UK

So check your own plan first. If the UK is included and your allowance is big enough, you may not need us. If it isn't, or you need lots of data for work, video or a hotspot, a travel eSIM is the simple fix: you buy a UK data plan at home, install it in a minute and your phone is online as soon as you land. Your own SIM stays in the phone for calls and texts.

How much data do you need

• A week in London (maps, transport, messaging, photos): 3–5 GB. The most popular choice is 5 GB for 30 days at $7.99.
• Two to four weeks, or visiting family: 10 GB at $12.49 or 20 GB at $19.49.
• Work, video calls, a hotspot for a laptop: 20 GB or unlimited.
• A stopover or 1–2 days: 1 GB for 7 days from $2.99, or a one-day unlimited pass.
• Not sure? Work it out in 30 seconds with the data calculator.

Unlimited or a gigabyte plan

Unlimited is handy when you don't want to count: full speed up to the daily allowance, then slower but still working (messages and maps load). A week of unlimited costs $12.99, a month $41.49. If you're staying somewhere with good Wi-Fi and only need data when you're out, a 5–10 GB plan is cheaper, and you can top it up without a new eSIM.

Where it works

The eSIM connects to the UK's four big networks, EE, O2, Vodafone and Three, with 5G. Coverage is solid in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow and other cities. In the Scottish Highlands, Snowdonia, the national parks and on rural roads the signal can be weak, just as with a local SIM. On the London Underground not every station and tunnel has coverage yet, so load your route before you go down.

Getting around London

• Tube, buses, Overground, DLR: tap a contactless bank card or a phone with Apple Pay or Google Pay on the reader. Use the same card or device to touch in and out, otherwise you're charged the maximum fare. Daily capping means you never pay more than a set amount per day.
• Buses don't take cash: card, phone or Oyster only.
• Taxis: Uber and Bolt both operate in London, and black cabs take cards. The app shows the fare in advance.
• Routes: Google Maps and Citymapper show live Tube and bus times and the fastest connections.
• Trains between cities are much cheaper booked online in advance than bought at the station.

Entry: the ETA

Most visitors who don't need a visa now need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA), including EU citizens and Americans. It costs £20 in the UK ETA app or on gov.uk, lasts 2 years (or until your passport expires) and covers any number of trips. A decision usually comes within a day, but allow up to 3 working days. Apply only on gov.uk or in the official app: other websites charge more.

Money and small things

The currency is the pound sterling, and cards are accepted almost everywhere, including pubs and market stalls. Plugs are type G, so bring an adapter. You'll want data at the airport: Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton and Stansted are a long way from central London, and it's easiest to plan the route on the move.

eSIM or a UK SIM card

UK prepaid SIMs are sold in supermarkets and phone shops, and if you're moving to the UK for work or study, a local plan with a UK number is the better deal. For a trip of up to a few weeks an eSIM is simpler: everything is done at home, no shop hunting after the flight, and your own number stays active.

Guarantee

The eSIM didn't install? We refund you. Support answers in the chat on this site every day.