Here in the UK you have the option of buying a pay as you go sim card. This is quite convenient, when you have not done a lot of research yet and just need quickly some data or a new phone number. Some of them can be bought in normal shops at the check-out.

It also helps when you only stay in the UK for a limited number of month (you don’t need a year contract!) or if you are unsure how much data you’ll need in the future (will your new home have internet already, do you have Wifi in the company?).

You might be able to put a smaller or bigger data/SMS/minutes package onto your pay as you go sim card, depending which provider you choose. Therefore I’d recommend to check the websites of the different providers to find out what best suits your needs.

There are only a few major carriers such as EE, O2, Three and Vodafone, but lots of different mobile virtual network operators which lease and resale the network. (Here, you’ll find a list of providers.)

For me personally it was important that I also have data when I am at home in Austria.

When you intend to make a year contract you might be required to provide a proof of address.

Being able to (re)search in the internet, stay in contact with people, have a map on the phone and use its navigation functionality makes things much easier, especially when you are in a new country!

Having a UK telephone number also can make things easier. I had the feeling that people were more happy when I gave them my new UK phone number when I arranged viewings for properties.

When you have your own flat, be aware that you will have to arrange a meeting for getting your internet and that it can take some time (I’d say about two weeks) until the engineer arrives. Also check if there are any restrictions which providers you can use to get internet for your flat (talk to your landlord/ agency/ property management (in case your new home has that which can be the case for an apartment house)).