eSIM for London
For a London break of three to seven days, 2,90 € with 1 GB is plenty: in the city you use very little because almost everything is maps, transport and messaging. If you're staying two weeks or sharing data, 4,90 € with 3 GB. It runs on O2, EE and 3.
Updated on
You come out of the Tube at Oxford Circus, with four identical exits and a fine drizzle that doesn't justify opening the umbrella but soaks you anyway. You have twenty minutes to make it to the theatre and the map you've just downloaded doesn't know which way you're facing.
How much a weekend uses
Not much. You get around London with the map open and timetables to hand, and that comes to about 100 MB in a long day. A whole weekend rarely goes past 500 MB if you leave photos and video for the hotel.
| Trip | Estimated usage | Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Weekend, 3 days | 0,3 – 0,6 GB | 7 days · 1 GB — 2,90 € |
| One week | 0,7 – 1,2 GB | 7 days · 1 GB — 2,90 € |
| One week with daily social media | 1,5 – 2,5 GB | 15 days · 3 GB — 4,90 € |
| Two people on one plan | 1,5 – 3 GB | 15 days · 3 GB — 4,90 € |
Coverage on the Tube
The London Underground has mobile coverage across a good part of the network, including many tunnels, and free Wi-Fi in most stations. It isn't at a hundred per cent: some old, deep stretches still have no signal.
The useful habit is the same as ever: check your route before going down and keep the area's map downloaded. With that, the stretches without coverage stop mattering.
What needs data in London
- Transport: the live Tube map and the line-closure alerts, which are constant.
- Museum and theatre tickets, which almost always live on your phone.
- Paying for transport with your phone or watch, if you're not carrying a physical card.
- Finding the exact pub among the four with the same name on the same street.
Do I need data to pay for the Tube with my phone?
Going through the gates with your phone or watch needs no connection: contactless payment works without data. You do need data to check routes, disruptions and timetables, which change often in London.
Is there free Wi-Fi on the London Underground?
Yes, in most stations, though not in the tunnels between them. It usually asks you to accept terms the first time and works reasonably well.
Does the same eSIM work if I go to Edinburgh or Manchester?
Yes. The plan covers the whole of the UK, so you can take the train to any city without changing a thing.
What if I'm only going for three days?
The 7-day plan is the shortest and easily covers a three-day break. The days are a validity limit, not an allowance you have to use up.
See the plans for the United Kingdom
Something off, or a price changed? Write to ayuda@zasesim.com and we'll fix it. Data when you land.