Last updated: 20 October 2026
Yes. Any recent US phone works in the UK. Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile all roam on British networks, so you have a signal as soon as you land at Heathrow or Gatwick. What changes is the price: Verizon and AT&T charge $12 a day per line, so a week in London adds $84 per phone, and T-Mobile's included data is a few gigabytes for the whole trip.
If your phone is unlocked, a travel eSIM gives you data at a fixed price, $11.99 for 7 days with 1.5 GB a day, while your US number stays on for calls, texts and bank codes. The UK left the EU, but our Europe eSIM still covers it.
What each carrier charges in the UK
| Carrier | What you get in the UK | What it costs |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon | TravelPass: your plan's talk, text and data, with 5 GB of high-speed data per 24-hour session, then 3G speeds | $12 a day per line. Unlimited Ultimate includes some international data each month |
| AT&T | International Day Pass: your plan's talk, text and data | $12 a day for the first line, $6 for each extra line, at most 10 days charged per bill period. Unlimited Elite 2.0 includes 20 GB a month |
| T-Mobile | Included roaming on most plans: 5 GB of high-speed data on Experience More, 15 GB on Experience Beyond, then slow data | No extra cost, or a pass for more data. Essentials has no data abroad without a pass |
On Verizon and AT&T the day pass switches itself on: one call, one sent text or one background app sync in the UK starts a day. Our guides explain what triggers it and how to avoid a surprise: Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile. On Mint, Visible, Cricket, Google Fi and other carriers the rules differ a lot: will my phone work in Europe? links to each.
What a week in London costs
| One phone | Two phones | |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon TravelPass, 7 days | $84 | $168 |
| AT&T International Day Pass, 7 days | $84 | $126 |
| T-Mobile Experience More | Included, 5 GB at full speed in all | Included, 5 GB each |
| Europe eSIM, 7 days, 1.5 GB a day | $11.99 | $23.98 |
For 10 days or more, our 15-day plan costs $19.99, against $120 per phone on Verizon or AT&T. T-Mobile's included data is the cheapest if it is enough for you: 5 GB covers maps, messages and some photos, but not much streaming or video calling over a week.
London, Paris and Dublin on one eSIM
The UK is not in the European Union, and some travel eSIMs sold as "Europe" plans leave it out. Ours covers it: the Europe eSIM includes the United Kingdom alongside France, Ireland and 27 other countries, so a trip that takes the Eurostar to Paris or a flight to Dublin stays on one eSIM and one allowance. The same goes for Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK: see will my phone work in Ireland?. Taking the Eurostar on? Will my phone work in France? covers the Paris leg.
Following the NFL on to Europe? The Paris game is on Sunday 25 October and Madrid's on Sunday 8 November, and our NFL international games 2026 guide covers each stadium and how to get there.
Mobile signal on the Tube
The London Underground is getting mobile coverage in stages. TfL and its partner Boldyn report that more than 60% of the Tube's 121 below-ground stations had 4G and 5G in their ticket halls and platforms by August 2026, with the rest of the network due by the end of 2026, and the Elizabeth line has been fully connected since December 2024 (ISPreview, September 2026). All four UK networks take part, so a roaming phone or a travel eSIM gets the same coverage. Some stations and tunnel sections still have none, so download your route or offline maps before you go underground.
Paying for the Tube: TfL accepts contactless bank cards and phone wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay, and says many cards issued outside the UK work too, though your bank may charge overseas transaction fees (TfL). Tap in and out with the same card or phone.
Before you fly
- Get your UK ETA. US visitors need a £20 Electronic Travel Authorisation before they travel, applied for on the UK ETA app or GOV.UK. The app scans your passport and face with your phone's camera, and the approval comes by email: details in entering Europe in 2026.
- Check your phone is unlocked and takes an eSIM: is my phone unlocked? and does my phone support eSIM?
- Turn on Wi-Fi Calling while you are still in the US. Calls over Wi-Fi to US numbers are free on Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile.
- Install your eSIM at home on Wi-Fi: iPhone or Android. When you land, set it as your data line and turn data roaming off on your US line, so the day pass never starts.
- Pack a type G adapter. The UK uses three-pin plugs at 230 volts. Phone chargers rated 100 to 240 V need an adapter, not a converter.
- Know the emergency numbers: 999 and 112 both work in the UK.
Traveling for the holidays? Our guide to Christmas and New Year in London covers Winter Wonderland, the lights, the Tube on Christmas Day and the New Year's Eve fireworks. Landing at Heathrow or Gatwick? The Heathrow and Gatwick guides cover free Wi-Fi and getting online on arrival.
FAQ
Can I use my US phone in the UK?
Yes. Any recent US phone works on British networks through your carrier's roaming. Verizon and AT&T charge $12 a day per line, and T-Mobile's Experience plans include a few gigabytes of data. An unlocked phone can also take a travel eSIM for data at a fixed price.
Do I need an eSIM for London?
No, but it is usually cheaper. Without one you pay your carrier's day pass, $84 for a week on Verizon or AT&T. Our Europe eSIM costs $11.99 for 7 days with 1.5 GB a day, and your US number keeps working for calls and texts.
Does Verizon work in the UK?
Yes. With TravelPass you use your plan's talk, text and data in the UK for $12 a day per line, with 5 GB of high-speed data per 24-hour session. The pass starts the first time your phone uses the network that day.
Will T-Mobile work in the UK?
Yes. Experience More includes 5 GB of high-speed data abroad and Experience Beyond 15 GB, then slower data. Essentials includes no data abroad unless you buy a pass.
Does a Europe eSIM work in the UK after Brexit?
It depends on the eSIM. Some "Europe" plans cover only EU countries and leave the UK out. Ours includes the United Kingdom, Switzerland and the EU countries on its list, so London, Paris and Dublin work on one plan.
Facts checked on 20 October 2026: Verizon's TravelPass page ($12 a day, 5 GB of high-speed data per session); AT&T and T-Mobile figures as listed on their sites in October 2026 and in our carrier guides; TfL's contactless page; ISPreview's September 2026 report on Tube coverage; GOV.UK via our entry rules guide; prices and coverage from our catalogue. Check your own plan before you travel.