From live Tube departures and train platform changes to contactless tickets and theatre bookings, a trip to the UK runs smoothly when your phone is online. A UK eSIM connects you to a British network as soon as you land — no SIM shop queue, no contract and no roaming bill from your home carrier.
What a UK eSIM is
An eSIM is a digital SIM profile you install by scanning a QR code. Our UK plans are data-only; your home SIM stays in the phone for calls and texts, including bank verification codes. Use WhatsApp, FaceTime and similar apps to call over data.
Check your phone first
The phone must support eSIM and be carrier-unlocked. Most iPhones from the XR and XS onwards, Google Pixel 3 and newer and Samsung Galaxy S20 and newer support eSIM. On an iPhone look for Add eSIM in Settings › Cellular; on any phone, dialing *#06# shows an EID if eSIM is supported.
Networks and coverage
UK eSIM plans connect to EE, O2 and Three, three of the four national networks. Coverage is strong in towns and cities, with 5G in many places and 4G across most of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Remote parts of the Scottish Highlands, national parks and some rural roads can have weak signal.
Where your data comes out
Depending on the plan, your data is routed through the UK, France or the Netherlands — the IP location is shown on each plan page. Most apps do not care, but a few UK-only services check your location and may not work with a non-UK IP address.
How much data to buy
About 1 GB per day covers maps, transport apps, messaging and some social media for most visitors. See the UK data guide for plan sizes. If you are also visiting continental Europe, read which eSIM you need for the UK and Europe.
Installing your eSIM
- Install at home on Wi-Fi — the plan only starts when you first connect in the UK.
- iPhone: Settings › Cellular › Add eSIM › Use QR Code. Android: Settings › Connections (or Network) › SIM manager › Add eSIM. Scan the QR code from your email.
- Label the line “UK”, choose it for mobile data and keep your home SIM for calls and texts.
- Turn on data roaming for the eSIM line; keep data roaming off on your home SIM.
Quick fixes
- No data: check roaming and the mobile-data line, then restart the phone.
- Weak signal: turn off automatic network selection and choose EE, O2 or Three manually.
- Still stuck: contact us with your order email — we reply within 24 hours.
Frequently asked questions
Which networks does the UK eSIM use?
EE, O2 and Three, with 5G in many towns and cities and 4G across most of the UK.
Does the UK eSIM work in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?
Yes. The plans cover the whole United Kingdom; only remote rural and mountain areas may have weak signal.
Will my IP address be in the UK?
Not always. Depending on the plan, data is routed through the UK, France or the Netherlands, as shown on each plan page.
Get online in the UK the moment you land
UK eSIM from $0.90 · QR code by email · EE, O2, Three