Best eSIMs for UK Travel (2026): Stay Connected Without Roaming Fees

Are you a first-time visitor to the UK and feeling overwhelmed by the number of eSIM options available? You’re not alone. Staying connected while travelling is essential – for maps, transport apps, bookings, contactless payments, and keeping in touch – but roaming charges can be expensive and confusing.

After years of travelling regularly in the UK, we’ve used eSIMs extensively and researched a wide range of providers to understand which ones offer the best balance of coverage, reliability, ease of use, and value for money.

In this guide, we’ll explain what an eSIM is, how it works in the UK, and which eSIMs we recommend for different types of travellers – whether you’re visiting for a week, travelling with family, or heading on to Europe.

For most visitors to the UK, we recommend Saily for its simple pricing, strong coverage, and easy setup. You’ll find a comparison table and detailed breakdown below to help you choose the best option for your trip.

Best eSIMs for UK Travel

What is an eSIM?

An eSIM (short for embedded SIM) is a digital version of a traditional physical SIM card. Instead of inserting a plastic SIM into your phone, an eSIM is downloaded directly to your device.

eSIMs are primarily used for mobile data while travelling. They allow your phone to connect to local networks in the country you are visiting, helping you avoid high international roaming charges from your home provider.

Most eSIMs are data-only, meaning calls and texts continue to use your home SIM and phone number. Some providers do offer call and text options, but for most travellers, data is all you need.

Getting an eSIM is straightforward. You choose a plan online based on how long you are travelling and how much data you expect to use. Once purchased, you install the eSIM using an app or QR code, which usually takes just a few minutes.

When you return home, you simply switch back to your usual SIM in your phone settings.

Pros and cons of using an eSIM in the UK

Pros

• You keep your existing phone number
• You avoid expensive roaming charges
• You can buy and install an eSIM before travelling
• Data works as soon as the eSIM is activated
• If your phone is lost, the eSIM can be remotely disabled

Cons

• Your phone must support eSIM technology
  (Most phones made since 2017 are compatible, but always check before purchasing.)

Our top eSIM picks for UK travel (quick summary)

If you want a quick overview before diving into the details, here are our top recommendations:

• Best overall for UK travel: Saily
• Best for unlimited data: Holafly
• Best budget option: Nomad
• Best for families: Ubigi
• Best for frequent travellers: KeepGo / Flexiroam
• A reliable, well-established option: Airalo

Best overall eSIM for UK travel: Saily

Based on our experience using eSIMs for UK travel, along with a detailed comparison of current providers, Saily is our recommended eSIM for most UK visitors.

Saily offers simple, competitively priced data plans designed specifically for travellers, with coverage that works across England, Scotland, and Wales. Plans are easy to purchase online, installation is straightforward, and the setup process is well-suited to first-time eSIM users.

One of Saily’s standout features is its multi-country plans, which are ideal if your UK trip is part of a wider European itinerary. Saily also integrates with NordVPN, making it a convenient option for travellers who want both mobile data and online security organised before they leave home.

Saily plans typically start from around USD $4–$5 (£3–£4/ EUR €4–€5) for 1GB, with larger data packages available for more extended stays. Importantly, Saily only activates when you start using data in your destination country, helping you avoid losing days before you arrive.

For most travellers, Saily offers a strong balance of value, simplicity, and features for UK travel. We will be testing Saily on upcoming trips and will update this guide with hands-on insights as soon as we do.

Other eSIM options for UK visitors

Holafly – Best for unlimited data

• Quick specs
  • Coverage: UK (Vodafone and O2 networks)
  • Data: Unlimited
  • Validity: 5 to 15 days
  • Hotspot: Not supported
  • Best for: Heavy data users

Holafly is a good option if you plan to use a lot of data and do not want to monitor your usage. However, hotspot sharing is not supported and speeds may slow after fair use limits, so it is not ideal if you need to tether multiple devices.

Nomad – Best budget option

• Quick specs
  • Coverage: Multiple UK networks
  • Data: Fixed data plans
  • Validity: 7 to 30 days
  • Hotspot: Supported
  • Best for: Budget-conscious travellers

Nomad offers competitively priced data packages and uses multiple networks for good overall coverage. It is a solid option if you want to keep costs down and are comfortable monitoring your data usage.

Ubigi – Best for families

• Quick specs
  • Coverage: UK (strong urban coverage)
  • Data: Fixed and unlimited plans
  • Validity: Short-term packages
  • Hotspot: Supported
  • Best for: Families and shared devices

Ubigi allows data sharing, making it a good choice for families travelling together. Coverage is strong in cities, though it can be more variable in rural areas.

GigSky – Good for wider European travel

• Quick specs
  • Coverage: UK and Europe
  • Data: Fixed data plans
  • Validity: Up to 30 days
  • Hotspot: Supported
  • Best for: Multi-country trips

GigSky offers country-specific, regional, and global plans. UK-only data allowances are relatively modest, but their regional plans can be useful if the UK is part of a longer European itinerary.

KeepGo / Flexiroam – Best for frequent travellers

• Quick specs
  • Coverage: Global
  • Data: Pay-as-you-go
  • Validity: No expiry
  • Hotspot: Supported
  • Best for: Frequent or flexible travellers

KeepGo and Flexiroam offer data plans that don’t expire, which can be helpful if you travel often or have flexible plans. Coverage in the UK is strong thanks to multiple network partners.

Airalo – A well-established option for UK travel

• Quick specs
  • Coverage: UK (connects to major local networks)
  • Data: Fixed data plans
  • Validity: Short-term and monthly options
  • Hotspot: Supported
  • Best for: Travellers who want a familiar, widely used provider

Airalo is one of the most well-known eSIM providers and offers UK-specific data plans that are easy to purchase and install via its app. Plans are available for short stays and longer trips, with the option to top up if you need more data during your visit.

Coverage works across England, Scotland, and Wales, and Airalo is a good choice if you prefer a provider with a long track record and a simple, app-based setup.

UK eSIM comparison table

Prices shown in USD as a guide only. Actual pricing varies by provider, plan length, and promotions.

SIM vs eSIM vs roaming in the UK

Your physical SIM card is linked to your home mobile provider. When you use it abroad, you are usually charged roaming fees, which can be significantly higher than local data rates.

Unless your home plan includes affordable UK roaming, buying an eSIM is usually cheaper, easier, and more flexible than paying roaming charges or swapping physical SIM cards.

How to set up an eSIM

Setting up an eSIM is straightforward, even if you are not particularly tech-minded.

Most providers guide you through the process using an app or QR code. Installation usually takes just a few minutes.

One of the most common mistakes travellers make is activating their eSIM too early. Many eSIMs start their validity period from the moment of activation, not from first use.

We recommend installing your eSIM before you travel, but waiting until you arrive in the UK to activate it. Some providers, including Saily, only activate once you start using data in your destination country.

Frequently asked questions

Will WhatsApp work in the UK if I am using an eSIM?

Yes. WhatsApp will continue to work with your existing number as long as you have data. In some cases, you may need to re-verify your account using your home SIM before switching fully to the eSIM.

Does my UK eSIM cover Scotland and Wales?

Yes. UK eSIMs cover England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

How much eSIM data should I buy for a 7- or 14-day trip?

Most travellers use data for maps, transport apps, browsing, and contactless payments.
Light to moderate use: 5–7GB per week
Heavy use or regular video calls: 10GB or more per week

It is usually better to buy slightly more data than you think you will need.

Can I buy an eSIM after arriving in the UK?

Yes, but buying your eSIM before you travel gives peace of mind and allows you to connect as soon as you land.

Final thoughts

For most visitors, an eSIM is the easiest, safest, and most cost-effective way to stay connected while travelling around the UK.

Based on our experience, Saily is the best overall eSIM for UK travel thanks to its simple setup, reliable coverage, and flexible plans.

If you will be using public Wi-Fi, working remotely, or accessing sensitive accounts while travelling, we also recommend using a VPN. Read our full guide to the best VPNs for UK travel next.