cellphone purchase at Heathrow.

You could get an older unlocked flip phone online, then just buy a compatible sim card when you get to the UK. Or if someone is still around here with a giffgaff sim card you could get it mailed to you (that is what I did- then you can just put money on it right before you go, and you have a number to give places to contact you if you make reservations).

I'm not sure if they sell any in Heathrow. You can easily get sim cards though outside the airport at phone and electronics stores and some kiosks.

you can try cellphonehut.com

Non-smart phones run about $50 new, there may be some cheaper refurbished ones out there. You can expect to probably pay anywhere from $15-20 for cellphone service in the UK for a month. Just make sure the phone you get is 1) unlocked 2) GSM compatible

Hi Geovagriffith,

Edited to add -- Jaeson1992 and I were posting at same time. I agree with J's post. Also in looking back at others who have asked the question there is a theme to the responses: don't buy at Heathrow and do be sure you're getting phone from one of the main cos. Carphone Warehouse is a big chain with lots of selection and stores all over the place.

I also remember that on one deal I had, it costed me more to receive text messages and voice calls than I expected. You may want to ask your friends & family not to call you frivolously.

(Rest of my message is unchanged.)

Yes, there are cell phone stores in Heathrow. It depends which terminal you come in through, as there are different stores. You'll hear the phones called "mobiles" more often than "cell phones". You can search online to see what stores are in each terminal and check out choice and prices.

You can also take an unlocked phone (and cord!) with you and replace the SIM card with one you buy there. You will see lots and lots of phone stores in London and even more places selling SIM cards.

Once you have your phone set up you can buy air time (top-up vouchers) in even more stores, including at corner grocery stores, for the main phone companies. Some of the big cos are O2, Three, Vodafone, Virgin.

Phones and SIM cards are offered for sale at so many places, don't worry if you don't see one you like at Heathrow. You will have more chances.

If you have time to search online you will see a head-spinning assortment of choices of phones and plans. You are looking for "PAYG" -- Pay As You Go, meaning there's no contract.

Hope that helps,
Jill

If you are starting in London, you'll likely save money by waiting till you get into town. We managed a cheap phone and plan at a local telephone store. The stores appear to be ubiquitous to me. I think we used T-mobile. The phones can easily be 'topped up' at corner stores so don't put too much money on it to start. Google for around your hotel and you might save a few dollars and you won't have to do too much work before leaving Heathrow.

Caphone Warehouse has stores all over the U.K. and various options for cheap phones and prepaid plans. If you are starting in London, you could get one there.

I'd also suggest buying at a Carphone Warehouse. They not only have lots of phones to choose from, but also offer plans from all the major cell networks so you can choose the best plan that fits your needs. I'm not sure how many basic phones they will have, as most customers these days want a smartphone. You can do a bit of research here - https://www.carphonewarehouse.com/mobiles/pay-as-you-go.html

I likely have a spare basic phone in a drawer I could mail to you, with a UK SIM .
Then end of your trip just post back to me.
The cost of me mailing to you is less than the cheapest unlocked phone you can buy over here.

Carphone Warehouse experience: last month (March, 2017) in the UK we wanted a basic mobile phone with just calling and texting. Carphone Warehouse in Uxbridge (a 3 minute walk out of the Underground station) sold us a phone for £1.99 and a Vodaphone sim card for £10. For £11.99 we had all we needed.

Thanks for all your advise. Also, thanks for the offer of the phone, but it seems I will be able to find what I want fairly easy.

Argos tends to be cheapest( if only by a couple of £)
Current a unlocked (called SIM FREE in UK ) phone is £12.95

Get a month deal, would likely be either £5 to £10 max depending how many mins 100- 400 approx you want.PAYG has pretty horrible call rates that's why they more or less give you the phone for nothing.
Tesco or giffgaff do good deals .

Why not bring your smart phone you already have ie: iphone and download apps Viber or Watsapp? Take out your simcard, and only connect to wifi?? Viber is free, just make sure you turn off data in settings