Sim Card Purchase

Google maps show a Vodafone shop near Victoria station. 167 Victoria Street

https://maps.app.goo.gl/LBAArsoLw7pAroUd6?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy

Edit. I have perused the vending machine and the shop at Heathrow but not recently. Limited selection and prices were higher than what I could find in the shops in London.

There are 2 Sim Local shops and several vending machines in the baggage claim area that sells multiple providers SIM cards. There are other retailers just outside arrivals. The retailers will assist in installing and insuring the SIM is working properly.

If you phone is eSIM capability and unlocked you can order an eSIM and be connected as soon as you land. Traveltomtom has
recommended carriers with prices.

My experience at British bricks-and-mortar cell phone shops was that almost none of them would sell me a prepaid plan. My wife sweet-talked a Vodafone rep into selling her a month long SIM card. Best of luck to the OP.

I have bought pre paid sims from shops many times and never had an issue. They will install the sim for me. Vodaphone, Three, O2, etc. makes little difference

The one month rolling contracts on SIM-only are where the bargains are. It's the common way to sell SIMs now. Often there are three months at a low, low price, and the visitor probably only needs one month before cancelling.

Coleen, are you a UK resident? I'm not, and the fact I'm not is the reason the cell plan providers used to refuse me.

I was thinking that maybe you might need a UK bank account. Certainly the "Direct Debit" system we use here for taking payments wouldn't work with a US bank account.

You think it would work with debits from an international card.

You might well be limited to pre-paid in some way by at least some providers. The one-month rolling contracts where the bargains are are still going to be contracts in some way.

What we need is an Average North American guinea pig to buy a 1-month rolling contract for pennies from uswitch, just to see if it can be done. It unlocks a whole world of cheap data to visitors.

I’ve purchased pay as you go SIMs from Vodafone and EE shops In London numerous times over the years. Never a problem and nationality has never come up. As far as I know UK does not require registration for purchase. Most recent purchase was fall 2023 so perhaps something has changed since.