Springs Branch
Established Member
I'm planning a trip to the UK for a month during May. I'm looking to buy a SIM card for my smartphone for the duration to get a UK mobile number & avoid high roaming charges from my Aussie provider for use in the UK.
A Google search throws up a plethora of options - some order on-line & deliver a SIM within the UK, others where I can buy a card in Australia before leaving home. These come with a wide variety of prices, options, data allowances etc. There's obviously a big market for "Travel SIMs" these days, and no doubt some canny operators will have spotted an opportunity to fleece mug punter tourists.
Before ploughing through all the fine print, I wondered if anyone else who visited the UK recently has experiences or recommendations regarding the current market for Travel SIMs?
I'm also interested if the UK government has imposed any nuisance identity requirements when getting a 'burner' SIM (i.e. attempting to combat drug dealers, terrorism and all that)? On previous visits pre-COVID, I've popped into the nearest Orange or EE shop and they always fixed me up with minimum fuss & reasonable cost - is this still an option? Are there still retail shopfronts for mobile providers?
My requirements are:-
A Google search throws up a plethora of options - some order on-line & deliver a SIM within the UK, others where I can buy a card in Australia before leaving home. These come with a wide variety of prices, options, data allowances etc. There's obviously a big market for "Travel SIMs" these days, and no doubt some canny operators will have spotted an opportunity to fleece mug punter tourists.
Before ploughing through all the fine print, I wondered if anyone else who visited the UK recently has experiences or recommendations regarding the current market for Travel SIMs?
I'm also interested if the UK government has imposed any nuisance identity requirements when getting a 'burner' SIM (i.e. attempting to combat drug dealers, terrorism and all that)? On previous visits pre-COVID, I've popped into the nearest Orange or EE shop and they always fixed me up with minimum fuss & reasonable cost - is this still an option? Are there still retail shopfronts for mobile providers?
My requirements are:-
- A pre-paid SIM card & UK mobile number which will last for ~30 days.
- I won't need to extend or recharge beyond this, so want to make a one-off payment and to avoid possibility of any recurring charges from the provider.
- I don't want the hassle of setting up a full-on account with a UK provider - beyond providing basic info such as my e-mail & postal address.
- I have a UK address for postal delivery, but my name won't be associated with this address during any identity or credit checks.
- SIM will be used for occasional UK calls & texts, but mainly for 4G data whilst out and about - blagging platform assignments at Euston, checking for Northern's latest cancellations, consulting Google Maps and checking 'where's that bloody bus got to?'.
- I'll be using Wi-fi whilst back at base for most data-hungry purposes.
- I won't be out in the wilds, so hopefully any network's coverage should be adequate.