UK Prepaid Sim Cards for Travel (Easy Mobile Data Access)
Planning a visit to the UK and how to get a SIM card before you go?
Getting the right prepaid UK SIM card is the key to easy data access on your trip and not stressing about staying connected
You can choose to burn cash by data roaming on your sim card from home, or save money by grabbing an eSim or buy a UK sim card when you arrive.
Below, we run through all the top prepaid UK sim cards so you can find the best one for your trip to the UK.
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Best Prepaid Sim Cards For The UK
O2 Go Card Prepaid Sim Card
The O2 Go Card Prepaid Sim Card is a great UK sim card if you are looking for data only while you travel around the UK and Europe.
It is a UK local sim card that works on every unlocked mobile phone and tablet.
The UK prepaid sim card comes with
- a UK number
- 10 GB of data
If your data usage is about average, this should be enough data for the 30 days it is valid for.
This prepaid UK sim card allows you to stay connected in all countries in Europe. You will have a reliable and fast 4G connection everywhere you go, and you can top up to add calls and SMS to these UK sim cards too.
Compared to other sim cards, this UK prepaid sim card is pretty good value for the data you are getting. But, if your data usage is high, the included 10 GB might not be enough for 30 days.
Pros
- Easy to top up
- The package lasts for 30 days
- Good value for money
- Includes enough mobile data
- Fast & reliable connection
- You can use the data all over Europe
Cons
- Might not be enough data for heavy users
- No free calls/texts included
Product Information
- Price: $24.90
- Data: 10 GB
- Calls: $2 credit
- Texts/SMS: $2 credit
- Valid For: 30 days
- Service Speed: 4G/3G
- Data Tethering: Yes
Orange Holiday Europe Prepaid Sim Card
The Orange Holiday Europe Prepaid Sim Card is a great UK prepaid sim card and a great sim card for traveling around Europe too.
If you want to stay connected in the UK, Europe, and the rest of the world, this is the UK prepaid sim for you.
You get 20 GB of mobile data allowance that you can also use with a mobile hotspot. Unlimited calls and SMS in Europe are also included, and you get inclusive worldwide mins and SMS.
It is the perfect UK sim for free roaming around Europe while being able to make phone calls and send sms back home.
The Orange sim card works in most European countries and since Orange is one of the biggest local networks in Europe, you will always have fast and reliable connection speeds.
The only issue with these sim cards is that they run out after 14 days, not so great if you are on a long trip. Also, if you are traveling on a budget the price might be a little high.
Pros
- A large data plan
- Data plan works in all of Europe
- Comes with Unlimited calls and texts within Europe
- Come with inclusive international call mins and sms
- Great coverage and fast speeds
Cons
- Only lasts 14 days
- A bit expensive compared to others
Product Information
- Price: $49.90
- Data: 20 GB
- Calls: Unlimited in Europe, 120 mins worldwide
- Texts/SMS: Unlimited in Europe, 1,000 worldwide
- Valid For: 14 days
- Service Speed: 4G/LTE
- Data Tethering: Yes
Orange Holiday Zen Prepaid Sim Card
The Orange Holiday Zen Prepaid Sim Card is similar to the Orange Holiday sim cards we looked at above but is more affordable and comes with less data/calls/sms.
With these temporary UK sim cards, you get
- 8 GB of data
- unlimited calls, and SMS in Europe
- a few global mins and SMS too
If you do not need much data while traveling around the United Kingdom, then this is a much more affordable option.
Again, being an Orange sim, you will have a reliable and fast connection in most countries in Europe and in the United Kingdom.
Again, these prepaid sims do only last 14 days until you have to top-up again so it is not ideal if you are on a trip longer than 14 days.
Pros
- Good value for money
- Solid coverage and speeds in the UK & Europe
- Comes with Unlimited calls and texts in Europe
- Also includes some global mins and sms’
- A solid amount of data
- You can use it all over Europe
Cons
- Not for long trips over 14 days
- Not much data for heavy users
Product Information
- Price: $29.90
- Data: 8 GB
- Calls: Unlimited in Europe, 30 mins worldwide
- Texts/SMS: Unlimited in Europe, 200 worldwide
- Valid For: 14 days
- Service Speed: 4G/LTE
- Data Tethering: Yes
Three UK Data Pack Prepaid Sim Card
The Three UK Data Pack Sim Cards offers the best value out of all the local sim cards that we have featured. This Three sim has it all and it is not overpriced either.
For just $24.90, the sim comes with unlimited calls and sms in the UK and Europe plus 10 GB of data, plus it lasts for 30 days – great for longer visits.
Three has great network coverage all over the UK and their mobile data speeds are excellent too. In addition to the UK, this sim also works in 49 countries in Europe.
The one issue with these sim cards is that 10 GB of data might not be enough if you are a heavy user. But, it is more than enough for Google Maps and Whatsapp.
Pros
- Great value for money
- Solid amount of a data
- Good for longer trips
- Reliable coverage
- Fast connections
- Works in the UK and Europe
Cons
- Heavy users may run out of data
Product Information
- Price: $24.90
- Data: 10 GB
- Calls: Unlimited in Europe
- Texts/SMS: Unlimited in Europe
- Valid For: 30 days
- Service Speed: 5G/4G/3G
- Data Tethering: Yes
Is A Sim Card Essential When Traveling to the UK?
Yes, I would say a sim card is essential when traveling to the UK, in fact, I would say it is essential when traveling anywhere.
We use our phones for everything these days and that is because they make life so convenient.
Imagine you are walking around London and you need a cab but there is no free WiFi around and you have no sim card, what is the plan? Walking aimlessly around looking for somewhere with free WiFi so you can order an Uber instead of just ordering one.
The same goes for navigating with Google Maps, making plans with friends, staying in contact with loved ones, finding restaurants, booking trains, and lots more.
You can get by while traveling in the UK without a local sim card as you will be able to jump onto a free WiFi connection in most places. Airports, trains, restaurants, cafes, hotels, shops, you name it, most of them will give you a free WiFi connection.
But, living on WiFi only is a pain and for the sake of $30, why not be connected all the time? Being able to use your phone whenever you like is also a safety measure worth taking so you can call for help when you need it.
Overall, it is worth buying a sim card for the UK in my eyes, your life becomes a whole lot easier and safer for a small price.
Things to Know Before Buying A Sim Card in the UK
Is Your Phone Unlocked?
Only unlocked phones work with sim cards in the UK or anywhere else for that matter.
If you bought your phone yourself it will already be unlocked. If you got it for free with a contract through your provider, it could be locked to said provider.
To unlock your phone, just call your provider and request they unlock it, it should only take a few minutes.
Are You Using A GSM Phone?
Phones use either CDMA or GSM technology to stay connected to a network. A GSM phone will not work on a CDMA network, and vice versa.
Most of the world uses GSM including the Uk whereas North America uses both GSM and CDMA.
If you are from North America and you use either Sprint or Verizon, you may have a CDMA phone and it will not work with any sim cards for the UK.
The only solution is to buy an affordable unlocked GSM phone for your trip.
How to Buy A Sim Card in the UK
Buying A Sim Card Before Traveling to the UK
Buying a sim card before traveling to the UK does have its advantages. You will receive the sim card before your trip and can put it in your phone before you land in the UK.
Once you have arrived, just turn on your phone and you will be online. There is no finding a shop queuing, or any hassle like that.
All the sim cards featured in the article can be ordered online before your trip.
Buying A Sim Card in the UK
Buying a sim card in the UK does come with its benefits though. Yes, you will have to find a shop and buy the sim card, but you will get much better deals than you will by buying them online.
EE for example offers way more data, mins, and sms’ for a smaller price than all the sim cards featured in the article. But, you have to buy it in the UK or have a UK address to order one.
How Much Does A Sim Card in the UK Cost?
Sim cards are free in the UK, but you will need to pay for a data/calls/texts package to be put onto the sim card.
How to Activate & Top Up Your UK Sim Card
Activating and topping up your UK sim card is super easy. You can either activate the sim or top it up online or by calling your mobile provider’s customer service.
A lot of prepaid sim cards you order online are already activated, and if you buy your UK sim in a shop in the UK, ask them to activate it there and then.
EU Data Roaming
All the sim cards featured in the article come with EU data roaming, meaning you can use the calls/texts/data in your package all over Europe too.
Not every network provider allows free EU data roaming after Brexit though, so be sure to check if you plan to go to Europe.
Managing Your Mobile Data in the UK
For anyone who is traveling on a serious budget and wants to conserve data, here are some tips:
- Keep your phone in airplane mode when you are not using it
- Use apps like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Netflix on WiFi
- Only use Whatsapp and other essential apps when not on WiFi
- Download the area you are traveling around on Google Maps on WiFi for offline use
Frequently Asked Questions
Can tourists buy a sim card in the UK?
Yes, tourists can buy a sim card in the Uk, just bring an ID with your – passport or driving license.
Which sim card is most used in the UK?
EE has consistently been voted the best mobile network in the UK and is a favorite for most in the UK.
Can I get unlimited data in the UK?
Yes, it is possible to get unlimited data in Europe but it is not easy to come by. Your best bet is with eSims like these, Holafly is the best eSim provider for unlimited data.
