A guide to the best UK prepaid SIM cards for tourists: Choosing, buying, and using

Getting a prepaid SIM card in the UK

A prepaid SIM card is a popular choice for visitors to the UK — most SIMs are reasonably cheap, easy to find, and quick to set up. Crucially, physical SIM cards help you avoid roaming charges, which can mount up fast if you’re not careful. 

With a UK SIM card in your device, you can use mobile data provided by a British cell company. In most cases, these SIMs also give you a UK phone number and the capacity to send text messages and make calls. Just remember that your phone needs to be unlocked to work with a foreign SIM card. Some devices are locked to a specific carrier, but if you contact your mobile provider, you can unlock your cell phone before you travel. 

You can buy your SIM card online, at a UK airport, or in stores around the country. We’ll cover your purchasing options in more detail later in this article. 

What is the best UK prepaid SIM card for tourists?

Finding the best prepaid SIM card for UK travel depends on a user’s requirements. One tourist wants enough data to check their emails and glance at the news. Another needs unlimited calls and enough data for streaming, video conferencing, and rapid downloads. We’ll guide you through the different providers in the UK, but you’ll have to decide for yourself what kind of package is best for you. 

If your main concern is data speed, an EE SIM card could be the best move. The company is generally recognized as having the fastest mobile networks in the UK. You can find EE cards in most supermarkets, phone stores, and airport kiosks. Almost all UK networks are now using 5G technology, however, so whatever brand you choose, you can expect good internet speeds. 

Vodafone and O2 are also strong choices, with reliable coverage across the UK mainland and, in O2’s case, access to additional Wi-Fi hotspots in major cities. But when it comes to value for money, one company emerges as a clear winner, with the best low-cost data plan — Three UK. You can see the cheapest and most expensive monthly plans from these four providers below.

The information on this table was accurate as of August 20, 2025, but may be subject to change.

These are just some of the bigger names in the UK’s SIM card space — you’ll also see a range of smaller providers represented on the market. Many of them are actually using the same networks as the four major companies mentioned above. When you’re using a Lebara SIM card, for example, your data runs on Vodafone infrastructure. Decide to go with a giffgaff SIM instead? Now you’re on Three’s networks. 

Instead of getting caught up on specific brands, just focus on price, data allowance, and validity periods, and you should be fine.

How do you choose the best UK prepaid SIM for your needs?

All of the large UK SIM providers can guarantee stable, fast connections across a range of plans. To find the right SIM card for your needs, ask yourself three questions. 

1. How long is your trip to the UK?

2. How large a data allowance do you need for your browsing habits? 

3. How much do you want to pay for a UK SIM card?

If you’re on a short trip to the UK, or you don’t plan to use the internet much (for example, you won’t be streaming movies or making video calls), a cheap plan with less data will serve your needs. If you don’t mind paying more — especially when you’re planning heavy internet use over a longer period of time — consider paying extra for an unlimited SIM card, so that you won’t have to track your data too closely.

The key to getting the right deal is to understand your own needs before making a choice. Once you’re ready to pull the trigger on your purchase, your next job is to work out where you can buy your SIM card.

Where can you buy a UK prepaid SIM card?

For most new arrivals, the first stop for a UK SIM card is at the airport. You can find SIM kiosks at the UK’s international airports, including Heathrow, Gatwick, and London Stansted. Stores like WH Smith in and around the terminals are also likely to stock a few options. Getting a SIM card is also one way to avoid connecting to the notoriously slow Heathrow Airport Wi-Fi if you're eager to get work done before a flight. Just remember that some SIMs won’t activate right away — you may need to wait 30 minutes to an hour, or turn your phone off and on again to start the new card.

If you prefer to pick up a SIM card outside of the airport, you can buy one in most UK grocery stores (like Tesco, Morrisons, and Sainsbury’s), as well as smaller, independent convenience stores — call them “corner shops” if you want to sound like a local. Placement varies from store to store, but SIMs can usually be found close to the checkouts.

Many UK mobile providers also have physical stores in towns and cities, so you can skip the middleman and go directly to providers like EE, Vodafone, O2, and Three. Don’t expect too much of a price variation across the different vendors, though — an EE SIM card, for example, usually costs about the same wherever you pick it up.

Wondering if you can buy a UK SIM card before you travel? Yes, you can! International SIM cards can be purchased online and, depending on where you are, shipped to your door. While preordering your UK SIM card can be convenient, this approach has some downsides. You’re likely to have a more limited selection of plans available to you if you’re buying your card outside of the UK, and you’ll probably pay more. Worth the price to have internet access on arrival? Maybe, but as we’ll discuss later, instant internet is also one of the benefits of eSIM cards — a benefit you can get without ordering anything in advance. 

How much do UK prepaid SIM cards cost?

The cost of a prepaid SIM in the UK depends on how much data you want and how long you need that data for. 

Light-use plans start at around £10 (about US$14) and usually come with at least 10 GB of data. Mid-range plans can cost anywhere between £15 and £20, generally including 10 to 20 GB — these are usually the most popular plans for tourists to the UK. Unlimited data deals are also available for (typically) between £25 and £30, but most travelers don’t need an all-you-can-eat data allowance.

Nearly all UK SIM plans include unlimited texts and phone calls within the UK, so the real variable is how much data you’ll need. Just remember that while using a UK SIM card, you won’t have access to your usual phone number, so it’s possible that you’ll miss calls and text messages while you’re away.

Alternatives to prepaid SIM cards in the UK

Prepaid SIM cards are just one option for getting online in the UK. A lot of tourists default to using a physical SIM without realizing how many alternatives are available to them.

Free public Wi-Fi

You can find free Wi-Fi networks across the UK, from hotels and cafes to public spaces like libraries and city centers. Some of these networks, like those in businesses, will be password protected, but many aren’t, making public Wi-Fi a pretty reliable fallback plan for internet access. In general, though, you probably shouldn’t rely on free Wi-Fi for most UK trips — these networks are often slow, cover limited areas, and can open you up to cybersecurity risks.

Hackers sometimes set up hotspots in busy public spaces, knowing that tourists might connect to them. If you start sending and receiving information over a cybercriminal’s Wi-Fi network, you could expose personal data or suffer a malware infection. 

Pocket Wi-Fi

The term pocket Wi-Fi refers to a small, pocket-sized Wi-Fi router. You can carry it with you on your travels around the UK, keeping as many devices connected to it as you want. Pocket Wi-Fi is a good option when you travel in a large group or with multiple devices. 

Using pocket Wi-Fi in the UK comes with some problems, though. It’s an extra piece of hardware that you have to carry everywhere, the device needs to be recharged regularly, and you’ll need to return it to the vendor when your trip is over. In most cases, you also have to cover the cost of hiring the router, on top of whatever you’re paying for the data itself. And of course, if you lose or damage the pocket Wi-Fi device while you’re out and about, the final price tag could be even higher.

Data roaming 

Perhaps the simplest way to connect to the internet in the UK is to turn on data roaming. This is a feature on most phones that lets you use local networks (for a price). As a rule, we recommend that you avoid using international roaming — upfront activation charges and hidden fees quickly mount up. High roaming costs might not be a problem if you’re just passing through the UK for a short layover, but if you intend to spend a few days or more in the country, this is rarely the best option. Almost every other alternative, including prepaid SIM cards, offers more competitive pricing.

eSIM apps

If you want to enjoy the best parts of all of the options on this list, getting an eSIM for the United Kingdom might be the way to go. These services connect you to local cell networks, so you can enjoy the convenience of data roaming without the dizzying prices. They also allow for instant activation — just pick a plan that meets your needs, download an eSIM app to your device, and get online as soon as you arrive in the UK.

Like to plan ahead? You can buy your eSIM (sometimes inaccurately referred to online as an eSIM card) far in advance of the activation date, so your data connection is ready before you even head to the airport. eSIM apps are affordable, flexible, and easy to set up, and most allow for hotspot tethering, so you can get multiple devices online at once.

Choose the Saily eSIM app for your stay in the United Kingdom

With an eSIM app like Saily, you get hassle-free connectivity, affordable prices, and instant activation. No need to queue at the airport, swap physical SIM cards, or give up your home phone number — a Saily eSIM gets you online without any of those little inconveniences.

You can get a UK Saily plan for as little as US$4.49 (1 GB for seven days), so you can enjoy reliable network coverage across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Alternatively, Saily’s European eSIM is valid in the UK and most EU countries, so you can stay connected as you travel across borders.

As a Saily user, you’ll also benefit from a suite of powerful cybersecurity tools, all of which come free with any data plan. Ad blocking, protection against online trackers, and the ability to shield your virtual location — it’s all included with your UK eSIM.