Traveling to London soon and looking for the best way to stay connected on your trip to the UK? This is a complete guide for buying a sim card at London Stansted with where to buy a sim card, up to date prices as per August 2023, the best e-sim cards for the UK, my recommendation and info about international sim cards for traveling to London.
The first thing I do when I get to a new country is either buying a local prepaid sim card or an e-sim card to make sure I stay connected. As I am aiming to travel to every country in the world I get to a lot of different countries and therefore on Traveltomtom you can find almost 200 sim card guides from all over the world: Europe, Paris, Dublin, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, USA, New York, Newark, Asia, Vietnam, Spain, Indonesia, Guatemala, Iceland and many more.
Of course you can also find my complete guide about the best sim cards for traveling to the UK in 2023.
So when you are planning your next adventure abroad come check out Traveltomtom for the latest prepaid sim card and e-sim card advice. Bookmark me!
My recommendation
Traveltomtom recommends buying a Three UK prepaid sim card at London Stansted Airport. For £20 GBP you get 20 GB data. UK sim cards are not great for traveling onwards to Europe and unfortunately there are still no e-sim cards available at London Stansted Airport, only physical prepaid sim cards. But you can buy an e-sim card for traveling to the UK online.
We also recommend looking into travel sim cards. Check out my article about the best international sim cards for traveling in 2023 and see which one suits your trip. You can order them online and they will be shipped to your home address before your trip. Click here for an article specialized on the best sim cards for traveling in Europe in 2023.
Best e-sim cards for the UK
E-sim cards are the easiest way to stay connected when traveling to London in 2023. You don't need to buy a sim card in a shop anymore, neither swap a physical sim card. You order online, you receive a QR code, scan it, follow the instructions and you are connected in no-time.
Check out the following UK e-sim card deals:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $5 USD
- 2 GB data for 15 days = $7.5 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $10 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $15 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $22.5 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $36 USD
Order directly an e-sim card for the UK through this link.
All the above e-sim cards for the UK from Uki Mobile are data-only and calls are NOT supported. The data allowance is only valid in the UK, there is no free EU roaming with these e-sim cards. They operate on the 4G/LTE networks of O2 and Three.
If you are looking for e-sim cards for the UK that support calls as well as free EU roaming then check out the following international e-sim cards for the UK:
- 5 GB data only in the UK for 30 days = $17.90 USD
- 10 GB data in all of Europe + $2 calling credit for 30 days = $24.90 USD
- 8 GB data in all of Europe + unlimited calls in Europe for 14 days = $29.90 USD
- 20 GB data in all of Europe + unlimited calls in Europe for 14 days = $49.90 USD
- 20 GB data only in all of Europe for 30 days = $34.90 USD
Click here to order an international e-sim card for the UK.
Before ordering an e-sim card for the UK make sure your phone is e-sim compatible and unlocked. If not sure contact your mobile internet provider in your home country before traveling to the United Kingdom.
You can also still order a physical prepaid sim card for traveling in the UK and get it delivered to your home address before your trip. For $49.90 USD you get 20 GB data + unlimited calls within Europe and 120 minutes worldwide. Click on the link to order online or find more info. This is especially handy for those that have a phone that is not e-sim compatible.
RELATED: check out these cheap Airbnbs in London for under $100 per night. I found you the best listings with great reviews!
Where to buy a sim card at London Stansted Airport
Just like at London Gatwick Airport and London Luton Airport there are prepaid sim card vending machines at London Stansted Airport. It works exactly like ordering a snickers. The sim card vending machine at London Stansted Airport is located at luggage belts.
At the end of the hall next to the luggage belt you can get your prepaid sim card for tourists. Be aware that If you go through customs, you can NOT go back inside the baggage hall to buy a sim card from the vending machine.
But there is another place where they sell sim cards for tourists at London Stansted Airport. In the arrival hall, immediately after you walk out of the arrivals door there is a WH Smith shop on your right hand side, see the picture above.
Prices prepaid sim cards at London Stansted Airport in 2023
The below info and prices are updated as per August 2023. Prices are in Pounds Sterling and £1 GBP = $1.27 USD and $1 USD = £0.79 GBP.
Next to the luggage belts you can already buy your UK sim card for tourists at the sim card vending machine. At London Stansted Airport the vending machine is loaded with the exact same prepaid sim card options as at London Gatwick Airport.
Sim Card Vending Machine
It is all self-service at the sim card vending machines but there is very detailed information about the following UK sim cards: Vodafone, Lyca Mobile, EE and Three. There are 6 different sim cards to choose from:
Vodafone 20 SLV for £20
- 200 UK minutes
- Unlimited UK texts
- 1GB data UK + extra 4GB
- Valid 30 days
It says that data is only valid in the UK. But well... let's forget about Vodafone anyway: too expensive! I would NOT recommend buying a Vodafone sim card at London Stansted Airport.
Three All in One Bundle Unlimited for £30
- Unlimited calls in the UK
- Unlimited texts in the UK
- 12GB data
- Valid for 30 days
You can use your Three data all over Europe and on top of that in: Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and USA.
EE National Bundle for £20
- 150 UK or international minutes to 34 destinations
- 150 UK texts
- 10.5GB data
- Unlimited EE to EE calls and texts
- Valid for 30 days
EE International Bundle for £25
- 250 minutes UK or international
- 500 UK texts
- 13GB data
- Unlimited EE to EE calls and texts
- Valid for 30 days
Something extra about EE sim cards is that they are the only mobile internet provider that has a wifi connection at London Underground stations. There is no phone signal in the London tube, but you can connect to EE wifi at stations when you decide to buy a EE sim card at London Stansted Airport.
Lyca UK Plan Super for £25
- 3000 minutes in the UK
- 100 international minutes to selected countries
- 3000 texts in the UK
- 6GB data
- Valid for 30 days
Lyca UK Plan Ultra for £35
- Unlimited calls in the UK
- 100 international minutes to selected countries
- Unlimited texts in the UK
- 15GB data
- Valid for 30 days
Lyca Mobile uses the network of O2 in the UK.
WH Smith Shop
If you want a little more service then I recommend you to go to the WH Smith shop directly on your right hand side when you walk into the arrivals hall. There is even a lovely lady walking around willing to help you finding the right sim card for your trip to Europe.
EE UK prepaid sim card
The WH Smith shops offer the same EE sim cards as the sim card vending machine at the luggage belts.
Lebara Mobile UK prepaid sim card - £20
- 500 international minutes to 41 destinations
- 500 UK minutes
- 1GB data
- For £2 extra 200 international minutes
Not the best UK sim card for tourists at all as you can easily call through Whatsapp, Viber, Skype for free nowadays and 1GB data is gone in 1 hour.
Lebara Mobile £30
- Unlimited international minutes to 41 destinations
- Unlimited UK minutes
- 1000 UK texts
- 5GB data
- £5 additional PAYG credit
In case you have read more of my sim cards for Europe articles like the one from Amsterdam Airport or Frankfurt Airport you will understand why I am NOT a fan a Lebara Mobile. Simply no value for money and pricey compared to the other prepaid sim cards available.
Three UK prepaid sim card
At WH Smith they offer 3 different Three UK sim cards for £20, £30 and £45. The packages are slightly different than the UK prepaid sim cards in the vending machine. All the packages offered at WH Smith give you 3000 UK minutes and 3000 UK texts. The difference is the data bundle: 1GB, 12GB and Unlimited data. So for £45 you have unlimited 4G internet for 1 month.
Best sim card at London Stansted Airport in 2023
When comparing all the prepaid sim cards Traveltomtom rates Three UK as the best prepaid sim card at London Stansted in 2023!
You get around 20 GB data for £20 GBP, the most value for money when it comes to data. Still rather expensive when comparing this what the UK sim cards for tourists you can buy in London City Center.
If I had the choice buying a sim card at London Stansted Airport at either the vending machine or the WH Smith shop, then I totally would go for the lovely lady at the WH Smith shop.
Also when arriving at London Stansted Airport and you are willing to call home for free for 2 minutes, then head to the WH Smith shop as they give you 2 minutes free calling time with the phone below. Just a nice service of them as they took all the paid-phones away at London Stansted after the recent renovation.
Buy a sim card for the UK online
Sounds buying a sim card at London Stansted Airport like too much effort? Then order your sim card for London on the internet and arrive prepared. With an international prepaid sim card for traveling in the United Kingdom you are online as soon as the plane lands. Below you can find great sim card deals for Europe that of course also work in the UK:
Three data pack 10 GB - $24.90
- 10 GB data in all of Europe and UK
- Unlimited calls/sms within Europe and UK
- Valid 30 days
There are also 3 UK international sim cards for 1 year and for 2 years. Click on the link below for more info!
O2 Go Card - $24.90
- 10 GB data in all of Europe and UK
- $2 calling credit - top up possible
- Valid 30 days
Orange Holiday Europe - $49.90
- 20 GB data
- Unlimited calls/sms in Europe
- 120 minutes worldwide
- 1,000 sms worldwide
- Valid 14 days
Click here to order an international prepaid sim card for traveling to the UK directly online or find more info.
Personally I would recommend one of the last two available options: Orange or Three. The sim card will be shipped to your home address and will automatically be activated from its first use.
A last reminder that you can also order a data-only e-sim card for the UK or click here for an e-sim card for the UK including free EU roaming and unlimited calls and texting.
From Stansted Airport to Luton Airport
May you just like me somehow end up on the wrong airport or you have a connection flight to catch at an other London airport? Take the National Express bus 737. That bus will bring you directly from Stansted Airport to Luton Airport in about 1,5 hours. Price: £15.60.
How to get from Stansted Airport to London city center
There are many ways to get to London, some more expensive than others of course. When it comes to public transport you have two options: bus and train.
Bus from Stansted Airport to London City Center
There are several bus connections connecting London city with Stansted Airport. If you want to take the National Express bus you can walk up to their service desk right in front of Arrivals inside the terminal. They have busses going to London every 10 minutes and the drive will take about 50 minutes depending on traffic. Tickets can be purchased for £8 already, though more expensive when you book them at the airport.
Train from Stansted Airport to London City Center
When taking the train you simply go down to the train station and buy a ticket for London at one of the machines. There are always people walking around to help you in the process. The train will take you In three stops to Tottenham Hale for £16.70. The tickets can be up to 50% cheaper when booked in advance.
Thank you for reading my tips for buying a sim card at London Stansted Airport, I hope they were useful. Let me know if you have any more questions, leave me a comment below and I am more than happy to help!
Curious what it looks like trying to visit every country in the world? Go check out my Instagram account @traveltomtom and follow along. As of August 2023 I have visited more than 155 countries, so still a long way to go.
Enjoy your trip to London!