eSIM for the United Kingdom
A prepaid travel eSIM that gets you online the moment you land in the UK. You install it from a QR code we email you, in about five minutes, with no SIM shop to find after a long flight into Heathrow or Gatwick.
- 86 data plans work in the United Kingdom, from $3.49. Prices checked November 3, 2026.
- 1 plan covers the United Kingdom only. 85 more cover it along with nearby countries such as Ireland and France.
- Most plans start when you first use data, so you can install at home before you fly. A few start at install, and the tables mark them.
- Data only, with no local phone number. Your home number stays on your regular SIM.
Prices by data and trip length
Prices in US dollars, checked November 3, 2026. The plan page shows the current price before you pay.
| Data | 7 days | 15 days | 30 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | $3.492 GB, 15 daysEurope plan, 36 destinations | $3.492 GB, 15 daysEurope plan, 36 destinations | $4.993 GB, 30 daysEurope plan, 35 destinations |
| 3 GB | $4.993 GB, 30 daysEurope plan, 35 destinations | $4.993 GB, 30 daysEurope plan, 35 destinations | $4.993 GB, 30 daysEurope plan, 35 destinations |
| 5 GB | $6.995 GB, 30 daysEurope plan, 35 destinations | $6.995 GB, 30 daysEurope plan, 35 destinations | $6.995 GB, 30 daysEurope plan, 35 destinations |
| 10 GB | $10.9912 GB, 30 daysEurope plan, 36 destinations | $10.9912 GB, 30 daysEurope plan, 36 destinations | $10.9912 GB, 30 daysEurope plan, 36 destinations |
| 20 GB | $16.9920 GB, 30 daysCovers 2 destinationsStarts at install | $16.9920 GB, 30 daysCovers 2 destinationsStarts at install | $16.9920 GB, 30 daysCovers 2 destinationsStarts at install |
Plans for the United Kingdom only
Every size and length sold for the United Kingdom alone, without other countries:
| Data | Length | Price | Network | Starts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 999 GB | 30 days | $49.99 | 5G where available | On first use |
Unlimited data plans
4 unlimited plans work in the United Kingdom. Unlimited plans give a set amount of full speed data, then slow down. The cheapest for each length:
| Length | Price | Full speed | Covers | Starts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 days | $8.99 | 3 GB a day at up to 20 Mbps, then 1 Mbps | Europe plan, 28 destinations | On first use |
| 5 days | $11.99 | 3 GB a day at up to 20 Mbps, then 1 Mbps | Europe plan, 28 destinations | On first use |
| 7 days | $14.99 | 3 GB a day at up to 20 Mbps, then 1 Mbps | Europe plan, 28 destinations | On first use |
| 10 days | $19.99 | 3 GB a day at up to 20 Mbps, then 1 Mbps | Europe plan, 28 destinations | On first use |
Plans for the United Kingdom and nearby countries
- The United Kingdom and Ireland: 5 plans, from $3.99 for 2 GB over 15 days.
- The United Kingdom and the United States: 1 plan, from $16.99 for 20 GB over 30 days.
- Regional plan, 6 destinations, including the United States: from $40.82 for 35 GB over 365 days.
- Europe plan, 28 destinations, including Ireland, France, the Netherlands and Belgium: from $8.99 for unlimited data for 3 days.
- Europe plan, 34 destinations, including Ireland, France, the Netherlands and Belgium: from $3.99 for 1 GB over 7 days.
- Europe plan, 40 destinations, including Ireland, France, the Netherlands and Belgium: from $4.99 for 1 GB over 14 days.
- Regional plan, 42 destinations, including Ireland, France, the Netherlands and Belgium: from $3.49 for 1 GB over 14 days.
Network and plan details
- 40 of the 86 plans connect at 5G where the local network and your phone support it. The rest use 4G LTE.
- Of the 86 plans for the United Kingdom, 76 start when you first use data and 10 start when you install the eSIM.
- Your data goes out to the internet from the UK on 46 plans, Hong Kong on 10 and Western Europe on 7. 3 use other places. 20 do not say. Websites usually see that place as your location.
- Hotspot sharing works on every plan here.
- The catalog does not name the local network for these plans.
- Capital: London
- Country calling code: +44
- Plans: 86, from $3.49 to $116.99
The UK runs on a few apps that all need data: Citymapper for the London Underground, Uber and Bolt for cabs, and Google Maps for the rest. A travel eSIM has them working from the airport onward. Note that since Brexit the UK is outside EU roaming, so a separate UK plan is the clean choice rather than assuming a Europe regional plan covers it.
What you can use the data for
Transit. Citymapper is the fastest way to read the London Underground, buses, and the Elizabeth line, with live departures and the right exit to use. Outside London, Google Maps handles the trains and buses.
Ride-hailing. Uber and Bolt both operate across the major UK cities and run on data. From the airport they are often simpler than the taxi rank.
Contactless and tickets. London transit takes a contactless tap, and rail tickets live in apps like Trainline that need a connection to buy and display.
Messaging. WhatsApp is the default for hosts, tour guides, and friends across Britain, so you will want it live.
Where it works
Coverage roams on the UK's national networks, strong across the cities and main routes:
- London, served by Heathrow (LHR), Gatwick (LGW), Stansted (STN), and Luton (LTN)
- Manchester (MAN), Birmingham (BHX), and Liverpool
- Edinburgh (EDI) and Glasgow (GLA)
- Bristol, Leeds, and Newcastle
- The intercity rail lines linking them
City and intercity coverage is strong. It thins out in the Scottish Highlands, rural Wales, the Lake District, and parts of Cornwall. Download offline maps before a road trip through the Highlands or Snowdonia.
Common situations
London city break
Activate on the Heathrow wifi, open Citymapper, and ride the Underground or Elizabeth line into the center without buying a SIM. A small data plan covers a few days of sightseeing.
Business in London or Manchester
Stay on email and calls between meetings without depending on office wifi. The eSIM runs beside your home SIM, so your usual number still rings.
Scotland road trip
Use the data in the cities and download offline maps for the Highlands and the islands, where signal drops on the single-track roads and the ferries.
How to install your eSIM before you fly
- Buy the plan. The eSIM arrives by email, usually within a minute. Install it at home on Wi-Fi with the one-tap link or the QR code in the email. 10 plans start counting at install or purchase, and the tables mark them. Install those close to your flight.
- Name the line United Kingdom and keep it off until you land. Do not delete it after setup, because an eSIM installs only once.
- On arrival, turn the line on, choose it for mobile data and turn on data roaming for it. Turn off data roaming on your home line.
Screen by screen steps for iPhone and Android are in our travel eSIM install guide.
Phones that work
Your phone must support eSIM and be unlocked. Check your model on our compatibility page.
Common questions
How much does an eSIM for the United Kingdom cost?
Plans start at $3.49 for 2 GB over 15 days, on a plan that covers 36 destinations. A plan with at least 10 GB for 30 days starts at $10.99. Prices checked November 3, 2026.
Is there an unlimited data eSIM for the United Kingdom?
Yes. 4 unlimited plans work in the United Kingdom, from $8.99 for 3 days. That plan gives 3 GB a day at up to 20 Mbps, then 1 Mbps.
Is there a plan for the United Kingdom only?
Yes. 1 plan covers the United Kingdom only, from $49.99. 85 more cover it together with other countries.
Does a Europe plan cover the UK?
Yes, most do. 35 of the 38 Europe plans in our catalog include the United Kingdom, from $3.49 for 2 GB over 15 days. 3 leave it out, and each plan lists every country it covers before you pay.
When does the plan start counting days?
It depends on the plan. Of the 86 plans for the United Kingdom, 76 start when you first use data and 10 start when you install the eSIM. The plan page shows the rule before you pay.
Does the eSIM come with a phone number?
No. These plans are data only, and your home number stays on your regular SIM.
Will it work on the London Underground?
Coverage reaches many Underground platforms and the Elizabeth line, and it is solid above ground. Citymapper also works offline once a route is loaded.
What about the Scottish Highlands?
Cities and main roads are well covered. The Highlands, islands, and remote single-track roads have gaps, so download offline maps first.