So you’re going to London. Home of the royal family, quriky pubs and those famous black cabs. To take it all in, there’s one thing you can´t do without: internet connection.
Modern travelers rely on solid internet connection to get by. Which is why you need to buy a London SIM card to avoid excessive charges from your telephone company.
Let’s find out how you can buy a SIM card for London and what the best options are.
Where to buy a SIM card for London?
There are two main ways to buy a SIM card for London:
1. Buy before you travel from an online store
2. Buy once you arrive in London
But which is the best option for you? We recommend buying before you travel, and let’s take a look at why:
Buy before you travel
Buying before your trip is the easiest and most convenient option. And, in a pandemic, it is also the safest. Here are the main advantages of buying online:
- You’re connected the moment you land
When you buy a SIM card from an online store like Holafly, you can connect to the internet the moment you land in London. This will save you a lot of time, and you’ll be able to order a cab instantly. You’ll also be able to let friends and family know that you’ve arrived safely by sending a message on WhatsApp. This option gives you the peace of mind of having everything sorted before you go.
- Cheapest option
Cell phone companies in London will make the most of tourists by charging high prices. The cheapest option is always to buy from an online store for travelers.
- Easy to use
SIM cards for London are easy to set up. If you buy from a store like Holafly, all you have to do is purchase from their website, receive your SIM within 3 days, then insert the card once you arrive in London. As long as you follow the simple set-up instructions, you’ll be connected in seconds.
Buy in London
The easiest option is to buy before you travel. But there is one key advantage of buying internet once you’re in London:
- Better options
You’ll find that stores in London offer different options you can’t get online. So you’re more likely to find a deal which meets your need exactly. We recommend buying from EE or Vodafone because these stores offer the best coverage in the country. So they’re the best option for a fast and stable connection.
How much does the SIM card cost?
Ok, so you’ve decided to buy your product online – now what? Let’s take a look at prices from Holafly’s online store:
Length of plan | Amount of data | Price |
30 days | 8 GB | €34 |
30 days | 12 GB | €44 |
eSIM card for London, the future of SIM cards
Now we’ve learnt about data SIM cards, it’s time to meet the newest way to access the internet. eSIMs (short for embedded SIM) are new, virtual SIM cards that provide internet at a competitive price. But is an eSIM better than a traditional SIM card? The main advantage is that you can get a London eSIM anywhere in the world and it’s delivered to you via email immediately. Let’s take a look at their advantages and disadvantages in the next section:
Advantages and disadvantages of eSIM
Advantages:
- Quick purchase and activation processes
Purchasing and activating an eSIM is easy. You just make your purchase from a store like Holafly and wait a few seconds for a QR code to arrive in your emails. With this, you can activate your eSIM and get connected.
- Get an eSIM anywhere in the world
Are you already in Turkey and struggling to access the internet? No matter where you are, you can always buy an eSIM and it will come directly to your cell phone. There is no delivery cost and you don’t have to wait more than a few minutes.
- Affordable rates
Compared to paying data roaming charges, eSIMs are incredibly cheap. You pay one upfront fee for the eSIM, so you don’t have to worry about surprise bills. Holafly offers eSIM deals for as little as $41.
Disadvantages:
- Limited compatibility with cell phones
The main disadvantage of eSIM cards is their limited compatibility. As a new form of technology, many older cell phones do not offer it, so before you buy check your cell phone is compatible
How much does the eSIM for London cost?

Let’s take a look at the different eSIM plans offered by Holafly.
Days of use | Data Plans | Price (USD) |
7 days | 3 GB | $27 |
15 days | 5 GB | $34 |
20 days | 8 GB | $44 |
30 days | 10 GB | $49 |
30 days | 20 GB | $57 |
Buy your eSIM for London now
Frequently asked questions about London SIM cards
You can activate data roaming and use data from your current provider. But this will be very expensive. If you plan on using this option, can expect a hefty phone bill when you return home. Alternatively, you could buy Pocket Wi-Fi (a portable device that generates WiFi for your phone). This option is also expensive and you’ll have to carry the device everywhere. A SIM card for London is the cheapest and most convenient way of connecting to the internet.
The cost of data roaming depends on the provider, but you can expect to pay between $7 – $15. So if you watched a movie on Netflix, it could cost you hundreds. That’s why we recommend a London SIM card.
If you buy your SIM card from Holafly, you can contact their customer support team 24/7. All SIM cards come with set-up instructions.