Sim Card Question & Great UK/Ireland Road Site

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wgerrard

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Next month's Scotland trip plans are pretty fixed. Got a question about sim cards, though: If I go into a shop and buy a card and a plan, is my UK number active immediately? (I'm in London the first night, going out of King's Cross in the morning. Will likely walk over to the Vodafone store in St Pancras.)

I came across a great site about British and Irish roads. Lots of maps, pix, talk, and almost meter-by-meter descriptions of traveling on hundreds of roads: The Society for All British and Irish Road Enthusiasts
 
Rather than go in for a plan, why not get a pay-as-you-go card? Depending on the carrier, you can top it up by going into one of their shops and buying more time, or doing it online. When I buy one of those (assuming your phone is unlocked), there's usually some setup involved, but it's something you can sort out while having a cup of coffee, and then your phone is live right away.
 
Chuck Albertson said:
Rather than go in for a plan, why not get a pay-as-you-go card? Depending on the carrier, you can top it up by going into one of their shops and buying more time, or doing it online. When I buy one of those (assuming your phone is unlocked), there's usually some setup involved, but it's something you can sort out while having a cup of coffee, and then your phone is live right away.
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Thanks, Chuck. I didn't want to be surpassed by a long wait. Pay-as-you-go is what I'll get. I'm staying near King's Cross, and the Vodafone shop at St Pancras looks to be the closest place.
 
wgerrard said:
Thanks, Chuck. I didn't want to be surpassed by a long wait. Pay-as-you-go is what I'll get. I'm staying near King's Cross, and the Vodafone shop at St Pancras looks to be the closest place.
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It all depends on how long you'll be in the country, and how much you'll be using your phone while there. I get a top-up card because I'm usually there for just a few days at a time, and will make a handful of local calls that I don't want to cost an arm and a leg in roaming charges if made on my US phone. If you're moving there, or planning a lot of phone usage while there on holiday, signing up for some plan might make sense.

You won't lack for SIM card vendors in London, they're as ubiquitous as Starbucks are over here.
 
I am back in UK for the first time in 20 years and bought a pay as you go phone. It is fine for domestic but hellish expensive for int. calls. It was 12 months ago but up and running within a couple of hours as I remember.
 
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