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Getting a SIM for use in England (mostly, some Paris) from Canada

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Hey folks, never used a different SIM card before, have been looking at getting one from a UK provider for mainly Data to use Maps for our 9 days of driving in England, but also a bit in London and Paris. I will be using an iPhone 8 if that matters, which I'll get unlocked first.

Any tips, advice or suggestions are appreciated.

Posted by
1816 posts

My last few trips I have used a SIM card and plan from Vodafone UK. Worked fine for me in London and roaming into the E.U. I have not encountered anything beyond some minor issues. Vodafone is probably not the cheapest service but it’s easy for me to get at the shop in Paddington station when I get off the train from Heathrow.

Some potential issues for you to consider

  1. You will have a UK number so calls and texts to your home number will not come through
  2. If you are driving in more rural areas cellular service maybe unavailable. So best to check the coverage area of the service you pick. This can be mitigated by downloading maps prior to heading out.
  3. If you are not familiar with setting up your phone you should probably go into a shop that specializes in electronics or one the cellphone serivice providers (Vodafone, EE, 3UK, etc.j and have them set it up for you. They can also be handy if you run into issues later.

Have a great trip.

BTW if your trip is post brexit then it’s unclear if cost free roaming to the E.U. will continue.

Posted by
8889 posts

mainly Data to use Maps for our 9 days of driving in England, but also a bit in London and Paris.

You do not need data to use maps on a smartphone. If you download all the maps you need before you leave home, or using hotel WiFi, then turn off data roaming, you can still use map Apps to show maps and give you directions.

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