Smartphone use in the UK
 

I will be arriving at Heathrow Airport from Australia. Is there a Telco that I can visit in the airport terminal?

i plan to use google maps in my hire car. I’m collecting The car from the airport and wish to purchase a UK SIM card for my iPhone.

I would value any recommendations on which Telco would best meet my needs.

many thanks.

Which terminal? There's a Carphonewarehouse in T5, who could talk you through the options from different providers (or if you can wait until you get to your accommodation, you can look for a branch near there).

We are Australian too, these are my notes from a trip report two years ago regarding SIM cards, 3 is the name of the shop, they are a chain:"In London we bought local SIM cards at ‘3’, cost £15 each, more than enough allowance, we used the phones for maps, emails etc every day in London and France. Lasts for a month but you can top up. It took about 3 hours to work after activation. We went first to a Carphone Warehouse but they don’t do SIM cards, they suggested 3, Vodafone or EE."

Even though we were told Carphone Warehouse don't sell SIM cards you could still try at Heathrow. They may have different products at the airport shop. If you think it might be useful you can click on my name KayF and the trip report should come up.

Kay

https://www.three.co.uk/Store/SIM/Pay_As_You_Go

https://www.vodafone.co.uk/mobile/be...cmp=HeaderLink

https://shop.ee.co.uk/price-plans/free-sim

https://www.carphonewarehouse.com/si...sort/relevance

There used to be a Vodafone store at T5 in departures, not sure if it is there anymore.

Thanks Patrick. Am arriving at T3. Might wait, like you say, till we arrive at accommodation. .

Thanks Kaye. I was in the UK about four years ago and have a feeling I might have used “3”. It sure rings a bell.

i just love your trip reports. Will check them all out when I get a minute.

cheers. Suzie. .

Here's some general guidance:

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/ph...nly-contracts/

Thanks heaps for those links Odin and Patrick.

Just as another thought, are you still in contract? I wasn't when I was heading to Australia last September (I live in the UK) but O2 wanted to charge me £4.99/day which added up to astronomical for the time we were there. But they put me through to upgrades, I think it was, and because I was out of contract they moved me to a SIM only deal which included, effectively, unlimited use of my phone in 27 countries, including Australia. So I ended up with a fully functioning phone to use as I wanted in Australia, a better deal on UK data and it was one third cheaper than the price I was still paying on my just-out-of-contract phone!! I think I could've cancelled after 3 months but I haven't bothered yet. I also know two other people, on part of the same trip, who contacted their phone provider EE and negotiated full use in Australia for a reasonable sum for a set time.

I don't remember what terminal we were in (American from JFK) but there was a "3" store right there and they were very helpful. (unfortunately, it turned out my phone was not unlocked, even though it was supposed to be). There are many choices of combinations of voice and data and for very reasonable prices.

Are you collecting your car the day you arrive from Australia? If so, please reconsider. Driving after crossing multiple time zones is as dangerous as driving drunk.

You do that GPS does not need a phone signal. I'd use "here" and save the money.

Provided you download the maps first you don't need data for Here WeGo or Google. Google limits the areas you can download and the length of time they are on your phone. With Here you can download the entire country and throw it off again when you leave. Helps with speed limits too as it beeps if you go too fast!
If you are planning on making calls in the UK as well then get a SIM, provided your phone is unlocked, but otherwise download the maps before you leave home and turn off data and roaming, and rely on WiFi if you need to.
Please don't drive immediately after flying from Australia, not even a short distance.

Thanks heaps for all the above information. You reminded me that I have the MapsMe app so will probably use that.

Will reconsider my plans to drive. I’ve never suffered jet lag flying east to west on my previous trips but I guess there’s always a possibility.

As always, I can rely on my great Fodors Family to provide brilliant support.

Thanks hetismij2 for the tip about downloading maps. I really struggle with technology so have added the apps to my notes for our next trip.

Kay

You should read this before using your mobile phone in the car:
https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/l...le-phone-laws/

The first thing I do when I get in a rental car is set up a Bluetooth connection.

The point I was making in #16 is it is illegal in the UK to use a phone for any purpose while driving unless it is fully hands-free and fixed to the dashboard or windscreen. That law applies if you are using the phone with downloaded maps as well as for making calls and texts. A passenger can use the phone as long as the driver doesn’t touch it.

I don’t like the sat-nav system built into my car, so when travelling somewhere unfamiliar bring an updated Garmin and fix it to the windscreen.

Quote:

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unless it is fully hands-free

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Sorry if my post came out wrong. My point was that if you connect your phone to Bluetooth, you can use the phone without touching it. The maps and calls will talk to you through the radio speakers.

Heimdall. Thanks for that advice. We have the same restrictions in Aust (thank goodness). I will have a travel companion with me who will be holding the phone.

sf7307. I imagine the rental car will give me a blue tooth option. Thanks for suggesting it though.