Roaming in the UK with Movistar and Vodafone
You don't get charged extra. On 22 August 2026, Movistar's website included the United Kingdom and Gibraltar in its Zone 1, the European Union one, and Vodafone's placed it in its Zone 7 with roaming at no extra cost, equivalent to the European zone. If you're a customer of either, you don't need to do anything or buy anything to have data in London.
Updated on
This page costs us sales and stays up anyway. If we only wrote the comparisons we win, there'd be no reason to believe the others.
What their websites say
| Operator | The UK's zone | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Movistar | Zone 1, along with the EU and Gibraltar | Your domestic plan, no surcharge |
| Vodafone | Zone 7, roaming at no extra cost | Equivalent to the European zone |
| Orange | — | Not checked on 22/08/2026 |
This depends on the specific plan you have and on commercial decisions each operator can change whenever it likes: Brexit removed the legal obligation to apply your domestic plan there, so the above is a voluntary decision, not a right. Check it in your customer area before you fly, especially if your plan is old or from a budget sub-brand.
So why would you want an eSIM in the UK?
Not much reason, if you're on Movistar or Vodafone with a plan that includes it. The cases where it still makes sense are specific:
- You're with another operator, or your plan doesn't include the UK: some brands leave it out.
- Your plan includes the UK but with a roaming data cap that falls short for you.
- You'll be there for weeks and don't want to burn through your monthly plan's data.
- You'd rather have a separate data line for whatever reason: 2,90 € for 7 days with 1 GB.
If none of those is you, don't buy anything. Check your plan and travel easy.
Does Movistar charge me for using data in London?
According to its roaming page of 22 August 2026, no: the United Kingdom appears in its Zone 1, the same one as the European Union countries. Confirm it for your specific plan in Mi Movistar.
And Vodafone?
Its website of 22 August 2026 places the United Kingdom in Zone 7, with roaming at no extra cost equivalent to the European Union's.
Can this change?
Yes, and that's the important thing to understand. Brexit removed the legal obligation to apply your domestic plan in the United Kingdom, so including it is today a commercial decision by each operator, open to review. That's why it's worth checking before every trip instead of taking it for granted.
What about Gibraltar?
Movistar's page of 22 August 2026 includes Gibraltar in its Zone 1. With other operators that's not always the case: it's another one worth checking before you cross the border.
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.