Using your devices in the UK
Internet access & mobile phone networks
In cities and most towns you’ll find that internet access is widely available. You’ll be able to connect at your hotel, in restaurants and cafés, as well as in museums and other public places.
In more rural areas, you’re still likely to be able to connect at hotels and restaurants, but it’s not guaranteed.
Mobile phone networks are a similar story – you’ll have great coverage in urban areas, but weaker signal in rural areas, especially when exploring valleys and mountains.
The main networks serving the UK are EE, O2, Three and Vodafone. They have good speed and aim to cover the majority of the country.
European phone service
Most European mobile networks work in the UK. Please note that enabling data roaming may incur additional costs to your mobile phone bill. Check with your local provider to see the rates.
North America & other countries
Certain North American mobile networks work in the UK. Please note that enabling data roaming may incur additional costs to your mobile phone bill. Check with your local provider to see the rates.
Prepaid SIM Cards
You may wish to buy a prepaid SIM card to avoid costly international roaming charges. These are available in many convenience stores across the UK.
For this, your phone must be unlocked and compatible with the GSM 900/1800 MHz frequency. Most European phones work on the GSM network, but some North American phones use a different standard.
Making domestic calls
Phone numbers in the UK are usually 10–11 digits. You should skip the country code (+44) when calling a UK number domestically.
Making international calls
If you wish to place an international call, you can dial directly using the access code of 00, then the country code plus the phone number.
The international country code for the UK is 44. When calling a UK number from abroad, you can skip the “0” that is listed in front of the telephone number (often in brackets), which is only used locally.
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