all sounds pretty good, but as said before local prepaid sim cards offer more value for money, especially if you are a heavy data user. The UK mobile internet providers offer great deals on prepaid sim cards for tourist in the UK. For around $25 USD you can already get a prepaid sim card with unlimited calling/texting in the UK and 70 GB data.
Since Vodafone UK does NOT offer free EU-roaming and because Vodafone has the weakest 4G/5G network coverage in the UK, it would be my last recommendation.
Then EE does not allow prepaid sim card users to use the 5G network, which means max data speed on an EE prepaid sim card for tourists is only 4G/LTE but there is 5G network available everywhere. On top of that EE also stopped offering free EU data roaming. Therefore EE is also not a recommend prepaid sim card for the UK.
As Three Mobile prepaid sim cards are 5G ready, Three has one of the best 4G/5G mobile data networks in the UK, offers great prepaid sim card deals for tourists and even includes (limited) free EU data roaming, Traveltomtom rates Three Mobile as the best sim card for the UK in 2024.
UK prepaid sim card deals used to be pretty good for traveling in Europe, but since Brexit those days are over. Three and O2 still offer some free EU data roaming, but it is very limited. When traveling onwards in Europe it is much easier to get yourself a sim card for traveling in Europe on the internet.
Let me show you the best prepaid and e-sim cards for traveling in Europe in 2024. Click on the link to check out my complete guide including all info about EU roaming.
Buying a prepaid sim card for the UK online
If your phone is not e-sim compatible but you would like to order a sim card for traveling to the United Kingdom online before your trip then check out the following.
Arrive prepared for your trip to the UK with an international prepaid sim card. You order them online and a physical prepaid sim card will be delivered to your home address. You put this sim card in your phone and it automatically connects to an available network upon arrival in the United Kingdom, basically when the plane lands you are instantly online.
SimOptions offers the following international prepaid sim cards for the UK:
1. O2 Go Card - $24.90
- 10 GB data
- $2 calling credit (no top-up)
- valid for 30 days
- valid in 34 countries
- 4G/LTE
2. Three Data Pack - $24.90
- 10 GB data
- Unlimited calls/sms
- Valid 30 days
- Valid in 56 countries
- 4G/LTE
3. Orange Holiday ZEN - $29.90
- 12 GB data
- Unlimited calls/sms in Europe
- 30 minutes worldwide
- 200 sms worldwide
- Valid 14 days
- Valid in 34 countries
- 4G/LTE
4. Bouygues Telecom - $44.90
- 30 GB data
- Unlimited calls in Europe
- Valid 30 days
- Valid in 39 countries
- 4G/LTE
5. Orange Holiday Europe - $49.90
- 30 GB data
- Unlimited calls/sms in Europe
- 120 minutes worldwide
- 1,000 sms worldwide
- Valid 30 days
- Valid in 39 countries
- 4G/LTE
Click here for more info or to order an international sim card for traveling to the UK via SimOptions.
Also a last reminder that if your phone is e-sim compatible you can arrange everything online in just a couple minutes by ordering an e-Sim card for the UK through either SimOptions, Airalo or Nomad. These e-sim card providers are extensively tested and reviewed by Traveltomtom.
Traveltomtom also wrote a complete guide about using e-sim cards when traveling to the UK. Including a comparison of the best e-sim cards for traveling to the UK in 2024.
Last but not least here is also a video about my experiences buying a sim card for the UK. The above guide for finding the best way to stay connected is much more detailed, but if you or one of your friends rather watches a video about it, then here you go.
I hope this article about what is the best sim card for tourists traveling to the UK was helpful and it helped you planning your trip to the UK, London or Europe in general. If you have any questions please leave me a comment below. I am more than happy to help you out!
If you have any travel related questions also feel free to reach out to me or check out my Instagram profile @traveltomtom where I keep track of my road to visit every country in the world. As per June 2024 I have visited more than 155 countries. Still many to go...
Enjoy your trip to the United Kingdom!
Some links in this article about the best way to stay connected when traveling to the United Kingdom are affiliate links. If you buy any of the products after using an affiliate link I will earn a small commission. Don’t worry this is at absolutely no extra cost to you.