Best Tourist Sim Cards in UK in 2024
Choosing a sim card is hard. We've analysed the best tourist sim cards in UK across pricing, coverage and data. Find out the best pick!
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If you plan on visiting the UK, having a SIM card is essential. Having internet access while traveling allows you to easily navigate new cities, discover the best restaurants, find directions to your accommodation, book taxis, and share photos with your family on the go.
While roaming is an option, the international fees can quickly accumulate. That’s why we recommend either an eSIM or a local SIM card to access local phone rates. Thankfully, obtaining an eSIM or local SIM card in the UK is incredibly straightforward, but it’s beneficial to know which option is most suitable for you.
This comprehensive guide provides all the information you need to purchase a SIM card in the UK, including current pricing and the absolute best SIM card to meet your needs.
The best sim card in the UK is the Vodafone Pay as you go Sim deal. For just 10 GBP you will get 27 GB of data, unlimited minutes and unlimited texts valid for 30 days. On top of this, Vodafone often runs promotions, you can check the current pricing here.
Vodafone, Three and O2 all have very extensive mobile networks across the UK so it is highly unlikely you will experience not having internet connection, so any of these three will be fine.
If you are a very heavy data users then check out Three as their plans offer good value for large amounts of data. For 15 GBP you will get 50GB of data valid for 30 days which is a great deal if you need the extra data.
The Airalo UK eSim is also a great option for travellers who appreciate the extra convenience of using an eSim. The prices are not quite as good as the local sim cards but I consider them to be still pretty reasonable. For $10 USD you will get 3GB of data, or for $15 USD you will get 5GB.
This is not quite as good as the local sim cards, but you won’t need to visit a store, buy a sim card, buy a plan and install the sim card. Instead, you can buy the Airalo eSim before you go and it will begin working when you arrive in the UK. It’s much easier and I consider it worth the extra cost but it depends on your budget and data requirements.
If you are planning to visit the EU, then it is a good idea to ask in store whether their plan includes EU roaming for free. Currently, only O2 offer EU roaming for free whilst the other providers cancelled this post-Brexit.
A Tourist Sim Card in UK costs 10 GBP in December 2024, however, the exact price will often depend on the store you visit and the plan you choose.
Alternatively, an eSim in UK will cost between $5 USD and $36 USD. This, again, depends on how much data you require and which eSim provider you choose.
I generally recommend this Airalo plan for most tourists visiting UK which includes 5GB of data which is valid for 30 days and costs $15 USD.
The UK is home to a lot of various mobile sim card providers. The three leading operators are Three (3), Vodafone and O2 which all offer amazing tourist plans. Their networks are all very extensive and are renowned for working all over the UK which means you will always have connectivity.
The plans are also surprisingly affordable (surprising because everything in the UK is expensive). For around 10 GBP you’ll have access to more than enough mobile data for your travels around the UK. However, if you require a little more you will have options from all three providers to pay more and get more data.
These sim cards can easily be purchased at most airports in the UK, including the main airports in London – Gatwick, Stanford, London and Heathrow. Just look out for ay of the official stores vending machines or convenience stores / book shops such as WH Smith.
Three (3) is a leading sim card provider in the UK that offers good value tourist sim cards in the UK. Their mobile network is extremely extensive with fast 5G download speeds all across the country.
The plans are affordable and offer plenty of mobile data (enough for most tourists) for a very low price. I recommend Three for tourists if it’s more convenient for you than Vodafone.
The price of a Three (3) tourist sim card in UK is 10 GBP.
The plan offered by Three (3) stores includes 10GB data + unlimited minutes & texts valid for 1 month.
Vodafone is the largest telecommunications company in the UK and as-such boasts the most extensive mobile network in the country. That said, all the major mobile networks in the UK are very extensive and you are not likely to notice any difference as a tourist.
Vodafone’s prepaid plans are around the same price as their competitors – typically around 10 GBP. However, Vodafone often runs promotions that include substantial amounts of data. For this reason I recommend Vodafone as you can usually be confident you won’t run out of data at any point.
The price of a Vodafone tourist sim card in UK is 10 GBP.
The plan offered by Vodafone stores offers 27GB data + unlimited minutes + unlimited texts valid for 30 days.
O2 is also one of the leading mobile sim card providers in the UK. As with their competitors, they offer a very extensive mobile network that ensures you stay connected all across the country with extremely fast 5G or LTE data.
O2’s prepaid sim cards are affordably priced at the same 10GBP price-point as their competitors, with generous amounts of mobile data.
As with Vodafone and Three, O2 sim cards can be easily purchased all over the UK in official stores, convenience stores, book shops and at the airports.
The price of a O2 tourist sim card in UK is 10 GBP.
The plan offered by O2 stores includes 21GB data valid for 1 month.
Identify the mobile providers in UK: Three (3), Vodafone and O2 are your best options in UK.
Find your nearest store: Locate a store or retailer by searching on Google Maps for your nearest store or asking at your hotel reception. I’ve never had issues finding a store as they can be found all over any major cities, shopping centers, or tourist areas. You can’t buy sim cards in airports in UK. If you’re on a budget it is usually cheaper to use the airport wifi instead and purchase your sim card in a store near your hotel.
Bring the necessary documents: It is not legally necessary in UK to bring your passport with you in order to purchase a sim card. However, I still recommend bringing it just in case as it can be a major hassle to head into a Three (3), Vodafone or O2 store only to have to come back again later with your passport – trust me, I’ve done this more than once!
Choose your plan: Either request the plan you are after or consult with the staff in the store to select the right plan for you. My recommendations at the beginning of this guide are likely to be your best option, for example the prepaid plan by Three (3) that includes 10GB data + unlimited minutes & texts for 10 GBP.
Pay and activate your card: You can expect to pay 10 GBP to purchase your sim card. The staff in-store will help you install the sim card and activate it for you.
Test: It’s always a good idea to check that you can access the internet before you leave the store. I always try searching for something on Google then refresh my Instagram feed to check it’s working fine before leaving. If it’s not, the staff will be able to help you adjust your settings.
Buying a prepaid sim card for UK at the airport is usually considered the most convenient option for travellers arriving by plane.
However, airport stores selling sim cards are almost guaranteed to charge inflated prices, so if you are a cost-conscious traveller then you should definitely buy your sim card from a store in the city center.
In addition to this, we would argue that buying physical sim cards at all aren’t particularly convenient now that most people use esim compatible phones. If you are looking for the most convenient option, then buying an esim before you arrive or with the airport wifi is much easier and will save you having to queue up or communicate with staff.
If you must purchase a sim card at the airport in UK then you will be in luck. All major international airports in UK have stores selling sim cards. Despite the prices being higher than normal, the staff are knowledgable and will be able to get you set up with the correct sim card relatively quickly.
If you want to avoid the inflated sim card prices you’ll find at the airport and your phone isn’t esim compatible, then you’re going to need to head in to a store to buy your sim card.
I recommend visiting one of the official retail stores of the mobile internet operators such as Three (3), Vodafone and O2. Your best option is to enter their names into Google Maps and find the branch closest to your hotel or accommodation. Typically the staff in the official stores in UK are knowledgable and helpful which means you can ensure you’ll walk away with a functioning sim card.
Despite this, it’s always a good idea to check your internet is working before you leave the store by loading a Google search results page and your preferred social media app. You should also ensure you always bring your passport with you when purchasing a sim card in case they need to register it.
If you like to be prepared and would prefer to arrive in UK with your sim card all sorted and your phone ready to connect to the internet immediately then you should look into purchasing a sim card online.
The first option is to buy your sim card in advance via SimOptions, which is a company that will prepare and ship a sim card directly to your door. It’s a reliable and effective service, but with the invention of eSims it’s becoming obsolete.
The better option is to purchase an eSim online. We’ve written more on that below!
An eSim is a digital version of a traditional sim card and is most likely the future of connectivity for mobile devices. The convenience of no longer visiting a store, handing over your passport and purchasing a physical sim card is quickly making physical sim cards obsolete in favour of eSims.
We recommend Airalo’s eSim when travelling to UK. The Airalo UK eSim offers fast internet speeds, wide coverage and extremely competitive prices making it a far more compelling option than purchasing a physical sim card from any of the local sim card providers.
In order to get set up with an Airalo eSim, all you need to do is visit Airalo here and purchase the eSim online (the $15 USD plan is suitable for most travellers). Once you’ve purchased the sim card Airalo will email you instructions and a QR code. Following these instructions should take just a couple of minutes, then you’ll have a sim card in UK without having to venture outside.
Our preferred eSim provider in UK is Airalo. We used them, alongside a local sim card on another device, for our most recent trip to UK and found the service to be equal to the local sim card but without the hassle of acquiring a sim card in a store.
Airalo’s UK eSim uses the O2 UK and Three UK networks to provide data and connect users to the internet. You can expect very good coverage and reliability with the O2 UK and Three UK networksnetwork as they are amongst the best mobile internet operators in UK.
Here are the plans and prices for Airalo’s UK eSim:
1GB data valid for 7 days – Price: $5 USD
2GB data valid for 15 days – Price: $7.50 USD
3GB data valid for 30 days – Price: $10 USD
5GB data valid for 30 days – Price: $15 USD
10GB data valid for 30 days – Price: $22.50 USD
20GB data valid for 30 days – Price: $36 USD
For most travellers we recommend the 5GB data plan for $15 USD which is valid for 30 days. Some travellers may prefer a larger plan, whilst travellers visiting for just a couple of days may be fine with a smaller plan.
An alternative eSim provider we can recommend is Holafly.
Holafly’s eSim is a suitable option for travellers who require large amounts of data, such as digital nomads and people who work online while they travel. All of Holafly’s UK eSims offer unlimited data.
Holafly’s UK eSim uses the Vodafone UKnetwork to provide data and connect users to the internet. This network will provide reliable speeds and coverage while in UK
Here are the plans and prices for Holafly’s UK eSim:
Unlimited data valid for 5 days – Price: $19 USD
Unlimited data valid for 7 days – Price: $27 USD
Unlimited data valid for 10 days – Price: $34 USD
Unlimited data valid for 15 days – Price: $47 USD
Unlimited data valid for 20 days – Price: $54 USD
Unlimited data valid for 30 days – Price: $64 USD
Unlimited data valid for 60 days – Price: $84 USD
Unlimited data valid for 90 days – Price: $99 USD
An eSIM is a digital SIM card that is permanently installed in a device, such as a smartphone, tablet, or smartwatch. Unlike traditional SIM cards, it does not need to be physically inserted or removed.
Instead, the eSIM is integrated into the device’s hardware and can be remotely activated and programmed by a mobile network operator. This allows users to easily switch between different mobile networks or plans without the hassle of swapping physical SIM cards.
eSIM technology offers convenience, flexibility, and simplicity, especially for frequent travelers or those who frequently switch between different mobile networks or travel internationally. It eliminates the need to purchase and insert physical SIM cards, making it much easier to manage multiple mobile connections on a single device.
To activate an eSIM, users can scan a QR code provided by their mobile network operator or manually enter the activation details. Once activated, the device can connect to the chosen mobile network and access voice, data, and messaging services just like with a traditional SIM card.
eSIM technology is becoming increasingly popular and is supported by a growing number of smartphones and other devices. Here are some examples of eSIM-compatible phones:
Apple iPhone series (iPhone 11, iPhone 12, iPhone 13, etc.): Apple was one of the early adopters of eSIM technology and offers support for eSIM on various iPhone models.
Google Pixel series (Pixel 3, Pixel 4, Pixel 5, etc.): Google’s Pixel smartphones also support eSIM functionality, allowing users to activate and use eSIMs.
Samsung Galaxy series (Galaxy S22, Galaxy Note 20, etc.): Many of Samsung’s flagship devices now come with eSIM support, enabling users to utilize eSIM technology.
OnePlus devices (OnePlus 7, OnePlus 8, etc.): OnePlus has included eSIM support in some of its smartphone models, offering users the flexibility of using eSIMs.
Motorola Razr (2020): The latest iteration of the iconic Motorola Razr features eSIM compatibility, enabling users to use eSIMs for cellular connectivity.
These are just a few examples, and the list of eSIM-compatible phones continues to expand as more manufacturers embrace this technology. There’s a very strong chance your phone supports eSims so if you’re unsure we recommend looking it up on our list of eSim supported phones.
Hi, I’m Mitchell. I’m a full-time traveller, explorer and travel blogger. I've travelled all around the world, using and testing countless travel sim cards along the way. I'm the founder of and writer for Travel Sim Expert where I write guides to help travellers stay connected all around the world.
Hi, I’m Mitchell. I’m a full-time traveller, explorer and travel blogger. Travel Sim Expert is a blog dedicated to helping you find the best sim card for you, no matter where you are or what your budget is.
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