Get a phone line
Last checked:
⚡ Quick answer
- Get a UK SIM in your first days. Banks and most services need a UK number.
- Big networks are reliable but expensive. Cheaper brands run on the same networks.
- You can keep your number when you switch provider.
⭐ Our pick
LebaraAdSign-up discount
The two most important things to do when you arrive are getting a British phone line 📱 and a bank account 🏦. These two unblock almost everything else.
📶 Pick a network
The main networks are Vodafone and O2. They are reliable, but they charge premium prices 💸.
They also sell phone + line bundles on fixed contracts. A fixed contract ties you in for a set time. If you want to leave early, you pay a cancellation fee ⚠️.
💜 What I use: Lebara
I went with one of the alternatives: Lebara.
- 💷 It’s affordable.
- 🚇 It runs on Vodafone’s network, so you get coverage on the Tube.
- 🇪🇺 My plan includes 30GB of data in the EU.
- 📈 No price hikes. Vodafone itself is way more expensive.
The downside: you’re not a Vodafone customer, so you don’t get priority on crowded networks. At a festival full of people, your messages may slow down 🐌. I’ve never actually had this problem.
You can go to Lebara directly, or use our link above for a sign-up discount 🎁.
🔁 Keep your number
One good thing about the UK: your number moves with you! Found a cheaper provider? Text PAC to 65075 to get your PAC code. Give it to your new provider and they move your number across.