O2 Tourist SIM: Best SIM options for tourists in the UK

If you’re considering using O2 for your next trip to the UK, you’ve come to the right place. There isn’t a dedicated O2 tourist SIM available, but the provider does offer ways for tourists to stay connected. In this guide, we discuss O2’s Pay As You Go SIM and its data, call, and text plans, as well as pricing, where to buy, and how to use it.

As this is a local SIM option from one of the UK’s leading telecom providers, it can be a good choice for tourists who want to stay connected during their stay without a long-term commitment.

Already an O2 customer from the UK? If you’re traveling abroad, you might want to explore O2 international roaming or an O2 Travel eSIM. You can also check out Holafly as an international and data-only alternative eSIM.

An eSIM you can rely on

Join over 10 million Holafly customers and get connected with our trusted, global services.

Learn more

What is the O2 tourist SIM card?

While O2 doesn’t offer a dedicated tourist SIM card, you can treat their pay-as-you-go SIM as such, as it allows tourists to stay connected in the UK. The pay-as-you-go SIM card offers 4G data, calls, and texts, designed for travelers and locals who want to keep things contract-free and flexible.

This allows you to top up your O2 SIM card with credit to pay as you go, or choose a fixed monthly plan for a set allowance. Each SIM card is free to order, and you can get one delivered without the need for contracts or credit checks.

To keep things simple, we’ll be referring to O2’s pay-as-you-go SIM as a tourist SIM card throughout the article.

O2 tourist SIM: Plans and pricing

This O2 tourist SIM card comes in two types of offers: Big Bundles and Rolling Plans.

O2’s Big Bundles let you choose your monthly data allowance. You top up your SIM, and O2 converts the credit into a monthly allowance for data, calls, and texts. Below are the Big Bundles with their respective inclusions, rates, and perks.

*£1 = $1.342

On the other hand, O2’s Rolling Plans don’t require top-ups. Instead, you set up a monthly payment with your debit or credit card. Your allowance renews automatically each month, and up to 100% unused data can roll over. Note that you can either cancel or change the plan whenever you want.

You’ll need to stick with the same bundle or plan and renew it on the same date each month. Otherwise, any unused data will expire.

O2’s Pay As You Go SIMs work in the UK and within selected destinations in Europe. With your chosen plan or bundle, you’re able to allocate up to 25 GB of data – to the maximum of your plan’s total allowance – in European destinations like France, Germany, and Spain. In turn, you can use your SIM card to travel abroad as part of a wider European trip.

Disclaimer: The data in this review is accurate as of July 22, 2025, and is subject to change.

Where to buy O2 tourist SIM for the UK

Now that we’ve shared the plans and offers, it’s time to discuss where to get O2 Tourist SIM cards. 

UK Airports

You can purchase O2 Tourist SIM cards at the following airports via vending machines, local SIM stores, and WHSmith convenience stores:

• London Gatwick International Airport
• London Heathrow International Airport

Official stores and authorized resellers

You won’t have trouble finding an O2 store as they have more than 300 stores in the UK. You can also find them at major retailers such as Tesco, ASDA, and Sainsbury’s. To find the nearest O2 store in your area, you can use their store locator.

Online

You can also order your O2 tourist SIM via the website. Please note that doing so would require you to enter an address in the UK. So if you’re ordering in advance, have it delivered to your accommodation.

Delivery usually takes up to three working days. If your SIM still hasn’t arrived, you are welcome to chat to one of their agents through their website. 

How to activate an O2 tourist SIM card

Pay As You Go customers only need to insert the physical SIM card in their device and top up to activate their O2 tourist SIM card.

How to avoid running out of O2 tourist SIM data

The last thing you want is to get caught off guard without data. You can do the following steps to make sure you stay connected throughout with your O2 tourist SIM.

1. Track your data usage

Check your data usage via the My O2 website or the My O2 app. A notification text is sent every time 80% and 100% of your data allowance is depleted.

Another way to check your balance is to dial 4444 from your mobile and choose option 2 twice. You can also text “BALANCE” to 20202 for free.

It’s best to calculate how much data you’d need before choosing which data plan to get, so you don’t end up with too little or more than you’ll actually use.

2. Turn off background data and auto-updates

Apps running in the background, like Discord, can eat up your data without you realizing it.

To avoid unnecessary usage, disable background data for non-essential apps and turn off automatic updates — especially for large apps or system updates — when you’re not connected to WiFi.

3. Top up when needed

If you find yourself needing more data after checking your data usage, you can add either one-off or monthly Pay As You Go Bolt Ons (or add-ons). Below are the Bolt Ons you can choose from:

O2 also offers Bolt Ons for international calling and for travel data to specific locations. You can buy these Bolt Ons by visiting the My O2 website or the My O2 app, by dialing 4444, or by heading to any O2 shop with the green top-up logo.

4. Consider an unlimited data alternative

If you think you’d need more data, then you can consider an unlimited data plan instead. Providers like Holafly offer unlimited data options so you can stay connected without worrying about running out of data.

Enjoy unlimited data with Holafly eSIM for the UK

Get unlimited data plus the convenience of an eSIM with Holafly’s eSIM for the UK. All plans include unlimited data, 24/7 live chat customer support, and adjustable usage period between one and 90 days. It’s sure to be a reliable alternative for your data needs.

Holafly also provides coverage in over 200 destinations and 12 regions, including a Europe eSIM, so you can use it with ease even when traveling outside the UK.

Peace of mind before you fly

Set up your eSIM before travel and get unlimited data on arrival.

Buy eSIM

Plans that may interest you

eSIM Asia

From

$3.79

USD

eSIM Hong Kong

From

$6.90

USD

SEO Content Writer

哈囉我是來自台灣的 Wen，平常最喜歡旅遊，也喜歡將旅遊的種種化成文字跟大家分享，希望大家能在我的文章中找到有用的資訊，加上 Holafly 的 eSIM，讓你的旅程更美好！✈️✈️✈️ Hi! I'm Wen, a passionate content writer and travel enthusiast from Taiwan. I transform my wanderlust adventures into engaging stories and practical guides, helping fellow travelers make the most of their journeys.Through my articles, I strive to provide travel tips while introducing how our eSIM technology can enhance your travel experience - keeping you connected wherever your adventures take you!

Read full bio

Related reading