United Kingdom
Use regional transport apps, carry a backup card, and check ETA rules before travel
Check your entry permission before departure.
The essentials
What to know before you go to United Kingdom
As of August 2026, many visa-exempt visitors need a £20 UK ETA linked to the passport used for travel, while British and Irish citizens and people with UK immigration status are exempt. England, Scotland and Wales share the National Rail system, but Northern Ireland uses Translink, so one transport app does not cover every journey. In London, use the same contactless card or device every time you touch in and out; switching between a phone, watch and physical card creates separate fare records. Each traveler aged 11 or older needs a separate payment method or Oyster card.
Contactless payment is common, but businesses may choose whether to accept cash, so carry a second physical card and a modest amount of pounds. Call 999 or 112 for a life-threatening emergency. Weather changes quickly, especially in upland and coastal areas, and an offline road map is not a safe substitute for proper walking navigation.
Ride Hailing
UberEssential
The broadest international ride app in the UK, with service across many Great Britain localities and Belfast.
Bolt
A useful fare comparison in selected cities across England, Scotland and Wales. It does not cover Northern Ireland.
Freenow
Books black cabs and private-hire rides in selected UK cities, including London, Edinburgh and Manchester.
Food Delivery
Just EatEssential
Restaurant delivery and collection across the UK, with options determined by the entered postcode.
DeliverooEssential
Meal, grocery and retail delivery with strong selection in London and many other UK cities and towns.
Uber Eats
A major UK delivery option with restaurants and groceries in all four nations, subject to the exact address.
Messaging
The UK's most commonly used smartphone app, useful for hosts, tour operators, friends and some businesses.
Navigation
Google MapsEssential
The default for UK addresses, businesses, urban walking and driving, with downloadable areas for reduced connectivity.
OS Maps
Detailed Ordnance Survey leisure maps, offline downloads and route tools for walking and cycling in Great Britain.
Transit
CitymapperEssential
Multi-operator urban journey planning across London and many other UK regions, with live departures and disruption routing.
TfL GoEssential
Transport for London's official planner for live status, arrivals, station facilities and accessible routes.
Translink Planner
Official planning and live information for Northern Ireland's buses, coaches and trains, with selected rail tickets.
Travel & Booking
UK ETA
The official government app for travelers who must obtain electronic permission before boarding for the UK.
Language
Google Translate
Useful for visitors who do not speak English and for interpreting Welsh or Gaelic text and unfamiliar signs.
Intercity Transport
National RailEssential
Authoritative Great Britain rail planning, live trains, disruption, station information and fare comparison.
Trainline
Convenient rail and coach comparison with digital tickets and split-ticket suggestions, but some UK bookings carry a fee.
National Express Coach
Books long-distance coaches to UK towns, cities and airports, stores tickets offline and tracks services live.
Translink Planner
Northern Ireland journey planning for NI Railways, Goldline coaches and the cross-border Enterprise train.
Restaurants
OpenTableEssential
Broad UK restaurant discovery and reservations, with verified-diner reviews and live availability in many regions.
TheFork
UK restaurant bookings with participating discounts and loyalty offers, strongest in larger dining markets.
Resy
A smaller reservation catalogue used by selected restaurants, particularly sought-after venues in London.
Utilities
Met Office WeatherEssential
The UK's official forecast app, with rain maps, severe-weather alerts and specialist mountain and beach information.
Also covered
Internet in United Kingdom
Mobile internet eSIM Best option when traveling
Guac
RecommendedReliable mobile internet at better prices than most travel eSIMs, with polished iOS and Android apps and support for making and receiving phone calls.
Airalo
One of the biggest travel eSIM brands, with a very large destination catalog.
Holafly
Known for unlimited-data plans in many destinations, at a higher price per gigabyte.
Buying a local SIM card No ID registration needed
- Unusually for Europe, UK prepaid SIMs need no ID: you can buy and activate immediately without showing a passport. Two caveats: airport kiosk staff may ask for a passport if you top up above GBP 30, and MVNOs bought online (Giffgaff, Smarty) need registering with a UK address, where a hotel name and postcode is generally accepted.
- Expect GBP 10 to 20 (roughly $13 to 26) for a 30-day bundle of 15 to 100 GB. Standouts in 2026: Three's 30-day pack at around GBP 15 for 100 GB with unlimited UK calls, texts and 30 days of EU roaming; Giffgaff's GBP 12 goodybag with 30 GB; and Smarty at GBP 10 for 30 GB. The SIM itself is usually free or about GBP 1.
- Very easy. All four networks plus MVNOs are sold at Heathrow through WHSmith, Boots and Sim Local kiosks and vending machines (T2 to T5, roughly 06:00 to 23:00), and everywhere else through high-street carrier shops and supermarkets like Tesco, Sainsbury's and Asda. Giffgaff ships a SIM free worldwide if you order a few days ahead. Skip WHSmith's own-branded SIMs: they're rebadged Lyca or Lebara at a 20 to 30 percent markup with identical coverage.
- Mild. Airport SIMs start around GBP 15 for 20 GB versus GBP 10 to 15 for bigger bundles in town or online, so the gap is small and the UK is one of the easier places to just buy on arrival.
- eSIM is widely supported by all four networks and the MVNOs, with no registration requirement, making the UK one of the simplest eSIM markets in Europe. A UK eSIM carries the same EU roaming limits as a physical SIM on the same network.
Post-Brexit EU roaming is the main trap: only Three still includes free EU roaming on prepaid, while EE, Vodafone and O2 charge around GBP 2 per day or GBP 10 per month extra, so pick Three if the UK is one leg of a wider European trip (and note EU SIMs no longer reliably include the UK either). 3G is fully shut down, so very old handsets won't work. Watch for advertised prices excluding 20 percent VAT or a roughly GBP 3 activation fee, and phones from the Americas may have limited 5G band support.
Local carriers
EE
The largest operator, with the fastest 5G rollout and the best rural coverage. Also the strongest signal in the London Underground tunnels.
Three
The data-heavy budget network, and the only major carrier still including free EU roaming on prepaid.
Vodafone UK
Strong city coverage and regarded as the best bet on intercity rail routes.
O2
Balanced coverage, plus free Wi-Fi hotspots on the Underground and high streets.
Frequently asked questions
What are the must-have apps for traveling in United Kingdom?
The essential apps for United Kingdom are Uber, Just Eat, Deliveroo, Google Maps, Citymapper.
How many travel apps does United Kingdom have?
We've curated 22 apps across 11 categories for traveling in United Kingdom, including 9 essential apps.
What is the best ride hailing app in United Kingdom?
Uber. The broadest international ride app in the UK, with service across many Great Britain localities and Belfast.
Keep exploring
Also traveling in Europe?
Georgia
Official city transport, direct rail tickets and safer mountain travel
Greece
Freenow for taxis, Wolt for delivery, and careful planning between islands
Croatia
City transport, island ferries and road tools that prevent costly mistakes
Hungary
Official Budapest tickets, direct Hungarian travel and safer taxi choices
Ireland
Physical Leap cards, licensed taxi apps and direct intercity bookings
Iceland
SafeTravel, official road checks and practical Reykjavík transport