London is a city run from your phone: the train is paid with a tap, restaurants are booked in apps, and even theatre tickets land in your digital wallet. That is why any practical UK guide starts with connectivity — and that is what we sort out here, step by step.
Before takeoff
Install the Simply eSIM for the UK at home and activate it the moment you land at Heathrow or Gatwick. UK plans run at speeds up to 5G where available — and you will genuinely notice it in a city that lives on data.
Getting around: the Tube is your friend
The Underground covers the whole city, and paying could not be simpler: your contactless bank card or Apple Pay straight on the gates — no tickets needed. Your data works across most stations, so Citymapper (sharper than generic maps for the Tube) stays with you below ground. For short hops, take the red bus from the top deck — the cheapest sightseeing tour in town.
Apps that save you money
- Citymapper — hands-down the best way to navigate London
- Trainline — book intercity trains (Edinburgh, Manchester) early and save a lot
- TodayTix — last-minute West End theatre prices
- Uber and Bolt — for the late ride home when the Tube stops
Beyond London
Edinburgh is four hours away by train, and the Cotswolds villages make a perfect driving day trip. Coverage is excellent in the cities and good on the main roads, thinning only in the deep Scottish countryside — download your route maps ahead if you are heading north.
One last tip
British weather has moods — a reliable weather app with steady data will decide your park days and your museum days for you. Enjoy the trip!
Written by
Simply Team
