June 2026
Since the UK left the EU, the free roaming protections that kept costs down for British travellers in Europe no longer apply automatically. Some UK networks have reintroduced roaming charges, others still include Europe — but the patchwork is confusing and the costs can be significant.
Outside Europe the situation is worse. Roaming in the USA, Asia, or Australia on a standard UK plan can cost £5–£10 per day.
Before spending anything, check what your current plan includes.
Log into your network app or website and check before your trip. If your plan includes your destination, you are done.
If your plan does not include your destination, most networks sell roaming add-ons:
These are convenient but expensive on longer trips. Two weeks in the USA on an EE roaming add-on costs £98 — more than a premium unlimited eSIM.
A travel eSIM is a digital SIM card you download before you travel. It connects to local networks at your destination and gives you a set amount of data at a flat rate.
Advantages:
Typical costs:
In many countries you can buy a local prepaid SIM at the airport or a convenience store. This often gives you the best data value of any option — but you lose your UK number while it is active and registration requirements vary by country.
This approach works well for long trips (3 weeks+) to a single destination.
Free Wi-Fi is available in most hotels, restaurants and tourist areas worldwide. Pair this with offline maps downloaded before you travel and you can get through a short city break on Wi-Fi alone.
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