1 GB
Valid for 7 days
$6.99
$6.99 per GB
eSIM for United Kingdom
The UK runs on tap-to-pay and live apps. Your phone is your Tube ticket, your Trainline e-ticket, and your Citymapper route across a London that reorganises itself every time a line closes for the weekend. Even the pub takes orders by QR code.
A FairSIM eSIM for the United Kingdom connects to EE, O2 or Vodafone at the wholesale rate. Cities and motorways get 5G, the Tube is most of the way through its 4G rollout, and the Highlands still have stretches with no signal from anyone. Set it up at home, land at Heathrow, and go.
United Kingdom eSIM plans
Wholesale rates in US dollars, with nothing added at checkout. Buy in the FairSIM app and the plan is on your phone in seconds.
How long is your trip?
All plans. Pick a trip length to narrow the list.
- Get it in the app for United Kingdom
3 GB
Valid for 30 days
Get it in the app for United Kingdom$14.99
$5.00 per GB
- Best value
10 GB
Valid for 30 days
Get it in the app for United Kingdom$29.99
$3.00 per GB
Unlimited
Valid for 15 days
Get it in the app for United Kingdom$33.99
Speed policy shown in the app
Coverage in United Kingdom
- 4G LTE
- 5G
- EEThe best overall and 5G coverage in Opensignal's 2026 report, and the best network on rural roads like the NC500. The most common travel eSIM host.
- O2Wins Opensignal's overall coverage award; widely used by travel eSIMs.
- Vodafone UKMerged with Three in 2025 and first with 5G standalone; used by some travel eSIMs.
Typical speed: Around 68 Mbps median download (Ookla, November 2025).
Cities and motorways are excellent. The rural Highlands, Welsh mountains, Lake District, Cornish coves and train tunnels are intermittent. 3G is switched off, so your phone needs 4G LTE.
How much data do you need in United Kingdom?
It depends on how you travel. Find your trip below, then pick the plan that matches. You can always top up in the app.
London city break
Three to five days of Tube, West End, museums and markets.
Why data matters: Citymapper or TfL Go, contactless fare caps, Uber and Bolt, mobile theatre and attraction e-tickets, Google Maps walking.
- 7 days
- 5 GB
- 14 days
- 10 GB
- 30 days
- 20 GB
Scotland road trip
Edinburgh, the Highlands, Skye and the NC500 by car.
Why data matters: Offline maps plus Waze, Met Office weather, CalMac ferry bookings and Airbnb messaging. Long stretches have no signal.
- 7 days
- 5 GB
- 14 days
- 10 GB
- 30 days
- 20 GB
Multi-city rail trip
London, Bath, Liverpool, Manchester, York and Edinburgh by train.
Why data matters: Trainline and National Rail live times, e-tickets, hotel apps, and Netflix on onboard Wi-Fi that cannot keep up.
- 7 days
- 5 GB
- 14 days
- 12 GB
- 30 days
- 20 GB
Business travel
Meetings in London, Manchester or Edinburgh, Eurostar and rail hops.
Why data matters: Teams and Zoom, email, laptop hotspot on trains where Wi-Fi is slow, Trainline e-tickets.
- 7 days
- 10 GB
- 14 days
- 20 GB
- 30 days
- Unlimited
Study or exchange semester
Months at a UK university on a budget.
Why data matters: Daily maps, banking, social, streaming off campus. Top up monthly without a UK contract or credit check.
- 7 days
- 5 GB
- 14 days
- 10 GB
- 30 days
- 30 GB
Cruise port stop: Southampton, Dover, Greenwich
A day or two ashore before or after a cruise.
Why data matters: Transfers, Uber, day-trip tickets and the cruise-line app.
- 7 days
- 2 GB
- 14 days
- 3 GB
- 30 days
- 5 GB
What your home carrier charges in United Kingdom
Daily roaming passes look small until you multiply them by the length of the trip. FairSIM plans for United Kingdom start at $6.99 and never bill per day.
After Brexit, EU visitors can no longer rely on roam-like-at-home rights in the UK. Most EU operators still include it, but with caps.
| Carrier | Roaming charge | FairSIM |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon TravelPass (US) | $12 per day, included only on Unlimited Ultimate | from $6.99, no daily fee |
| AT&T International Day Pass (US) | $12 per day, plus $6 per extra line | from $6.99, no daily fee |
| T-Mobile (US) | Included with 5 to 15 GB high-speed, then 256 kbps; or $50 for a 10-day 15 GB pass | from $6.99, no daily fee |
| Telstra Day Pass (Australia) | A$10 per day for 2 GB | from $6.99, no daily fee |
| Rogers (Canada) | C$18 per day with Roam Like Home | from $6.99, no daily fee |
| Orange (France) | Counts against your EU allowance, then about €13 per GB | from $6.99, no daily fee |
Carrier prices as published on their roaming pages at the time of writing. They change often; check your own plan before you fly.
How FairSIM works
- 1
Pick a destination and a plan
Choose the country or region and the data you need. The price you see is the price you pay.
- 2
Tap install
On iPhone (iOS 17.4+) the eSIM installs in one tap, no QR code. Do it at home while you still have Wi-Fi.
- 3
Land and connect
Turn on data roaming for the FairSIM line when you arrive. Your plan starts when it first connects.
Connectivity tips for United Kingdom
The Tube now has 4G and 5G in about half its underground stations plus the whole Elizabeth line, with the full network due by the end of 2026. Expect tunnel gaps until then.
Scotland's NC500 has 40-plus miles with no signal from any operator. EE covers 89% of the route, so pick an EE-based plan for Highlands driving and download offline maps.
Contactless is king. Tap your phone on TfL, buses and trains nationwide; tapping needs no data, but Citymapper does.
Visa-exempt visitors from the US, EU, Australia and Canada need a UK ETA before flying. Sort it at home, not at the airport.
A data-only eSIM has no +44 number. Keep your home SIM on for SMS codes and use WhatsApp or Wi-Fi calling in thick-walled pubs and hotels.
The Lake District, Snowdonia, the Peak District dales and Cornish coves still have not-spots. Tell someone your hiking route and cache maps.
Train Wi-Fi is slow. Download shows before boarding and keep Trainline e-tickets saved offline.
Apps you will actually use
- Citymapper and TfL Go the best routing for London, including weekend closures.
- Apple Pay and Google Pay tap on all TfL services, buses and taxis; daily fare caps apply automatically.
- Trainline and National Rail e-tickets and live platforms; download before boarding.
- Uber, Bolt and FreeNow ride-hailing in every big city.
- UK ETA visa-exempt visitors must apply before travel, £16.
- Deliveroo and Just Eat delivery.
No need for an Oyster card. Tap a contactless card or phone and the daily cap does the rest.
Can you rely on free Wi-Fi?
Excellent in cities: Costa, Pret, Starbucks, Wetherspoons pubs, hotels, museums, Network Rail stations, most intercity trains and many buses. Onboard train Wi-Fi is slow and rationed, and most networks want an email sign-up.
Local SIM card or eSIM in United Kingdom?
UK prepaid SIMs are cheap and need no ID: giffgaff on the O2 network for about £1 with plans from £6, Three at 40 GB for £10, EE pay-as-you-go at £20 for 100 GB, and Sim Local kiosks at Heathrow from £15. Supermarkets and phone shops sell them everywhere.
The friction is the delivery: a shop visit or a postal SIM, an unlocked phone, and a +44 number bundled in whether you want it or not. A FairSIM eSIM is live before you land and tops up in the app.
Good to know before you land in United Kingdom
- Currency
- Pound sterling (£, GBP)
- Plug type
- Type G (three rectangular pins)
- Voltage
- 230 V, 50 Hz
- Emergency number
- 999 or 112 for all services
- Language
- English
- Time zone
- UTC+0 (GMT), UTC+1 in summer (BST)
- Capital
- London
United Kingdom eSIM questions
Does eSIM work in the UK?
Yes. All UK networks support eSIM and any unlocked eSIM phone works. FairSIM installs in one tap and connects to EE, O2 or Vodafone depending on the plan.
Which UK network is best?
EE wins most Opensignal awards and has the best rural and 5G coverage; O2 leads on overall coverage. The app shows the network for each plan.
Will I get 5G?
Yes, where available. 5G reaches 94 to 97% of premises outdoors, though in the countryside you will be on 4G, which is plenty for maps and messaging.
Can I hotspot?
Most FairSIM plans support Personal Hotspot; the plan details in the app confirm it.
Install before or after landing?
Install at home on Wi-Fi, keep the line off, then switch it on at Heathrow or Gatwick. It connects in seconds.
Calls and WhatsApp?
WhatsApp, FaceTime and Wi-Fi calling all work. It is data-only, so there is no UK number. Keep your home SIM active for regular calls and SMS.
How much data for 7, 14 or 30 days?
A London break: 5, 10 and 20 GB. A road or rail trip: 5, 10 to 12 and 20 GB. Business or student use: 10, 20 and 30 to 40 GB. Top up in the app if needed.
Local SIM or eSIM after Brexit?
UK SIMs are cheap and need no ID, but they require a shop visit or postal delivery and an unlocked phone. EU visitors cannot rely on roam-like-at-home rules in the UK any more, so an eSIM bought before departure avoids surprise caps or fees.
What is an eSIM?
A SIM card built into your phone. Instead of a plastic chip, you download a profile. Every iPhone since the XS has one next to the physical SIM slot, so your home number stays put while FairSIM supplies the data.
Is my phone compatible?
FairSIM works with eSIM-compatible, carrier-unlocked iPhones: the XS, XR and everything newer. iOS 17.4 or later unlocks the one-tap install with no QR code. Check the full list on the How it works page.
When should I install my eSIM?
Before you travel, while you still have Wi-Fi. Installing does not start your plan; the validity typically starts when the eSIM first connects to a network at your destination.
Do FairSIM eSIMs come with a phone number?
No. FairSIM eSIMs are data-only by design, which keeps costs low. For calls and texts, your physical SIM stays active so you keep your existing number, and WhatsApp, FaceTime and iMessage work over data.
Traveling beyond United Kingdom?
Get your United Kingdom eSIM in the app
Plans from $6.99. Install before you fly, track your data live, and top up in seconds if you need more.
Download on theApp Store
iPhone XS or later · iOS 17.4+ for one-tap install
