Whether you're heading from the UK into Europe, or arriving in Europe and the UK from elsewhere, data costs can quietly wreck a travel budget. This guide compares every realistic option — UK carrier roaming, local SIM cards, and regional eSIMs — so you can pick the right one for your trip length, budget, and destinations.
The post-Brexit reality for UK travellers
Before Brexit, UK phones worked across the EU at no extra cost. Those days ended in 2022 when every major UK carrier reintroduced roaming charges for European travel. The effect is immediate: a two-week trip to southern Europe now costs £28–£35 in daily roaming fees on top of your regular contract — before you've paid for a single meal.
If you're travelling from Europe to the UK, you face the same problem in reverse. Most European plans treat the UK as a non-EU country and charge accordingly.
There are three ways to solve this:
- UK carrier roaming — use your existing contract abroad, pay daily fees
- Local SIM card — buy a prepaid SIM on arrival at each destination
- Regional eSIM — install a multi-country data plan before you travel
The right choice depends on your trip. Here's how each one works.
Option 1: UK carrier roaming
Your UK SIM works in Europe. You won't need to do anything — just land and connect. The convenience is real. The cost isn't.
| Carrier | Daily roaming fee | Data allowance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| EE | £2.47/day | Your UK plan data | Charged per day you use data |
| Three | £2/day (Go Roam) | UK plan data, 12 GB cap | Must add Go Roam Extra for £5/month |
| Vodafone | £2/day | UK plan data, 25 GB cap | Opt in required each trip |
| O2 | £2/day (Europe Zone) | Up to your plan limit | Automatic for most tariffs |
A two-week holiday charges £28–35 in daily fees — and these are charged per day you connect, whether you used 50 MB or 5 GB. Forget to switch to Wi-Fi and the meter runs.
When carrier roaming makes sense: short trips of 3 days or fewer, or business travel where you'll expense it. For anything longer, you'll save money with either of the alternatives below.
Option 2: Local SIM card
Buying a local prepaid SIM gives you cheap data at local rates — often £5–20 for a generous data allowance — plus a local phone number. In most European countries, you'll find SIMs at airports, supermarkets, and phone shops.
The real-world experience:
You land at your destination, clear customs, find a phone shop (usually a queue), navigate a purchase in a foreign language, complete ID registration if required (EU regulations mean many countries now require passport registration), swap your SIM (losing access to your UK number), and then — finally — have data.
| Local SIM | Regional eSIM | |
|---|---|---|
| Setup time | 20–60 min after landing | Done before you leave |
| Multi-country trip | Buy a new SIM per country | One plan, 30+ countries |
| Keep UK number | Only if phone is dual-SIM | Yes, always |
| Data while in transit | No | Yes, the moment you land |
| Language barrier | Sometimes | None |
| ID registration | Required in many EU countries | Not required |
When a local SIM makes sense: single-country trips of 10+ days, destinations with very cheap local SIM options (Thailand, Indonesia, Morocco), or if your phone doesn't support eSIM.
Option 3: Europe + UK regional eSIM
A regional eSIM covers 30+ countries under a single plan. You buy it online, scan a QR code to install it at home, and it activates the moment you land — whether that's London, Paris, or Barcelona.
What's typically included in a Europe + UK eSIM:
- All 27 EU member states
- United Kingdom
- Switzerland, Norway, Iceland (in the European telecom area but not EU)
- Balkan countries including Serbia, Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro
What's usually excluded: Turkey, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus. Always verify the country list against your itinerary before buying.
Pros:
- One plan for 30+ countries — no SIM swaps when you cross a border
- Keep your UK number active alongside the eSIM (dual-SIM)
- Data roaming works immediately on arrival, including transit
- No daily charges — pay once for your data allowance
- No ID registration, no language barrier, no airport queue
Cons:
- Requires an eSIM-compatible phone (iPhone XS or newer, most modern Android flagships)
- No local phone number (not needed if you use WhatsApp, FaceTime, or Wi-Fi calling)
Head-to-head cost comparison
The numbers for a 14-day multi-country Europe trip:
| Option | Cost for 14 days | Countries covered | Setup |
|---|---|---|---|
| EE roaming | £34.58 | All of Europe | None |
| Three Go Roam | £28 | Most of Europe | Add-on required |
| Local SIM (per country) | £10–20 × countries visited | One per SIM | On arrival, each country |
| CocoRoam Europe eSIM (10 GB) | From £12 | 30+ countries | 5 min at home |
| Airalo Europe (10 GB) | From £14 | 39 countries | App on phone |
| Holafly (unlimited, 14 days) | From £24 | 30+ countries | App on phone |
For a 3-country trip, a regional eSIM typically saves £20–50 versus carrier roaming and eliminates 2 SIM card purchases at foreign airports.
Which eSIM providers cover both Europe and the UK?
Not all Europe eSIMs include the UK — this is a common trap after Brexit. Providers that cover both:
- CocoRoam — UK included in all Europe plans, check coverage →
- Airalo — UK included in Europe regional plans
- Nomad — UK included in Europe plans
- Holafly — UK included
Providers that may exclude the UK or charge separately:
- Some smaller resellers treat the UK as a separate country since Brexit — always check the country list
If your itinerary includes London alongside European cities, confirm UK coverage explicitly before buying.
European travellers visiting the UK
If you're based in Europe and visiting the UK, a UK eSIM is the easiest option. Your home carrier probably charges heavy roaming fees in the UK post-Brexit.
Options for European visitors to the UK:
-
UK-only eSIM — CocoRoam sells UK eSIM plans covering all major UK networks. Install before you arrive, data works from the moment you land at Heathrow or Manchester.
-
Europe + UK regional eSIM — If you're combining a UK leg with travel elsewhere in Europe, a regional plan covering 30+ countries including the UK is often better value than buying a UK eSIM separately.
-
Local SIM in the UK — Available from Three, EE, O2, and Vodafone at airports and supermarkets. Three's prepaid plans are particularly good value (£10 for 12 GB).
How much data do you need?
This depends on your usage patterns, not the length of your trip. A rough guide:
| Usage type | Per day | 7-day trip | 14-day trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light (maps, messaging, occasional web) | 200–500 MB | 2–4 GB | 4–7 GB |
| Moderate (social media, navigation, video calls) | 500 MB–1.5 GB | 4–10 GB | 8–20 GB |
| Heavy (streaming, remote work, hotspot sharing) | 2–5 GB | 15–35 GB | 30 GB+ |
Use our data calculator to get a personalised estimate based on your actual apps and habits. Most holiday travellers on Wi-Fi at accommodation need less data than they think — 5–10 GB for two weeks is enough for the majority of casual users.
Step-by-step: getting connected before you fly
- Check your phone supports eSIM — iPhone XS and later, Samsung Galaxy S20+, Google Pixel 3a+, and most modern flagships. Full list at our compatibility guide.
- Browse plans — See Europe + UK eSIM options, pick the data size for your trip length
- Purchase and scan the QR code — takes under 5 minutes at home on Wi-Fi
- Set the eSIM as your data line — keep your regular SIM active for calls and texts
- Enable data roaming on the eSIM — required for the eSIM to connect abroad (doesn't trigger charges from your home carrier)
- Land and connect — no setup needed at the airport
For full installation instructions by phone model, see our eSIM setup guide.
Common questions
Does my UK SIM still work in Europe after Brexit?
Yes — your UK SIM works across Europe, but most UK carriers reintroduced roaming charges in 2022. Expect £2–£2.50 per day on EE, Three, Vodafone, and O2. For trips longer than 3–4 days, an eSIM is almost always cheaper.
Will a Europe eSIM work in the UK as well?
Most regional Europe eSIMs include the UK alongside the EU. CocoRoam's Europe eSIM covers 30+ countries including the UK. Always verify the country list before buying — some providers exclude the UK since Brexit.
Can I keep my UK number while using a Europe eSIM?
Yes. eSIMs install alongside your existing SIM. Your UK number stays active for calls and texts (including Wi-Fi calling) and the eSIM handles your data. On dual-SIM phones you can switch data lines instantly.
Do I need to register ID for an eSIM?
No — eSIMs don't require ID registration. Local SIM cards in France, Germany, Italy, and several other EU countries now require passport registration at point of sale. eSIMs skip that entirely.
What's the best SIM card for visiting multiple European countries?
A regional eSIM covering 30+ countries is by far the most practical option. Local SIMs are country-specific — you'd need a new one each time you cross a border. UK carrier roaming works everywhere but gets expensive quickly. See the best eSIM for Europe comparison for a detailed breakdown of providers.
Can I top up an eSIM if I run out of data?
With CocoRoam, yes. Buy an additional plan from your destination page and it installs instantly. Most other providers offer top-ups through their app. Don't delete the eSIM profile when your data runs out — the line stays active for purchases.
Is there a minimum trip length where an eSIM makes sense?
For a single-country trip of 2–3 days, carrier roaming might be cheaper if your carrier charges by the day. For anything longer, or any multi-country itinerary, a regional eSIM wins on both price and convenience.
The bottom line
Post-Brexit roaming charges make UK carrier plans expensive for European travel. Local SIMs are cheap but require on-arrival setup and don't work across multiple countries. A regional eSIM from CocoRoam gives you the best of both — one plan, 30+ countries including the UK, set up before you leave home.
What people ask
Does my UK SIM still work in Europe after Brexit?+
Yes — your UK SIM works across Europe, but most UK carriers reintroduced roaming charges in 2022. Expect £2–£2.50 per day on EE, Three, Vodafone, and O2. For trips longer than 3–4 days, an eSIM is almost always cheaper.
Will a Europe eSIM work in the UK as well?+
Most regional Europe eSIMs include the UK alongside the EU. CocoRoam's Europe eSIM covers 30+ countries including the UK. Always verify the country list before buying — some providers exclude the UK since Brexit.
Can I keep my UK number while using a Europe eSIM?+
Yes. eSIMs install alongside your existing SIM. Your UK number stays active for calls and texts (including Wi-Fi calling) and the eSIM handles your data. On dual-SIM phones you can switch data lines instantly.
Do I need to register ID for an eSIM?+
No — eSIMs don't require ID registration. Local SIM cards in France, Germany, Italy, and several other EU countries now require passport registration at point of sale. eSIMs skip that entirely.
What's the best SIM card for visiting multiple European countries?+
A regional eSIM covering 30+ countries is by far the most practical option. Local SIMs are country-specific — you'd need a new one each time you cross a border. UK carrier roaming works everywhere but gets expensive quickly. See the best eSIM for Europe comparison for a detailed breakdown of providers.
Can I top up an eSIM if I run out of data?+
With CocoRoam, yes. Buy an additional plan from your destination page and it installs instantly. Most other providers offer top-ups through their app. Don't delete the eSIM profile when your data runs out — the line stays active for purchases.
Is there a minimum trip length where an eSIM makes sense?+
For a single-country trip of 2–3 days, carrier roaming might be cheaper if your carrier charges by the day. For anything longer, or any multi-country itinerary, a regional eSIM wins on both price and convenience. ---
