eSIM for the UK: data plans, coverage and roaming after Brexit

A travel eSIM is the simplest way to get mobile data in the UK: install a prepaid plan before you fly and you're online on the taxiway at Heathrow, with your usual number still receiving calls and texts. In Cabin Mode, UK plans run from 1 GB for a week to 50 GB for a month, and 10 GB for 30 days costs $8.56 as of September 2026.

That's the short version. The rest covers what's specific to the UK: Brexit and roaming, the Tube, the rural gaps, and Ireland.

What UK plans cost

Data	Valid for	Price (USD)	Per GB
1 GB	7 days	$1.14	$1.14
3 GB	15 days	$3.00	$1.00
5 GB	30 days	$4.76	$0.95
10 GB	30 days	$8.56	$0.86
20 GB	30 days	$16.40	$0.82
50 GB	30 days	$34.00	$0.68
50 GB	180 days	$56.00	$1.12

Prices checked 25 September 2026; the app shows current prices in your currency.

The UK is one of the cheaper destinations per GB in the catalog, and the price per GB keeps falling as plans get bigger. There are also one-day passes for a layover or a transit day, but for anything longer a fixed allowance is better value. See every UK plan.

Roaming after Brexit: why EU visitors need to check

Until 2021 the UK was inside the EU's roam-like-at-home rules, so a French or German SIM worked in London at no extra cost. Since Brexit that is no longer guaranteed. As of 2026 the UK sits outside the EU regulation, so EU carriers are free to charge for use in the UK. Some still include it in their allowances; many charge a daily fee or per-MB rates.

If you live in the EU, check your own plan's terms for the UK before you travel. If the UK isn't included, a UK eSIM for a few dollars is usually cheaper than even a couple of days of roaming.

For visitors from further away — the US, Canada, Australia, Asia — the maths is the familiar one: carrier day passes add up quickly over a week or two, while an eSIM costs roughly what a local prepaid SIM card would. Roaming, a local SIM or a travel eSIM compares the three.

The reverse applies to UK residents heading to Europe: as of 2026, most of the big UK networks charge a daily fee for EU roaming, with O2, Tesco Mobile and giffgaff the main exceptions. UK roaming charges in Europe has every network's current fee if that's your trip.

Networks and coverage

The UK has three mobile network operators as of 2026 — EE, O2 and VodafoneThree, formed when Vodafone and Three merged in 2025 — though Vodafone and Three still run largely separate radio networks while they integrate. The old 3G networks have been switched off, so data runs on 4G and 5G. UK plans in Cabin Mode are listed as 3G/4G/5G; you'll get 5G where the network offers it and your iPhone supports it (iPhone 12 and later).

Ofcom reports that as of January 2026, about 96% of the UK's land area has 4G from at least one operator. In practice:

Cities and towns — London, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Bristol — have strong 4G and widespread 5G.
The Scottish Highlands and islands are where gaps are longest. Single-track roads through Glencoe, Skye and the far north-west can run without signal for long stretches.
National parks and hills — Snowdonia (Eryri), the Lake District, the Peak District, Dartmoor — have patchy coverage in the valleys and good coverage on the tops and in the villages.
Coastal Cornwall and Pembrokeshire have dips in coves and on cliff paths.

Download offline maps before a road trip north of Glasgow or a hiking day, and don't rely on a live connection to find somewhere to stay on the North Coast 500.

The London Underground

Mobile coverage on the Tube is being built out line by line. As of August 2026, more than 60% of the 121 below-ground stations have 4G and 5G, the Elizabeth line has been fully connected since December 2024, and Transport for London aims to cover the remaining stations and tunnels by the end of 2026. Until then, expect to lose signal in some tunnels, particularly on older sections of the network.

A few practical points for London:

You don't need data to ride the Tube. Tap in and out with a contactless card or Apple Pay; the fare is capped automatically.
Citymapper and Google Maps work well in London; save your route before going underground on an older line.
Most Tube stations have Wi-Fi, but it is free mainly for customers of UK mobile and broadband providers; visitors otherwise need a paid pass, so don't count on it.

Trains

Intercity trains are the other common place to lose signal. Deep cuttings, tunnels and rural stretches on routes such as London to Edinburgh or across the Pennines mean data comes and goes. Many long-distance trains have onboard Wi-Fi, which can fill the gaps, though it's often slow. If you're planning to work on a train, download what you need beforehand.

How much data for the UK

A long weekend in London: 3–5 GB. Maps, messaging, looking up opening hours and the odd video.
One to two weeks, several cities: 10 GB for a typical traveller.
A road trip through Scotland or the countryside: 10–20 GB for two weeks, depending on how much music you stream in the car.
Working remotely or hotspotting a laptop: 20 GB or more. The 50 GB plan is $0.68 per GB, the best rate in the table.

Rough per-app figures are in how much data you need for a trip.

Do you need a UK phone number?

Most visitors don't. Cabin Mode is data only: no UK number, no calls or SMS on the travel line. Your usual SIM keeps your number for calls and texts, including bank verification codes, and iMessage, FaceTime and WhatsApp work as usual over the eSIM's data.

Hotels, trains, restaurants and ride-hailing apps work with an international number and email. A UK number becomes useful for longer stays — renting a flat, registering with a doctor, opening a bank account — and at that point a local SIM card is the right tool. For emergencies, dial 999 or 112 as normal; your iPhone places the call over your usual line.

Ireland and Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is part of the UK, so a UK plan covers Belfast and the Causeway Coast. The Republic of Ireland is a separate country, and a UK plan doesn't cover it.

If your trip includes Dublin or the west of Ireland, you have three options:

The Ireland & UK plan covers both, from $17.00 for 10 GB over 15 days, on 4G.
Europe (35 areas) and Europe (33 areas) both include the UK and Ireland, and 10 GB for 30 days costs $11.34 and $11.72 respectively — cheaper than the two-country plan, and they also cover the rest of your trip if you're continuing to the continent.
A UK plan plus a small Ireland plan, if you're spending only a day or two across the border.

Near the border, your phone may try to connect to an Irish network while you're still in Northern Ireland. If a UK-only plan loses data there, choose a UK network manually in Settings › Cellular › [travel line] › Network Selection.

Before you fly and when you land

Install the eSIM at home, on Wi-Fi. UK plans start on first connection to a UK network, so installing a week early costs nothing; the small 100 MB plan is the exception and starts when installed, which the plan screen shows before you pay. Once a plan starts, validity counts down continuously.

When the plane lands:

Turn off Airplane Mode.
In Settings › Cellular, choose the travel eSIM for Cellular Data and turn Data Roaming on for that line.
Make sure your usual line has Data Roaming off.

You'll usually be online before the jet bridge. The full steps are in how to install a travel eSIM on iPhone. Your iPhone needs to be an XR or later and carrier-unlocked.

Running low, or staying longer

The app shows remaining data, with a one-to-three-hour lag behind the network, so top up before you hit zero. Top-ups add data to the same eSIM; nothing to reinstall. For long stays, eligible 30-day plans can be switched to an optional monthly plan that tops up the same line each month until you cancel in the app, or use the 180-day plan. Payment is by Apple Pay or card via Stripe, shown in your own currency.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a SIM card for the UK?

No. A travel eSIM gives you UK mobile data without a physical SIM card, as long as your iPhone is an XR or later and carrier-unlocked. You install it before you fly and your usual SIM stays in place for calls and texts.

Does EU roaming work in the UK?

Not automatically. Since Brexit, the UK is outside the EU's roam-like-at-home rules, so EU carriers can charge for use in the UK. Some include it and many don't, so check your plan before you travel.

How much data do I need for a week in London?

Around 5 GB for maps, messaging, social media and browsing. If you make video calls or post a lot of video, 10 GB gives you room.

Is there phone signal on the London Underground?

On a growing share of it. As of August 2026, over 60% of underground stations have 4G and 5G, the Elizabeth line is fully covered, and the rest of the network is due to be connected by the end of 2026. Expect gaps in some tunnels until then.

Does a UK eSIM work in Ireland?

A UK plan covers Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK, but not the Republic of Ireland. For both, use the Ireland & UK plan or a Europe-wide plan that lists both countries.

Can I hotspot my laptop with a UK eSIM?

Yes. Personal Hotspot shares the eSIM's data with a laptop or tablet. Laptops use data quickly, so size up to 20 GB or more, or keep large downloads for Wi-Fi.