The Best SIM Cards for Travel to the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom is a top destination for travelers coming out of the pandemic. The country has very high vaccination rates and a centralized national healthcare system well equipped to deal with Covid-19. The country is relatively open for tourist by not imposing any more strong travel bans or lockdowns, making it far less risky and far more enjoyable for a trip. Choosing low-population destinations such as Scotland and Wales is also extremely attractive for people looking for RVing or Camping this summer. So here are the best SIM Cards for you and your family to stay connected on your trip.
For this article, we will include the best value, best price and the biggest data plans (MONSTER DATA). If you are travelling in a larger group, consider picking up an ‘All-in-1’ Wi-Fi hotspot rental or buy one to own and use it with your Prepaid SIM Card. Check out our article on the Best Wi-Fi Hotspots for the United Kingdom.
SIM Cards in the United Kingdom
There are a lot of options out there for United Kingdom SIM Cards and factors to consider before selecting one.
- How long is your trip?
- Will you be travelling from Europe?
- Will your phone work on UK Cellular Networks?
This article is a little lengthier than our usual ones. But do take the time to check out the requirements and your phones compatibility with United Kingdom SIM Card providers. It’s important to know your phone will work in the country.
Where to Buy a SIM Card?
- When arriving at the London or Manchester Airports: Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton you might want to buy your UK sim card on arrival at the airport.
- You can also order your prepaid sim card for traveling in the UK online, most options will ship for less than $2 USD to your hotel or Airbnb in the UK.
- You can buy them from stores, supermarkets, kiosks, drug stores and official outlets, as well as all international airports.
- Walk down any high street in Britain and you’ll likely pass stores from all four network operators (O2, EE, Three, and Vodafone), often within a block or two of each other.
UK SIM Card Requirements
- You can purchase a SIM card without having to show your passport, and your telephone number is already active when you buy it.
- Local shipping may require sending the SIM card to your hotel or Airbnb, just ask in advance and let them know you’ll be receive mail during your stay.
Check Your Phone Compatability
Your phone needs to be compatible with the SIM provider’s network. What does this mean?
There are two network types worldwide: CDMA and GSM. AT&T & T-Mobile are GSM which is what is used in most countries including the UK, EU & Canada.
Don’t worry, you don’t need to know the details because nice internet people have come through for us! Check out WillMyPhoneWork.NET. Here is what you need:
- Your Phone Brand (Apple ,Samsung, LG, HTC, Huawei etc…)
- Your Phone Model (Samsung Galaxy S9, IPhone X, etc…)
- Your Phone Sub-Model Number (Model A1532) May also have to know your carrier (Verizon, Sprint, Rogers etc…)
- The country you are visiting (United States, Japan etc…)
- The carrier whose network you’ll be using (AT&T or T-Mobile)
Example of Compatibility
- Brand: Apple
- Model: IPhone 5C
- Sub-Model: N# on the back of the phone A1532.
- There are two options: Verizon CDMA and GSM (other carriers). I’m not with Verizon so it must be GSM (North America)
- Country: United States
- Carrier: AT&T
Compatibility Result: 3G & 4G. Next I checked T-Mobile, but I only had 2G, 3G and only maybe 4G compatibility on their network. So AT&T is probably better.
Best Value SIM Cards
Top Choice: Labara Pay as you Go
- Network: VodaFone
- Validity: 84 days
- Pre-purchase Online: Yes Here, sent to any UK postal Address, 1-2 day delivery
- Available Locations: WhSmith, Tesco, Phone Kiosks, Sainsbury’s, Argos
- Top Ups: Online Here
- Note: No contract, cancel anytime online
- Note2: Some Free Roaming in the EU & India Included
- Note3: International Minutes to the 41 countries. See Image below for List of Countries
SIM Price:
- £5 1000 minutes Talk and 1000 SMS Texts, 3 GB of Data for 30 Days, 100 International Minutes
- £10 Unlimited Talk and Text, 6GB of Data, 1000 International Minutes
- £10 Unlimited Talk and Text, 15 GB of Data, 100 International Minutes
- £15 Unlimited Talk and Text, 30 GB Data for 30 Days, 100 International Minutes
- £20 Unlimited Talk and Text, 30 GB of Data for 30 Days, Unlimited International Minutes
- £25 Unlimited Talk and Text, Unlimited Data for 30 Days, 100 International Minutes
- £30 Unlimited Talk and Text, Unlimited Data for 30 Days, 100 International Minutes
Lebara offers some of the cheapest data rates on the market, but the addition of some international minutes to most of the EU, Hong Kong, Canada and the United States makes it extra attractive for tourists to keep in touch with family and friends. Check out the full list of International Minutes Countries included below.
Runner Up: Three Pay as you Go
- Network: Three (3)
- Pre-purchase Online: Yes, Online and delivered to any address in the UK within 3 days.
- Available Locations: Tesco, Argos, Phone Kiosks, Drug Stores, 3 Official Locations
- Top Ups: Top up Online, Dial 444 to upload account credit, or in the stores where SIM are sold.
- Note: Best Network for Roaming, all plans include roaming to the EU
- Note2: Roaming: 20GB Roaming Cap in the EU, 12 GB Cap on countries: US, Brazil, Australia
- Note3: Data Plans are on a 30 day calendar month, which can be annoying if you need to start at the end of the month.
SIM Price: Free+
Follow the 3 Steps to set up 3 SIM and Plans
- Order the SIM for Free online and delivered to the UK address
- Download the Three Official App in the App Store or Google Play
- Top up your account with Credit, then add on your preferred Data Plan below
Data Plans
- £10 Unlimited Talk and Unlimited SMS Texts, 8 GB of Data
- £15 Unlimited Talk and Unlimited SMS Texts, 25 GB of Data
- £20 Unlimited Talk and Unlimited SMS Texts, 50 GB of Data
- £35 Unlimited Talk and Unlimited SMS Texts, Unlimited Data (Amazon Exclusive Offer)
Three offers some of the best data pay as you go (Prepaid) plans in the market but their ‘Calendar Month Validity’ on data packages is a problem for travellers arriving in the middle of the month.
If you are starting your trip at the beginning of the month, you can enjoy what you buy. But if you arrive in the UK at the end of the month, you are better off just topping up your account with credit, pay for what you use for a few days then add on the Data Pack at the beginning of the next month. Most people are not going to use 25 GB of data in a month unless you are live-streaming constantly so the £15 25 GB Data Plan is a great deal if you can make the timing work.
Best Price SIM Cards
Top Choice: Giff Gaff Pay as you Go
- Network: O2 Network in the UK
- Pre-purchase Online: yes, Giffgaff prepaid sim card will be send to your home address for FREE before your trip to the UK
- Available Locations: Supermarkets, gas/petrol stations, post office, phone kiosks, drug stores and official outlets
- Top Ups: Online or buy top-up voucher in any stores mentioned above
- Note: roaming Details. 20GB roaming hard cap on most plans
SIM Price:
Order SIM Card is free, shipped to your house. Activate with a plan below
- £10 for 15 GB Data (4G & 5G), Unlimited UK calls and texts
- £15 for 30 GB Data (4G & 5G), Unlimited UK calls and texts
- £20 for 100 GB Data (4G & 5G), Unlimited UK calls and texts
- £25 for Unlimited Data (4G & 5G), Unlimited UK calls and texts
Data Only Plans
- £6 for 1 GB Data (4G & 5G)
- £8 for 3 GB Data (4G & 5G)
- £10 for 12 GB Data (4G & 5G)
- £12 for 20 GB Data (4G & 5G)
- £15 for 25 GB Data (4G & 5G)
- £20 for 80 GB Data (4G & 5G)
- £25 for Unlimited Data (4G & 5G)
GiffGaff offers Goodybags with excellent prepaid plans for people looking to travel to the United Kingdom. The plans costs as low as £6 ($7.85) for 1 GB. But the best cheap goodybag is the £10 plan with 15 GB and local calling and text. This is more than enough for 90% of travellers unless you are watching netflix or youtube on your phone, or streaming to social media.
Runner Up: LEBARA £5
- Network: VodaFone
- Validity: 84 days
- Pre-purchase Online: Yes Here, sent to any UK postal Address, 1-2 day delivery
- Available Locations: WhSmith, Tesco, Phone Kiosks, Sainsbury’s, Argos
- Top Ups: Online Here
- Note: No contract, cancel anytime online
- Note2: Some Free Roaming in the EU & India Included
- Note3: International Minutes to the 41 countries. See Image below for List of Countries
SIM Price:
- £5 1000 minutes Talk and 1000 SMS Texts, 3 GB of Data for 30 Days, 100 International Minutes
- £10 Unlimited Talk and Text, 6GB of Data, 1000 International Minutes
- £10 Unlimited Talk and Text, 15 GB of Data, 100 International Minutes
- £15 Unlimited Talk and Text, 30 GB Data for 30 Days, 100 International Minutes
- £20 Unlimited Talk and Text, 30 GB of Data for 30 Days, Unlimited International Minutes
- £25 Unlimited Talk and Text, Unlimited Data for 30 Days, 100 International Minutes
- £30 Unlimited Talk and Text, Unlimited Data for 30 Days, 100 International Minutes
Lebara once again is among the best choices because of their £5 plan. But they also have a deal for 2022 where you can get 15 GB, unlimited UK talk and text, and 100 international minutes for £5. This deal is valid for the first 3 month for new sign ups, then returns to the normal price of £10. For most quick trips to the UK, 3 months is more than enough time to take advantage of this discount. Since they are prepaid plans, you just don’t renew after your 30 days are over.
3rd Choice: O2 10£
- Network: O2 Network in the United Kingdom
- Pre-purchase Online: Yes, order direct online and have shipped to any address in the UK.
- Available Locations: O2 Shops, gas/petrol stations, supermarkets, corner stores, phone kiosks
- Top Ups: call 4444 free from your mobile, or 08456 062 277 from a landline, enter the number on your receipt and follow the instructions.
SIM Price:
- £10 Unlimited Talk and Text, 14 GB of Data
- £15 Unlimited Talk and Text, 30 GB of Data
- £20 Unlimited Talk and Text, 60 GB of Data
- £30 Unlimited Talk and Text, 200 GB of Data
O2 offers one of the most competitive low price deals in the UK, the £10 plan includes up to 14GB of Data and unlimited local talk and text.
Monster Data SIM Cards
Top Choice: O2 200 GB
- Network: O2 Network in the United Kingdom
- Pre-purchase Online: Yes, order direct online and have shipped to any address in the UK.
- Available Locations: O2 Shops, gas/petrol stations, supermarkets, corner stores, phone kiosks
- Top Ups: call 4444 free from your mobile, or 08456 062 277 from a landline, enter the number on your receipt and follow the instructions.
SIM Price:
- £10 Unlimited Talk and Text, 14 GB of Data
- £15 Unlimited Talk and Text, 30 GB of Data
- £20 Unlimited Talk and Text, 60 GB of Data
- £30 Unlimited Talk and Text, 200 GB of Data
O2 takes the top place for Monster Data because of their 200GB data that has no throttling. Most ‘Unlimited’ plans throttle your speed down after you exceed an amount of data listed in the terms and conditions, usually 50 to 80 GB in the UK. But O2 has a full speed 200 GB plan for those that don’t want to risk losing your speed and love having loads of data.
Runner Up: EE Mobile 60 GB
- Network: EE Network
- Pre-purchase Online: Yes, order sim card delivered and choose a pack below.
- Available Locations: Supermarkets, Corner Stores, Gas/Petrol Stations, Phone Kiosks
- Top Ups: Vouchers can be purchased from most stores. Send a text to 150 containing the letters VO, followed by a space, and then the voucher PIN code.
SIM Price:
- £10 500 Minutes Talk and Unlimited Text, 5 GB of Data
- £15 Unlimited Talk and Text, 15 GB of Data
- £20 Unlimited Talk and Text, 30 GB of Data
- £30 Unlimited Talk and Text, 100 GB of Data
Similar to O2, EE Mobile offers a 100GB pay as you go plan with no throttling of the data speed. Priced the same as O2, you can order one online, the SIM card is free and shipping is £1.50 to any address in the UK, such as your hotel, airbnb or a country Bed & Breakfast.
3rd Choice: Three Unlimited Data
- Network: Three (3)
- Pre-purchase Online: Yes, Online and delivered to any address in the UK within 3 days.
- Available Locations: Tesco, Argos, Phone Kiosks, Drug Stores, 3 Official Locations
- Top Ups: Top up Online, Dial 444 to upload account credit, or in the stores where SIM are sold.
- Note: Best Network for Roaming, all plans include roaming to the EU
- Note2: Roaming: 20GB Roaming Cap in the EU, 12 GB Cap on countries: US, Brazil, Australia
- Note3: Data Plans are on a 30 day calendar month, which can be annoying if you need to start at the end of the month.
SIM Price: Free+
Follow the 3 Steps to set up 3 SIM and Plans
- Order the SIM for Free online and delivered to the UK address
- Download the Three Official App in the App Store or Google Play
- Top up your account with Credit, then add on your preferred Data Plan below
Data Plans
- £10 Unlimited Talk and Unlimited SMS Texts, 8 GB of Data
- £15 Unlimited Talk and Unlimited SMS Texts, 25 GB of Data
- £20 Unlimited Talk and Unlimited SMS Texts, 50 GB of Data
- £35 Unlimited Talk and Unlimited SMS Texts, Unlimited Data (Amazon Exclusive Offer)
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