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Roaming in the UK: Costs, plans, and alternatives
Traveling to the UK and not knowing if the roaming UK service is the best? Learn everything you need about the service here!
Traveling to the UK soon? Your cell service provider most likely offers international roaming options that allow you to stay connected in the UK with your regular SIM or eSIM.
In this article, we’ll take a look at the UK roaming options offered by top providers in the US and Canada, as well as the top alternatives to consider, including Holafly’s unlimited data eSIM for the UK.
Avoid excessive roaming fees
Don't get caught out by data roaming charges in the United Kingdom. Use local networks at local rates.
Roaming costs in the UK
The roaming costs in the UK depend on a number of factors, such as whether or not you have inclusive roaming with your pay-monthly plan, the provider you’re using, and whether or not roaming passes are available.
Roaming-inclusive plans don’t charge extra for data roaming in the UK, but have a higher monthly cost. Roaming passes tend to range between US$5 and $15 per day, while pay-as-you-go mobile data roaming charges can reach $2.05/MB or even more.
Roaming costs in the UK for US travelers
If you’re traveling to the UK from the US, you’ll be able to use your phone abroad with most phone plans. Let’s take a look at the options offered by the top providers in the US.
| Provider | Roaming pass cost | Pay-as-you-go rates | Roaming-inclusive plans for the UK |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon roaming | $12/day | $2.05/MB $1.79/minute $0.50/text | ✅ |
| T-Mobile roaming | $5 for 512 MB for 1 day $35 for 5 GB for 10 days $50 for 15 GB for 30 days | Not available for the UK | ✅ |
| AT&T roaming | $12/day | $2.05/MB $2/minute $0.50/text | ❌ |
Roaming passes offer calls and texts along with data in the UK. With Verizon, data is unlimited, but a roaming fair usage policy applies, which slows down the connection after you use 5 GB of data in a day. With AT&T, the roaming pass gives you access to your regular balance of calls, texts, and data while in the UK.
Roaming costs in the UK for Canadian travelers
All major cell service providers in Canada have mobile roaming options for the UK, allowing data usage, calls, and texts with your regular plan.
| Provider | Roaming pass cost | Pay-as-you-go rates | Roaming-inclusive plans for the UK |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rogers roaming | CAD$16/day CAD$70 for 14 days CAD$80 for 30 days | CAD$15/10 MB CAD$2/minute CAD$0.75/text | ❌ |
| Bell roaming | CAD$16 for 1 day or CAD$70 for 14 days | CAD$8/MB CAD$2.50/minute CAD$0.99/text | ❌ |
| Telus roaming | CAD$16 for 1 day or CAD$50 for 14 days | CAD$5/MB CAD$2/minute CAD$0.75/text | ❌ |
With each provider, the UK is included in the coverage of their EU roaming plans. Both offer 14 days of roaming in EU countries and the UK for CAD$70 and CAD$50, respectively. All plans also include an allowance of international calls and texts for use within the UK.
Traveling abroad from the UK? Check out our articles on international roaming with major UK networks:
Get unlimited mobile data in the UK for less with Holafly
Holafly is a travel eSIM provider that connects you to local mobile networks wherever you go. Holafly’s eSIM for the UK costs between $3.90 and $1.55 per day, depending on your plan, making it one of the most affordable ways to stay connected in the country.
Every Holafly eSIM comes with unlimited data, 24/7 customer support, and up to 500 MB of data sharing daily. This ensures that you’ll never lose connection, and if you encounter any issues, help is never more than a question away. All you need is an eSIM-compatible phone, a Holafly eSIM plan, and your data roaming switched on.
If you’re planning an extended stay abroad, Holafly offers a pay-monthly eSIM subscription with Holafly Plans. It offers coverage in 170+ destinations, providing reliable coverage around the world. Simply pick a plan that suits your needs, use it to stay connected for as long as you need, and cancel the subscription when you no longer need it.
Avoid excessive roaming fees
How to avoid data roaming charges in the UK
If you’re not careful, roaming costs can quickly run up a massive phone bill, especially if you’re using pay-as-you-go roaming. Let’s take a look at some of the ways to significantly reduce or completely avoid roaming charges while in the UK.
- Get a roaming pass: If roaming in England isn’t included in your plan, get a roaming pass to avoid pay-as-you-go roaming charges. It will almost always be a much cheaper option.
- Use a travel eSIM: Travel eSIMs, such as Holafly, offer reliable connectivity in the UK for a fraction of the cost. This allows you to use your phone in the UK with a completely digital SIM that can be bought and activated anywhere within minutes.
- Get a local SIM: If you don’t have an eSIM-compatible phone, you can get a travel SIM card for the UK instead. These cards are readily available at most international airports, as well as dedicated shops and carrier stores.
- Rent pocket WiFi: While pocket WiFi in the UK isn’t a super popular option, it still offers a solid way for groups of travelers to stay connected. Costs are higher, but you can keep everyone at the group connected at all times and split the costs.
Roaming vs eSIM in the UK
Still not sure what to pick? Let’s have a quick overview of how roaming in the UK with your regular plan compares to using a travel eSIM.
| Holafly eSIM | Roaming in the UK | |
|---|---|---|
| Price range | $1.55 to $3.90/day | $5 to $15/day for a roaming pass |
| Data sharing | Yes | Depends on the provider |
| Unlimited data | Yes | Depends on the provider |
| Calls/texts | No | Yes |
| 24/7 support | Yes | No |
All in all, Holafly offers a cheaper way to get data in the UK. Since Holafly uses local networks by top providers, you get the best coverage possible for a fraction of the price.
Avoid excessive roaming fees
If you’re visiting the UK, these roaming guides for other European destinations may also be helpful.
- Roaming in Andorra
- Roaming in France
- Roaming in Italy
- Roaming in Spain
- EU roaming
- Roaming in Portugal
FAQs
Some carriers still include roaming in the UK as part of their EU coverage. However, the number of such providers has dropped since the UK left the EU, so make sure to double-check before you travel.
Yes. If you’re visiting the UK from abroad and want to use mobile data, you will need to keep data roaming turned on through your phone’s settings.
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A senior SEO writer from Lithuania, combining my passion for writing and travel at Holafly. With years of experience in technical fields, I'm here to answer all of your questions about staying connected. I specialize in turning even the most complicated topics into something everyone can understand.
