Buying a sim card for the UK in 2024

[@Jon.O]

Another hot tip that I would like to include for anyone visiting the UK and needing a physical SIM card would be to avoid going to the main network shops (voda, ee, o2, 3) and actually visit some of the smaller convenience retailers, the sort of places where you can buy cigarettes and food essentials. These shops will offer you a far greater choice of SIM card options from most of the UK main networks and virtual networks. The likes of smarty (works on 3), lebara (works on voda), lyca (works on 02), GiffGaff (works on 02). The list really is quite long and there are some excellent deals to be had. EU roaming is something that appears to be becoming less available.

[@TravelTomTom]

Yes there are a lot of options to choose from if you put in some effort to search for the best sim card for visiting the UK. Most tourist need something quick tho and it doesn’t necessarily need to be the cheapest sim card but just convenience. I agree with you and that is also all mentioned in the link in description. Thans for the input and your feedback. And yes free EU data roaming is disappearing rapidly nowadays

[@phaedrusrusuk]

Fyi, Lycamobile are now on EE, they moved from O2 in June last year. Agreed that the virtual operators are good value and some like Lebara//Lyca offer better deals on EU/international calling, imho.

[@Sree-c8l]

I agree with you - in London 3mobile is the best.

[@CalvinInLondon]

Ah man, I messed up! I quite literally just purchased an EE Sim but didn't realize I should get Three. I will tell you that you're spot on...even the 4g with this is SLOW. I might just eat the cost and switch to 3 and now I know for the next time I head to back to London. I'm starting to come here at least 2x a year now so now I know.

[@TravelTomTom]

ah damn sorry to hear mate. Hope it is not too bad for you

[@saori454]

That was veeeeery helpful. Thanks a lot.

[@osamaxx10]

Thank you for giving us these wonderful advices

[@genezakharov2471]

Thanks!

[@TravelTomTom]

Thanks 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@mulattovanguard]

great video. Very helpful. Thank you

[@billienomates1606]

Great vid, like n sub.

[@TravelTomTom]

Thanks buddy. I love to provide valuable info for travelers

[@dtvfan24]

IMHO, EE is good but O2/VirginMedia and Vodafone have better coverage indoors. 4G is slow with EE.

[@TravelTomTom]

many more reported the same

[@luisr4534]

Thank you for the video !

[@TravelTomTom]

My pleasure!

[@StevenBanks123]

Use a selfy stick. It might seem embarrassing at the moment, but you can relax and stand straight. Thanks.

[@karanmagdum90]

Very informative! Great video buddy

[@jerryg957]

If you buy a sim card in the USA before travel to the UK, when does the sim card get activated, ? not until you put it in the phone ? Teco stuff just baffles my mind...

[@jangucreates]

Awesome 👍 all set for my trip with your help from this video. Cheers

[@ADVENTURESDJ1]

What is Vodafone? Is it a service such as at&t verizon?

[@mysimcards137]

Yes you are right, is it similar.

[@Ancientinian]

Great info dude, Thanks

[@TC-kq2mo]

Hey! You are my Lifesaver!!! However, maybe you forgot to include the Lycamobile for traveller in this video (both physical SIM card and eSIM). I personally don't need EU Data Roam since by travelling UK alone is efficiency enpugh in my life. So please advice and Thanks in advance!

[@TravelTomTom]

I am not a fan of Lycamobile. Too many hidden restrictions, etc. Therefore definitely not my favorite. But I mention them including specification in my detailed article about UK prepaid sim cards, see the link in my description. KZbin is just good for a quick overview, but detailed info in the article. Thanks for your feedback, really appreciated.

[@mazz2001]

Also EE prepaid pay as you go sim card are all capped to only maximum speeds of 25Mbps download. 😂

[@TravelTomTom]

that sucks, thanks for the valuable feedback.

[@LifeUnfilteredwithDale]

I am from the UK but like to use mifi and 4g routers when I travel in the uk. The EE speed cap put me off so I use Lebara which on the Vodafone. Great coverage and speeds. Currently about to test a Lyca mobile SIM (EE) hopefully it doesn't have a speed limit

[@mazz2001]

@@LifeUnfilteredwithDale lycamobile doesn’t have a speed limit however they don’t have access to EE’s full bandwidth connections but still pretty good

[@suchetamandal3095]

Do I require to produce any documents for obtaining the sim at any of these stores?

[@TravelTomTom]

always have oyur passport ready. If you dont want that then simply order a sim card for the UK online and you just need your email address. See link in description!

[@susanbodsworth3294]

If crossing into Dublin Ireland while in the UK, do I need an EU sim card. Can I buy the ones on Amazon Canada before I go? Thanks

[@TravelTomTom]

I dont recommend the ones on Amazon at all. But yes you need a EU sim card. See here for the best ones: www.traveltomtom.net/travel-tips/europe-sim-card

[@mama9048]

If I were you just get a physical SIM card when you have opportunity to come to one of our towns or cities wherever you’re staying. As this video recommend the Three network, I have to say as an Englishman this is good advice for tourists not so much for a British person though as signal can be quite shocking on Three when away from towns but it’s not too bad for a tourist especially with its generous free included EU roaming offer of up to 12GB to use in any other European country. If you can’t make it into a proper Mobile Phone shop, then go to one of our supermarkets like a Tesco Express or a Sainsbury’s etc and pick up a Sim card near the checkout for about 99p. Ask them about top ups when paying as well as they can print you out a receipt voucher which will have a long code on that you can top up the Sim card and activate the package that shown on the Sim card packaging. All in all it cost you about £11 for a small package or £21 for a bigger package and it will last you for a month before you have to recharge the Sim card. Hope this helps. In relation to your trip to Dublin, I assume you’ll be going there after you have first come to England? If so, make sure that the Sim card is activated in England first and works and it should just be a simple case of turning on data roaming on your phone settings When you arrive in Dublin.

[@tripswithgreg5189]

So will any unlocked phone that I can buy in the US, work inn the UK, once I have purchased the UK sim card?? THANK YOU.

[@TravelTomTom]

yes sure!

[@GeeeEm61]

Love your video TomTom, but our experience in travelling the UK in 2023 summer (presis being London to Bath, then down the Cornwall coast to Penzance, back to Kent along the Jurassic coast and then London) 3 provided really poor coverage. So many locations were SOS only. Further, we tried to dial some tourism related numbers (eg, to book a tour, make enquiries etc) and the 3 network wouldn't connect as seemingly we needed to be on a more expensive plan as some of these numbers reverse charge you (seemingly common , too, in the UK) . Did I say is was a pretty poor experience? I think this year we'll takes our chances with EE for it's broad coverage from London up to Scotland and back again. Fingers crossed.

[@TravelTomTom]

Yes therefore I always recommend to check blogs, not simple videos. My blog explains exactly this and you would have avoided it. Check it out link in description!

[@navanzarifsayeed3526]

Hello i am going to UK for study purpose as an international student for 2 years. I have an iphone 14 pro max US variant which only has the option for eSim and not a physical sim. Can you please help me out? What should i do. I want to take eSim of Vodafone or three. Please give a suggestion regarding this matter and mention the procedure and cost.

[@Barb-yd1ym]

I tried to buy a Three sim on their website but it asks for a uk phone number and a uk address ????

[@osamaxx10]

I Have a question, If I arrive at London Heathrow Airport and then have to go to the Train Station, Where can I find the train station to go to Manchester, because I have just 1 hour then the Train will leave, and I don’t know where can I go Thank you so much

[@Kingnome]

Hopefully you figured this out. I was same boat when I arrived.

[@drjoannahunt932]

The train to Manchester leaves from Euston stn. You'd have to get the Heathrow express to Paddington, then the tube to Euston stn. It'll be tight with just an hour to spare.

[@Missbagpipernorthwest]

Hi Tom, I’m looking for a eSIM for Scotland with data, text and calls. Which one do you recommend? Can I purchase in the US and then activate when I land in Glasgow? I’ve only ever used sims so the esim is new for me. Thankyou so much!

[@sunshinehwy]

I found Three Mobile prepaid SIM on Amazon, should I purchase ahead?

[@Marco-Martin-Bieber]

Awwww uk 🇬🇧 is so wonderful

[@TravelTomTom]

Thanks

[@haybolrambol5001]

Can I buy UK esim online even if I am still here in Dubai? i will be in UK from Nov 3 to 10.

[@TravelTomTom]

Yes you can, see link in description there is all the info!

[@mysimcards137]

You phone should esim compatible...make sure with it

[@mariocruz5223]

The SIM card bought at heathrow is more expensive than the center of london ?

[@TravelTomTom]

That depends. See the link indescription there are all the specifications of the sim cards you can buy at London Heathrow Airport.

[@mysimcards137]

Yes it is always expensive in heathrow.. outside airport local shop people sometimes give it for free..

[@TribodybyVi]

Does anyone know if you need an unlocked phone for these sim cards or if it is just plug-and-play?. Some of the cards on Amazon need an unlocked phone.

[@nadirkhoms]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@TravelTomTom]

thnaks so much my friend

[@sledrevy4982]

Hi - does your number change to a local number or would I keep my Canadian phone number - thanks

[@joybcoinsurance9517]

Thanks for this informative video! :) For 3UK 50 GB data + unlimited calls/sms = £20, can I use the data in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark? no restriction?

[@TravelTomTom]

See the link in the description for the exact specifications please.

[@mazz2001]

Quick update: Vodafone and Three will be merging soon. So its even better to get either 3 or Vodafone as you will have better signal.

[@ChloeAndrew-z6i]

I was thinking 🤔 about my sim card won't not working in the UK I was right 😅

[@Zoya-t7v]

Come back again to Algeria, we miss you, beautiful Tom ♥♥♥🇩🇿

[@GraysonVoisinet]

Did you said 50 pounds or 15? The video shows 15 but I heard 50. Making sure i heard it wrong. Because 50 is insane expensive

[@doctorwilly]

cellular plans are so sad in canada that a prepaid 50GB plan from Three is the same price as my monthly plan... for only 40GB... 🤮🤮

[@LetsTravelThisYear]

That's not as bad as mine which is $56 for 15GB Rogers. But I agree it sucks.

[@DanielE-zc1mb]

Pay as you go has always been bad in the uk EE is expensive because they claim to be the number one network for 11 years I’m on pay monthly and they 5G is fast so if you have family here in the uk ask them to get you a 1 month sim only it’s a lot better and you get unlimited data at 5G speeds

[@beetrek4024]

Don't get EE the worst network to conect to and poor customer service o2 or Vodafone are best.

[@ukmobilespeeds]

EE is the UKs best network, but just not at your location. I call EE customer service via 150 and get directly to a agent in the UK within 20 seconds.

[@carldickinson5812]

EE shit o2 shit had them both

[@ukmobilespeeds]

@@carldickinson5812 In your exact location , not every network can be the best in every sq meter of the earth. I personally pull 300-400mbps on EE 4G and 600+ on 5G... Better than any other network.

[@ukmobilespeeds]

@@carldickinson5812 What network are you recommending then?

[@alipr07]

hi bro i have work for you you do

[@MuchoMate]

Too long of a video my friend, stretching things as much as possible feels like

[@blazsavaszility9492]

Thank you!

[@osamaxx10]

I Have a question, If I arrive at London Heathrow Airport and then have to go to the Train Station, Where can I find the train station to go to Manchester, because I have just 1 hour then the Train will leave, and I don’t know where can I go Thank you so much

[@TravelTomTom]

You go out, follow the signs and walk to the train station. Easy as that

[@osamaxx10]

Thanks