I'm travelling to England from Canada, is there a way to get roaming data that will work in england?

[BoomDigital]

I want to use my cellphone in england, however I heard theres no point in buying another sim card because it starts at $25 pounds per sim card. So I may as well purchase some roaming data or some kind of package if public mobile offers it. So that I can use extra cell data in a different country.

Anyone have any experience in this? What networks does public mobile pick up when you were in England?

[lkelly]

Great!!

[Luddite]

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@lkelly wrote:

I believe that GiffGaff now will mail your sim card to most parts of the world.  I have just ordered one.  Fingers crossed.   🙂

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They do; I've done it.

[lkelly]

I believe that GiffGaff now will mail your sim card to most parts of the world.  I have just ordered one.  Fingers crossed.   🙂

[niloc22]

I'll second Giff Gaff too.  I've used them for my last few trips to the UK over the last couple of years.  They now also allow you to top up using a non-UK credit card online.

It's also easy to get the SIM card sent to Canada, GIFFGAFF now will send cards to overseas:

https://www.giffgaff.com/freesim-international

[Selfy]

You can pick up a UK SIM from most provider stores for free, or for supermarkets for £1.

I use Giffgaff (I have had the SIM for years and sending a text once every 6 months keeps it alive).  It is very reasonably priced and works almost everywhere. However, although they have LTE service and it does work, a lot of their coverage area outside city centres is GPRS only, which is only good for receiving instant messages and emails.

If you go with someone like 3, you will get at least a 3G connection wherever they have coverage. 

[Dan]

Check out this website for a great comparison on data plans of many providers throughout the world (this is the page for UK):

http://prepaid-data-sim-card.wikia.com/wiki/United_Kingdom

[imm1304]

Hi @BoomDigital!

For pay as you go, Three mobile also offers great value.

Benefit is that you can walk right into any of the 3 mobile retail shop once you get there and walk out with a prepaid sim card topped up with what you want.  Explore their website if you like at three.co.uk

Their 20 pound prepaid add-on is amazing with 12GB of data and 3000 UK sms, and 300 mins of UK talk.  Other cheaper options also there.  For your 1 week trip, this may be as cheap as the other options, except here you won't have to organize for a sim card from someone else.  

The "All in 1 for 10 pounds" prepaid Add-on includes 100 minutes of UK talk, 3000 sms, and 1Gb of data.  This may be perfect for 1 week.  

You can use Hangout dialer and/or Fongo app to keep in touch with people in Canada using the data on the UK sim card.  

[sbreakin]

Hi - i second the GiffGaff suggestion.  

I used them 2 years ago and it's a pre-paid type plan like PM.  It went smoothly & had good service & even includes ability to raom to Europe - although the per use deductions were much higher than in UK.

I was able to order a sim through an individual (sort of like a referal system) as they didn't ship to Canada.  PM & I can look up the contact (they didn't mind posting it as they got a reward for new customer).  I just got small bundle as there for 2 weeks & didn't use it up.

Summary:

The sim was FREE.

They have bundles or packs starting at 10 pounds with this:

• 2 GB UK data
• 500 UK minutes
• Unlimited UK texts
• Free to giffgaff numbers

(Then 12 & 15 pounds).

There is some roaming ability to europe too.

 https://www.giffgaff.com/freesim-international 

[Luddite]

@BoomDigital Have look at giffgaff.com; it's similar operation to Public Mobile and the one I use in the UK. You will need a UK address for delivery, but if not, there are members who will meet you. Check here: https://community.giffgaff.com/t5/Welcome-Join/Need-a-sim-posting-urgently-First-class-or-hand-deliv... and https://community.giffgaff.com/t5/Help-Support/Getting-a-SIM-card-overseas/m-p/18533616#M6413462. As here, just create a community account and ask for help.

If you are leaving after May 15 private message me; I will have a spare by then.

[CaNuCk07]

lol @ rogers and their $10 a day roaming in europe!

[WearySky]

Go to https://freesim.vodafone.co.uk/ and you can see that the sim is actually free, at least if you're in the UK.  You could theoretically order now and get it shipped to wherever you're staying?

I'm not sure who told you it was 25 pounds, but they were obviously misinformed 🙂  Local sims are almost always the best way to go if you're travelling to Europe (even if your company DOES offer roaming packages).  

[BoomDigital]

this will work, obviously i'll be looking to do pay as you go because I will only be in UK for 1 week.

[CaNuCk07]

even better, add it to the cart, then the final balance is only 24 pounds

Excl. VAT VAT at 20%Costs Total costincluding VAT

£0.00	£20.00
£0.00	£4.00
£0.00 Upfront cost	£24.00 Monthly cost

[CaNuCk07]

checkout this link, sim only portion.

https://www.vodafone.co.uk/shop/bundles-and-sims/sim-only-deals/

[CaNuCk07]

that seems like a pretty good deal, but i cant see the sim card costing 25 pounds, almost $40 CAD seems excessive.  I know when i went to portugal last summer, 20 euros included the sim and the data/ call package.

[BoomDigital]

just googled them, I would like at least 3 gb of data. so for 20 pounds i get

£20
Big Value Bundle

• 4GB 4G UK data
• 500 UK minutes
• Unlimited UK texts

Now with Data Rollover

If you buy between 1 March 2017 and 14 June 2017 you’ll also get
500MB data
100 minutes
100 texts

However how much does the sim card cost?

[CaNuCk07]

just took a quick look at vodafone UK, doesnt seem that bad,

Monthly cost Data Minutes Roaming data Roaming minutes
and texts    

Monthly cost £9.50

Data 250MB

Minutes 250

Roaming data No

Roaming minutes and texts No

[CaNuCk07]

@BoomDigital  Unfortunately no european or at that rate, no roaming outside of US or Canada for public movile.  Your best option is definitely a local SIM.