Internet in the UK: Roaming After Brexit, London and the Islands (2026)

For years a phone from Spain, Germany or Italy worked in London exactly as at home. Since Brexit that depends on your operator: the United Kingdom left the EU's Roam Like at Home area in 2021. Some EU operators still include the UK in their tariffs, others charge a daily fee, and the only way to know is to check yours before you travel.

The UK also has a few places where even a UK plan stops being the right one.

Key facts for the United Kingdom

EU roaming: not covered by Roam Like at Home since 2021; some operators include the UK voluntarily
Local networks: EE, O2, Three, Vodafone (depending on the plan)
Emergency numbers: 999 or 112; non-emergency police 101, non-urgent medical help 111
Embassies: in London, with consulates in Edinburgh and other cities

London: coverage above and below ground

Coverage across London is strong, and mobile service is being extended through the Underground tunnels; on some lines the signal still drops between stations. Contactless cards and phones work directly at the ticket gates on the Tube, buses and many trains, so there is no need to buy a separate travel card.

Northern Ireland and the Irish border

The border between Northern Ireland and Ireland has no checkpoints, and phones near it can switch between UK and Irish networks without you noticing. Ireland is inside EU roaming and the UK is not, so on an EU SIM it is worth choosing the network manually when you stay near the border.

Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man

The Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are not part of the United Kingdom and have their own mobile networks. A UK plan, whether yours or a travel one, does not automatically cover them; check the destination before you take the ferry or flight.

Scotland, Wales and the countryside

Edinburgh, Glasgow and Cardiff are well covered, but the Scottish Highlands, the islands and parts of Wales and the Lake District have long stretches with weak or no signal. Download offline maps before a road trip, and on hill walks tell someone your route and expected return time.

Getting connected

From the EU: check whether your tariff still includes the UK. If it does not, a travel eSIM avoids daily roaming charges. A Europe plan that includes the UK keeps one eSIM for a trip that also crosses the EU.

From elsewhere: install a travel eSIM before you fly. Its validity starts when it first connects in the UK, your own number keeps receiving texts, and maps, banking and transport apps run on its data.

Consular protection: who to call in the UK

999 and 112 reach police, ambulance, fire and coastguard.
101 is for police matters that are not emergencies; 111 gives urgent medical advice that is not life-threatening.
If you cannot speak on the phone, you can text 999 after registering your phone with the emergency SMS service.
Embassies are in London and some countries have consulates in Edinburgh and other cities. The Telcomia app shows yours, with address and phone.
If you are an EU citizen and your country has no embassy or consulate in the United Kingdom, the embassy of any other EU country must help you on the same terms as its own nationals (Article 23 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU).

United Kingdom travel-safety page →

Questions travellers ask about the United Kingdom

Does my EU plan still work in the UK?

It depends on your operator. EU rules no longer cover the UK, so some tariffs include it and others charge.

Is Jersey covered by a UK plan?

Not automatically. Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man have their own networks.

Which networks does a Telcomia eSIM use in the UK?

EE, O2, Three or Vodafone, depending on the plan, with 4G and 5G where available.

Can I pay for the Tube with my phone?

Yes. Contactless cards and phones work at the gates on the Underground, buses and many trains.

The short version

Check your tariff before you travel, install a travel eSIM if the UK is not included, and watch the Irish border and the islands.

See plans for the United Kingdom →

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