Mobile phones for UK

I would wait until you get over to the UK and purchase one there. Major carriers that come to mind would be: T-Mobile, Vodaphone, Orange, O2, and Three. I have used t-mobile and been able to get a cheap phone for as little as about 10 pounds. Once you know where you will be staying the first day or so, put in the post code for your hotel to get a list of locations for stores. When you get the phone, you need to make it clear that you will be using it to ring abroad so they program in the correct discounts. If you plan to bring a laptop, you can get mobile broadband sticks through the same vendors as well very inexpensively.

Judith, If you're only going to be in the U.K., buying a phone when you arrive there is certainly one option. There are Cell phone shops all over, or you could visit a Carphone Warehouse. Tesco Supermarkets also offer phones. I'd can't be bothered wandering around when I'm tired and jet-lagged to buy a phone, and much prefer to have a working phone as soon as I step off the plane. I decided to try one of the "travel phone" firms, and have used that method for the last couple of years. I evaluated a number of firms, including Mobal, Telestial, Roam Simple, Call In Europe and Cellular Abroad. Mobal seemed to be one of the most expensive, while the others seemed to be fairly close in terms of price and features. I chose Roam Simple. Another option would be to purchase an unlocked quad-band GSM phone off E-Bay or other sites, and just buy a SIM card when you arrive in the U.K. When I transited through Heathrow in August, I noticed a few vending machines that dispense SIM cards. I didn't look too closely, so don't know which networks they were with, or what the cost was. Good luck and happy travels!

Judith, I'll try to just address the question you asked. I haven't used either company. If you are interested in one of the travel phone companies, I've listed the ones I found (with a link to each) in this thread from a few months ago: Phone chips for calls in Italy to Italy hotels Aaaugh! Oh, I can't help myself: Going to the U.K.? Buy a cheap prepaid from T-Mobile U.K. or one of the other companies there. I've used a few for years in the U.K., France, Italy, and Germany. Much better rates and very convenient. If your phone needs are small, using T-Mobile U.S.A. or AT&T or Verizon (with a loaner phone) is easier if you have one of those carriers and if your phone has the right frequencies for Europe. Just don't use it much.

Mobal charges $1.25 per minute for domestic UK calls, $1.50 per minute for UK to US calls, $0.80 per outgoing text message.
Incoming calls and texts are free. No other charges ever apply. I have an old Mobal phone whose battery has died and so started looking into a phone for an upcoming UK trip and rather than get a new Mobal phone, I did some research and bought a BLU T200 unlocked quad-band phone and a Lebara UK SIM card from Amazon for $67. The card comes with 100 minutes and can be topped off for as little as $8.00 in the UK. I have neither a monthly cell service nor a smart phone, so this seems like the best method for me. Hope it works as advertised.

I have used Mobal on several trips. I now have a Eurobuzz SIM card that is cheaper (Eurobuzz is owned by Mobal). I haven't used it yet, but plan to on my trip in May. Mobal's call quality is excellent, you just dial like you normally would. (Some travel SIMs have complicated calling instructions.) In spite of the higher cost per minute, you never pay any other fees, don't have to renew the number, or pay ahead. I have never had a billing problem - you can view your calling details online. I liked having my number before my trip so that I could leave it here for emergencies - and it is permanent. All you have to do to be ready for the next trip is to charge it up!