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All you need to know about UK prepaid SIM cards for tourists
Traveling to the United Kingdom and looking for the best way to stay connected during your trip? Here are four physical and virtual SIM cards you can use throughout England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
What sounds like a better way to spend your (freshly-exchanged) Great British Pounds?
- Excessive roaming fees, or
- Crispy cod and chips, mouth-watering Sunday roasts, and copious cups of tea.
Fortunately, you don’t have to spend a huge chunk of your travel budget on roaming fees to stay connected for your trip to the United Kingdom.
You can use a UK prepaid SIM card for travelers to get access to an affordable and reliable data connection from the moment you touch down in the British Isles.
Since Brexit, roaming in the UK has been catching many travelers out. Many SIM card providers offer roaming in the European Union, but not Europe (the geographical continent). So, if you’re planning a Euro trip, you’ll likely need an independent solution for your UK leg of the trip.
In this article, we explore the ins and outs of buying a SIM card to avoid data roaming in the UK – from the how-to’s to the best providers. Plus, we give an affordable alternative by comparing the top eSIM cards on the market.
Shall we?
Digital SIM card for the United Kingdom
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Can I get a UK SIM in the US?
Yes, you can buy a UK tourist SIM card if you are located in the United States. You can order UK SIMs online through popular retailers, or from local carriers, that offer delivery in the US.
Ordering your UK prepaid SIM card online may incur higher costs due to delivery fees, but it also ensures you’ve got network access from the moment you land.
How to buy a UK SIM card in the USA
You can buy a UK SIM card in the United States by shopping one of the following ways:
- Buy from online retailers like Amazon, where you’ll find local UK SIM cards sold by third-party providers.
- Buy from international providers that sell UK SIM cards, like Simcorners, My UK SIM card, and Simify.
- Shop with UK-based mobile providers that offer international delivery for physical UK SIM cards.
The included benefits, perks, and coverage will vary by operator. We recommend you confirm the coverage of each SIM to see which one works best in the UK cities you’ll be visiting.
How much do UK SIM cards cost?
Prices for United Kingdom SIM cards with mobile data range from $20 to $60 USD – shipping costs included.
If you don’t want to buy a UK SIM card from a local carrier in the USA, you can consider using your carrier’s roaming service to keep your phone connected in the UK – however, it’ll cost you a pretty penny.
Mobile carriers in the USA, such as T-Mobile and Verizon, allow their customers to continue using their USA plans abroad. But this can be quite expensive.
For example, Verizon’s international plans start at $10 per day. If you’re touring the UK for more than 10 days, that will put your bill at the $100 mark for data alone, never mind if you also want to make calls!
Now, grab your London travel guide, brew a fresh cup of tea, and let’s get into the specifics on buying a temporary SIM card for the UK once you’ve landed on that side of the pond.
Can I get a temporary SIM card in the UK?
Yes, you can purchase a temporary SIM card for your vacation while in the UK. Many mobile providers offer prepaid plans with limited validity, specifically designed for tourists.
Having this option helps you stay connected throughout your trip without the hassle of long-term commitments.
For example, Vodafone provides a range of SIM cards with various data options and a validity of 30 days, perfect for short stays.
You can rest assured that you can temporarily switch to a UK phone number, stay connected while on holiday, and fully immerse yourself (and your phone) into the culture without having to worry about ongoing engagements with foreign mobile providers once your trip concludes.
How to buy a temporary SIM card in the UK
You can buy SIM cards for tourists in the UK at airport kiosks, local shops, and boutiques.
If you buy your UK prepaid SIM card for travelers in the airport, you’ll have access to local guidance and an established internet connection so you can virtually hail an Uber to get to your accommodation, or navigate your way through public transport.
The downside of this option, however, is that you’ll likely find yourself queuing with other tourists who had the same idea (talk about immersing yourself in the culture!) and paying inflated airport prices.
The risk of losing one of your SIMs in all the hustle and bustle is also high, so consider if you want this hassle at the start of your holiday.
You can also opt to buy your UK prepaid SIM card from a local store, after you settle into your hotel or rental apartment.
Though, this means you’ll have to rely on roaming to find the right airport shuttle, call a taxi, locate your accommodation, and find a store that sells SIMs.
Buy a local SIM card in the UK: The best UK SIM cards for travelers
Now that you know all the purchasing methods available, let’s have a look at the best United Kingdom SIM card options.
Below, we explore the most popular mobile carriers in the UK, the plans they offer, and the prices attached to each option.
1. Vodafone UK: Pay-as-you-go and prepaid SIM cards
The Spanish-born company has a whole division dedicated to the UK market. They offer options for tourists through their pay-as-you-go SIM deal for the UK with data packages ranging from 27 GB to unlimited browsing.
All the plans have a 30-day validity after activation. Prices range from approximately $13 to $51. No contract or credit verification is required, but Vodafone UK does remind you that if you have no credit on renewal, you will be paying a flat rate per day until the plan is upgraded.
Additionally, if you have no credit for 90 days in a row, the SIM card will be suspended.
2. Three: Best UK SIM for EU roaming
This operator also works with pay-as-you-go SIM cards for the UK. In the case of Three UK, the package options are 10 GB, 75 GB, 150 GB, and unlimited web browsing.
The service period is 30 days before renewal, with costs from approximately $13 to $45. Three’s UK prepaid SIM card for tourist packages are available in physical stores and online.
In case you plan to visit another country within Europe, Three UK’s SIM cards offer roaming services throughout the European Union at no extra cost within your plan’s allowance of minutes, texts, and data.
Note: European Union roaming isn’t common with UK carriers, be sure to double-check your European roaming small print if you’re planning on exploring the continent further.
3. O2: UK prepaid SIM card for tourists that rollover to the next month
Another UK data SIM card provider is O2’s rollings plans. These prepaid SIM card options span from 10 GB to 150 GB and are available for 30-day periods.
The plans’ pricing ranges from $13 to $38. These have the advantage of having a rollover feature so unused data in one month can be transferred to the next if you keep renewing the plan.
O2 also offers the option to link your payment automatically to a valid credit or debit card.
4. EE Mobile: The UK SIM card with guaranteed internet speed
EE Mobile offers four prepaid SIM plans with different amounts of data, including 20 GB, 50 GB, 100 GB, and 125 GB.
Pricing ranges from approximately $13 to $38. The maximum internet speed guaranteed by each plan is 25 Mbps. Similar to O2, EE’s plans offer a data rollover option so you’ll be able to use any data left in the following month.
What is the best SIM card for the UK?
Ultimately, your budget and needs will dictate the UK travel SIM card for you.
For example, if you plan a European tour starting from the UK, your best bet will be the Three UK SIM as it offers free EU roaming at no extra cost.
If the UK stole your heart, and your newfound love extended your stay indefinitely, opt for the O2 UK SIM card.
It offers the most flexibility for unused data with its rollover feature, allowing you to make the most of your SIM allowance month after month.
Traveling to the UK for business? Then you might want a reliable, fast connection for those meetings and on-the-go working sessions.
EE Mobile is your go-to with its guaranteed internet speed, ensuring smooth video calls and uninterrupted browsing.
Need flexible data options? Vodafone UK offers a wide range of data packages, making it perfect for short-term visitors.
However, if all of these options fall short of your expectations, you can switch to a virtual SIM card for the UK to dial down your costs. An eSIM is a plastic-free, embedded SIM card that you can purchase through online stores like Holafly.
Choose Holafly’s UK eSIM for unlimited data
Holafly’s virtual SIM card for the UK simplifies the purchasing, installation, and activation processes — it all happens online. You receive your eSIM via email seconds after you buy it.
You don’t have to wait for it to be physically delivered to your doorstep before you can install it on your phone.
Simply scan the QR code received in your email using the Holafly app and follow the on-screen instructions.
With Holafly, you can choose the number of days you want included in your plan to match your vacation — from one-day trips to a full 90-day seasonal stay (hello, UK summers!). This makes it one of the best eSIMs for the UK.
The pricing per day starts at $5.90 for the one-day plan and gets progressively lower the longer you stay.
If you’re staying for a whole three months, you’ll only pay $1.54 per day. All the plans come with unlimited data and a 500 MB daily data tethering allowance.
Holafly’s UK data plans are flexible and affordable so you can enjoy a high-speed, uninterrupted connection, on your own terms.
To benefit from all this, you only need an eSIM-compatible mobile device and you’re all set for data usage freedom.
Grab the Holafly eSIM as an alternative for a UK SIM card
Staying connected while traveling in the UK is easier than ever. Whether you prefer to purchase your eSIM card online before departure or pick up a SIM card in person once you arrive, you have countless options.
Major UK providers like Vodafone, Three, O2, and EE offer a variety of plans tailored to different travel needs, from EU roaming to flexible data rollovers.
International SIM providers like SimCorner, My UK SIM Card, and Simify enable you to get your UK SIM card delivered to your doorstep before your departure.
Lastly, you have a virtual SIM card option too. Holafly’s eSIMs are a convenient, affordable, and flexible way to stay connected on your UK travels — whether you’re in London, Cardiff, Edinburgh, or Belfast! Your UK eSIM is ready for you today. See you in the UK!
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Living in Romania's only coastal city, Constanta, Stefania Manea has been in the content marketing space for 9 years. She discovered her passion for writing while studying Maritime Engineering, which led her to switch her career path and join the marketing industry. Since then, she has relentlessly written copy and content for renowned brands in the B2B SaaS landscape, including MarkUp.io, Toggl, MarineTraffic, Route4Me, and Insense. She values creativity, loves horror novels, and occasionally believes in ghosts!
