Guide
Best eSIM for the UK: London and beyond, for visitors
Since Brexit, the UK is no longer part of the EU's roaming rules. Some EU phone plans still include it, many now charge, and plans from the Balkans, Turkey and elsewhere almost always do. A travel eSIM installed before you fly gets you online as soon as you land at Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted or Manchester.
Your options for internet in the UK
| Option | Works when you land | Keep your number | Setup |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roaming on your home plan | Yes | Yes | Check your plan: many now charge for the UK |
| UK SIM card | After you find a shop | No, new number | A shop visit and swapping SIMs |
| Free Wi-Fi | Cafés, stations, some buses | Yes | Logins and patchy signal |
| Travel eSIM | Yes | Yes, for WhatsApp and iMessage | Two minutes at home |
Which networks does it use?
Our UK plan connects to EE and Three. EE has the widest coverage in the UK and 5G in many towns and cities. Three is a strong second in the cities. Between the two, you're covered in London, the cities, along the motorways and in most of the countryside. In the Scottish Highlands and parts of Wales, signal is patchy on every network.
How much data do you need?
| Trip | Plan we'd pick |
|---|---|
| A weekend in London | 1 GB for 7 days |
| A week of sightseeing | 3 GB for 15 days |
| Two weeks visiting family | 5 GB for 30 days |
| A month, with video calls home | 10 GB for 30 days |
| Studying or working, a long stay | 20 GB or 50 GB for 30 days |
Tips for the UK
Signal on the Tube is spreading. Parts of the London Underground, including the Elizabeth line and sections of other lines, now have mobile coverage underground, and more stations are being added. Elsewhere on the Tube, download what you need before you go down.
Pay by phone, ride by phone. In London you can tap your phone or card on buses and the Tube instead of buying a ticket. Train tickets, from London to Edinburgh or Manchester, are mostly digital too.
Visiting family. The UK has large Albanian, Turkish and Balkan communities. At a relative's home, one phone can share its data with the others. Hotspot is allowed on every plan, with no daily cap.
Going on to Ireland or Europe? The UK plan works in the UK only. A Europe plan covers the UK, Ireland and 32 more countries.
Is your phone ready?
You need a phone that supports eSIM and isn't locked to your carrier. Here's how to check in two minutes.
How to set it up
- Buy the plan on our website or in the Blue eSIM app.
- Install it at home, on Wi-Fi. On recent iPhones the app installs it with one tap; on any phone you can scan the QR code.
- When you land, choose the eSIM for mobile data and switch on data roaming for it. Leave data roaming off on your home SIM.
- If you run low, top up the same eSIM in the app.
What you get with Blue eSIM
- Two networks, EE and Three, with 5G where available
- Hotspot on every plan, with no daily cap
- A plan that starts when you land, not when you install it
- Top-ups on the same eSIM
- Plans changed? Cancel any eSIM you haven't installed, for full credit, up to 5 months after buying
- An app and support in eight languages, including Albanian, Macedonian and Turkish
Frequently asked questions
What is the best eSIM for the UK?
One that uses EE, the UK's widest network. Ours connects to EE and Three, with 5G where available.
Is the UK included in EU roaming?
Not under EU rules since Brexit. Some EU carriers still include it in their plans; check yours before you travel.
Does the eSIM work in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?
Yes. The plan covers the whole UK.
Will I get a UK phone number?
No. The eSIM is for data. Your home SIM keeps your number, and WhatsApp keeps working on it.