Using your Phone in Britain

We download Google maps of the area we’ll be in for offline use. Then, when we need them, we put the phone in airplane mode and the phone becomes a GPS. I have T-mobile and it comes with free international data at 2G speeds so I’ve been able to use it for Google maps live. There are plenty of options depending on how you plan to use your phone and what app you plan on using. Others will offer other ideas.

Shelley, a SIM card will give you mobile data, so you can use your phone anywhere, not just on WiFi. If you don't get a SIM card, you can still use the phone for free on WiFi at the hotel etc. for maps, email, web browsing, etc. (Maybe not for calls or texts - but maybe, see below.) Just not when you are out and about.

Some people use their home phone carrier's international roaming plan when they travel. But Canadian mobile companies have notoriously expensive international roaming options. So the SIM card is a way to save money. Note that if you get a British SIM card, you will temporarily have a British phone number, too, while the British SIM card remains in place. So you won't be able to send/receive text messages with your Canadian phone number (or make/receive calls with your Canadian number.)

If you choose not to get a SIM card, and your phone (and your mobile provider) supports a feature called "WiFi Calling," you would be able to use your phone completely on WiFi, even to make calls or send/receive texts. Contact your mobile company to ask about this if you don't know what I'm talking about.

You can also install an app called WhatsApp on your phone before you leave Canada - this is a free calling service widely used in Europe and is completely free for calls and messages while you are on WiFi.

You really have two different issues to explore:

1) How to use your phone for gps (anywhere). Do you want it for walking or driving? If this isn’t something you use at home, I would practice at home. Use google maps in your hometown. Practice downloading maps to use offline. Then turn your phone to airplane mode and try using that map. Get really familiar with it before your trip.

2) How to use your phone, either with or without data, in Britain. Some phone plans include international data, sometimes you have to pay a daily fee. Then there is the option of buying a SIM card. The SIM card gives you data, but you can’t use your normal phone number when you change the SIM card. There’s a TON of info about SIM cards on this forum if you use the search feature.

Depending on how much you want to pay its easiest to just use your phoneas usual. I'm Rogers and my husband is Telus and they have compatible rates, between $10-15 per day that you actually use it. You get the same plan you have at home. Just go on the site for your carrier to make sure you are signed up. Usually it's a simple text. If you don't use it for a day, you don't pay for that day. I put in airplane mode to make sure, since there is free wifi in so many places.
I just used it on driving days.

Instead of a SIM use this app —— Airalo App for data. Way cheaper than $10 or whatever a day through your carrier.

If you want use WhatsApp for texting.

For the past decade or more, I have always made sure any new phone I buy comes with a dual sim slot. This has always meant that I could use my normal UK SIM card, and then buy a local SIM for wherever I was. Even if this is not an option on your normal contract or supplier, I thought it worth your while to buy a cheap android phone with the capability (currently, you can but a perfectly serviceable Redmi dusal sim Android phone for around £60 in the UK.)

Technology has moved on, and Esims are the norm. The Pixel 6a comes with normal sim slot plus Esim.

Just get a UK SIM card. Go to any mobile store. Cost is 10 pounds for 7GB. 15 pounds for 10GB. Just flip the sim in your phone. On the flight back, flip back to the Cdn sim. Easy; cheap; convenient. Although you do get a UK phone number, if you have an apple phone, imessage will allow texts with other iphones in Canada with no issue (i.e., the change of number doesn't affect the texts getting through).

I use google maps constantly for walking, driving and public transport directions. London by bus is so much better than the Tube. Google maps (there are other apps too) tell you the bus, the stop and give you directions to the correct stop.

you should keep reading, for better or worse there are MANY options nowadays

I bought a SIM card in London which was also good in Italy where we traveling to next. It was about 30£. My spouse kept his US number for emergency calls to US which we ended up needing to make.

What phone and model do you have? I have a newer IPhone and I added an ESim to it when I was having issues with Verizon in London earlier this year. Pretty easy to toggle between ESim and physical SIM which comes in handy when you want to stay in contact with friends/family and also minimize data usage/charges.