Internet & Phone
Since Brexit, EU roaming is no longer automatic in Great Britain! The situation:
- Many German providers (Telekom, Vodafone, O2) have voluntarily included the UK in their roaming zone — so you often surf without extra charges. BUT: Check your tariff BEFORE the trip!
- Some tariffs (especially cheap third-party providers and prepaid) charge roaming fees in the UK. In the worst case: up to €1.99/MB — the holiday photo on Instagram can cost €20
- Local SIM: Three UK, EE, and Vodafone UK offer prepaid SIMs at the airport (from £10 for 30 days, 20 GB). Three-minute activation
- WiFi: Free in hotels, cafes, pubs (yes, even pubs!), and many trains. Quality varies
- Mobile network: 4G/5G excellent in cities. In the Scottish Highlands, Lake District, and parts of Wales, there are dead zones — download offline maps!
Achtung
Check BEFORE the trip if your mobile tariff includes Great Britain without extra charges! Since Brexit, this is no longer guaranteed. In the worst case, disable data roaming and use WiFi.
