Best eSIM for the UK in 2026

The UK has four major networks - EE, O2, Vodafone, and Three - with good 4G coverage in all major cities and towns. Coverage in rural areas is a known weak spot compared to, say, Germany or South Korea, but for typical tourist routes it's consistently fine.

Coverage overview

London: comprehensive 4G everywhere. EE and O2 have good coverage on the Tube now - the Elizabeth line is fully covered, the older deep-level lines have improved significantly. Surface lines have good signal throughout.

Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Bristol, Leeds - all well-covered in city centres and suburbs. Signal holds up on main motorways (M1, M6, M25 etc.) consistently.

The Scottish Highlands are the UK's most significant coverage gap. Rural areas around Inverness, the Northwest Highlands, the Outer Hebrides, and parts of the Isle of Skye can be genuinely sparse. EE has the best rural UK coverage overall - if you're doing a Highland road trip, EE-backed plans are the right choice.

Wales - Cardiff and main towns are fine. Rural mid-Wales and some of the national park areas (Brecon Beacons, Snowdonia) have gaps. The coastal paths are variable.

5G in the UK

London, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, and major cities have widespread 5G from all four carriers. EE has arguably the most mature 5G network. Outside major cities, 5G coverage thins significantly - don't rely on it outside urban areas.

For international visitors

If you're visiting from within Europe, your EU roaming plan from home may work in the UK - check whether post-Brexit your carrier still includes UK coverage (many do). For non-European visitors, a UK eSIM plan is the obvious choice.

Three UK is historically the most generous with international roaming for UK residents, which is less relevant for visitors. For incoming tourists, the carrier used by the eSIM plan matters less in cities but matters more in rural areas - EE-backed coverage is best for anywhere outside the cities.

How much data?

London is excellent for Maps, public transport apps (TfL Go is the Transport for London app and is very good), and all the usual connectivity needs. A week in London: 3-5GB is fine. UK road trip including rural areas: 5-8GB with offline maps downloaded. Check /esim-in-united-kingdom for plan options.