Does a travel eSIM work on the London Underground?

It depends on the line. The Elizabeth line and most of the Jubilee, Central and Northern lines now have mobile coverage, and we held 50–140 Mbps there. Older deep-level sections still have no signal between stations.

Is 5G available across the UK?

No. 5G is strong in cities and large towns, but the Cotswolds, Lake District and Scottish Highlands are 4G at best, with real no-signal stretches on rural roads. Download offline maps before a road trip.

Does a UK eSIM also cover Ireland?

It depends on the plan. The UK left the EU, so many Europe plans list the UK and Ireland separately. If your trip crosses both, pick a plan that names both countries — or read our Ireland speed test for what to expect there.

UK eSIM speed test: London, Edinburgh, the Tube and the countryside

Tower Bridge over the River Thames in London at sunset — Central London: dense 5G, with the Tube now covered on most lines.

Short answer · ≈62 Mbps national median

The UK is a two-speed country. Central London, Manchester and Edinburgh give 5G at 120–250 Mbps, but rural Wales, the Cotswolds and the Highlands regularly fall to slow 4G and occasional no-signal stretches. Most Tube lines now have coverage; older deep-level sections still do not.

How we tested: Speedtest by Ookla on a phone using a traverrsim eSIM, three runs per location, median reported, outdoors unless stated. Your own numbers vary with crowds, weather and handset — run the same test on arrival and compare.

Results by location

Mobile data speed test results at United Kingdom tourist locations
Location	Network	Download	Upload	Ping
London — Tower Bridge / South BankCentral LondonConsistent along the whole river walk.	5G	160–250 Mbps	30–50 Mbps	20 ms
London — Oxford StreetWest EndSaturday crowds cut it roughly in half.	5G	110–200 Mbps	25–42 Mbps	22 ms
London UndergroundElizabeth line / JubileeCovered on newer lines; deep-level tunnels still drop.	5G/4G	50–140 Mbps	15–30 Mbps	30 ms
HeathrowTerminal 5 arrivalseSIM attaches on the airbridge.	5G	140–220 Mbps	28–45 Mbps	21 ms
Edinburgh Old TownRoyal MileThick stone buildings weaken indoor signal.	5G	100–180 Mbps	22–38 Mbps	23 ms
BathRoman Baths area5G in the centre, 4G on the hills.	4G/5G	45–110 Mbps	12–28 Mbps	28 ms
Cotswolds villagesBibury / BourtonPatchy — expect dead spots between villages.	4G	10–40 Mbps	5–14 Mbps	40 ms
Lake DistrictWindermere and passesNo signal on several mountain roads.	4G	8–35 Mbps	4–12 Mbps	45 ms
Scottish HighlandsGlencoe / A82Longest no-signal stretches we recorded in Europe.	4G	5–30 Mbps	3–10 Mbps	50 ms
Manchester city centrePiccadillyComparable to London.	5G	130–220 Mbps	28–45 Mbps	21 ms

Frequently asked questions

Does a travel eSIM work on the London Underground?: It dependson the line. The Elizabeth line and most of the Jubilee, Central and Northern lines now have mobile coverage, and we held 50–140 Mbps there. Older deep-level sections still have no signal between stations.
Is 5G available across the UK?: No5G is strong in cities and large towns, but the Cotswolds, Lake District and Scottish Highlands are 4G at best, with real no-signal stretches on rural roads. Download offline maps before a road trip.
Does a UK eSIM also cover Ireland?: It dependson the plan. The UK left the EU, so many Europe plans list the UK and Ireland separately. If your trip crosses both, pick a plan that names both countries — or read our Ireland speed test for what to expect there.

Other speed tests

Last updated 2026-08-19