E.T. Phone Home

You can buy an international calling card at virtually any convenience store, gas station, grocery, etc., once you arrive in London. It's a prepaid card. They are very inexpensive to use (though calling a landline uses less minutes than calling a cellphone number), and can be used at pay phones or from your hotel (though that method is much more expensive). You can also make calls from an internet cafe.

Nancy, Thanks for the feedback. I figured that one could buy a card at most locations in London. Are "pay phones" still around in London (I know that there will always be a few-are there alot)? I know most cities in the US have gotten rid of them. I don't want to take my cell, or rent a cell. I want to unplug from the world. Isn't that why we go on vacation??? My wife wants to talk to our kids. Thanks again!

Pay phones are less common than they were but you can still find them. We once stayed at a B&B where there was a phone in the lobby that we could use.

Jack, if you or your wife use phone boxes in London you should be prepared. For years, despite frequent crackdowns by Trading Standards and the Metropolitan Police, vice girls (and rent boys - = - and every variation between) advertise by putting pretty explicit advertising cards on the inside windows of phone booths. Actual prostitution is not illegal, just solicitation, patronizing prostitutes (kerb crawling) and running houses of prostitution. -=- This isn't to scare you off, just to prevent a surprised shock when you're on the phone and your eyes wander.

Once again, Nigel comes through with good info. We're lucky we have Nigel and other local residents to give us what you really gotta know before you go. Gotta feeling Jack will be having his wife use the calling card from the hotel room phone (and Jack, you stay out of those phone boxes, too, now that your wife knows what's in 'em).

Good advice guys...I will be sure to make calls from a "safe" location. My wife would transform from a sweet loving women to lorena bobbit.