Yes, you can get a UK eSIM with a phone number: six UK plans on Code eSIM come with a UK mobile number and 20 to 450 minutes for calls to UK numbers, on Vodafone UK, from $4.59. Incoming calls are free. That makes them unusual — in our audit of 877 travel eSIM plans on 28 September 2026, only 12 included calling minutes at all, and six of those are these UK plans.
Most travel eSIMs are data-only, which is fine until someone needs to ring you: a restaurant confirming a booking, a minicab office, a letting agent with the keys, a courier who will not use WhatsApp. These six plans are built for that gap. Here is exactly what they include, what the number can and cannot do, and when a data-only plan or a local SIM is the better buy.
- Six plans: 1 GB to 50 GB, with 20 to 450 minutes, 7 to 30 days.
- A UK mobile number: included with the plan, per each plan’s description.
- Incoming calls: free.
- Minutes: for calls to UK numbers only, not international calls.
- Network: Vodafone UK, with 5G where available.
- Texts: not listed on these plans, so do not rely on the number for bank codes.
The six UK plans that include a number and minutes
All six run on Vodafone UK, list 5G, support hotspot and top-up, state no speed cap, and start counting on first data use. Prices are in US dollars as listed on 28 September 2026.
| Plan | Data | Minutes to UK numbers | Validity | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK 1 GB + 20 minutes | 1 GB | 20 | 7 days | $4.59 |
| UK 2 GB + 40 minutes | 2 GB | 40 | 14 days | $5.79 |
| UK 5 GB + 100 minutes | 5 GB | 100 | 30 days | $8.19 |
| UK 10 GB + 200 minutes | 10 GB | 200 | 30 days | $11.39 |
| UK 20 GB + 300 minutes | 20 GB | 300 | 30 days | $15.39 |
| UK 50 GB + 450 minutes | 50 GB | 450 | 30 days | $19.70 |
For most visitors the 5 GB plan is the sensible middle: 30 days, 100 minutes, and enough data for a normal week or two of maps and messaging. The 1 GB plan works for a short stopover where the point is mainly being reachable. The 50 GB plan is the one to look at if you will tether a laptop — at that size the data works out to about $0.39 per GB, with 450 minutes on top.
What the UK number does, and what it does not
This is where most confusion starts, so here it is in the plan’s own terms. Each of the six plan descriptions says the package “comes with a UK mobile phone number”, that minutes “can be used to make domestic calls to UK numbers only”, and that “receiving calls is free”.
| What you want to do | On these UK plans |
|---|---|
| Give a UK number to a hotel, driver or letting agent | Yes |
| Receive calls on that UK number | Yes, free |
| Call a UK mobile or landline | Yes, from your minutes |
| Call home or any number outside the UK | No — minutes are UK domestic only; use an app |
| Receive bank or airline verification texts on the UK number | Not listed — do not rely on it |
| WhatsApp, FaceTime and other app calls | Yes, over the data allowance |
The texts row is the honest caveat. The plans list minutes and say nothing about SMS, so we will not tell you the number receives text messages reliably. For one-time codes, keep your own number switched on alongside the eSIM, which is how most travellers handle it anyway. Our dual SIM guide shows the settings.
Treat the number as a number for the trip. The plans are one-time prepaid packages; nothing in the listing promises you keep the same number once the plan has ended, so do not register it anywhere you will need long after you leave.
Who should buy a UK plan with minutes, and who should not
Worth it if:
- You will book restaurants, taxis or tours by phone, or someone local needs to call you back.
- You are viewing flats, collecting keys, or dealing with a letting agent or employer in your first weeks.
- You want to reach UK numbers that are awkward over internet calling, such as some surgeries, helplines and landlines.
- You want one purchase that covers both data and a reachable UK number for a trip of up to 30 days.
Not the right buy if:
- You only need data. Most tourists do; apps handle calls. Our data-only UK plans start at $2.85, and there are 80 UK plans in total.
- You need a UK number for texts and bank codes. These plans do not list SMS. A UK pay-as-you-go SIM from a shop is the reliable route.
- You are staying for months. For a long stay with UK banking and utilities, a local SIM with a number you keep is the better fit.
- You mostly call home. The minutes cover UK numbers only; international calls go through apps either way.
Networks, data and the rest of the UK catalogue
The six minutes plans all run on Vodafone UK. Across all 80 UK plans in our catalogue, travel eSIMs list four national networks, so a data-only plan may put you on a different one.
| Network | UK plans listing it |
|---|---|
| Vodafone UK | 63 of 80 |
| O2 | 58 of 80 |
| EE | 51 of 80 |
| Three | 35 of 80 |
Counts overlap because many plans list more than one network. The minutes plans also list their IP location as the United Kingdom; if that matters to you, our explainer on whether a travel eSIM changes your IP address covers what that does and does not mean. For the wider UK picture — how much data to buy, and where roaming from home stops making sense — see our UK travel eSIM guide.
Need to be reachable in the UK? Pick a plan from the table above, or compare all 80 UK plans. Travelling on to the continent? Europe plans cover multi-country trips.
How to set it up
- Install before you fly, on Wi-Fi. The plan starts counting on first data use, so installing early does not waste days.
- Keep your home line on for texts and verification codes, with data roaming off on that line.
- Set the UK eSIM as your data line after you land, and check the Vodafone UK signal before leaving the airport.
- Find your UK number in the phone’s settings for the new line, or from the plan’s installation details, and save it before you hand it out.
- Top up if needed. All six plans support top-up, so running low on minutes or data does not mean a new eSIM.
Method and citation
Plan details come from the six UK plan listings in our catalogue, read on 28 September 2026: data, minutes, validity, price, network, hotspot, top-up and speed-cap fields, plus each plan’s description. The 12-of-877 figure comes from reading the calls field on every plan on sale that day, excluding items hidden from the catalogue; it describes our catalogue, not the whole market. Prices change daily and the product pages are authoritative.
Citing this: you are welcome to quote these figures with credit to Code eSIM and a link to this page. Suggested citation: Code eSIM, UK eSIM plans with a phone number, 28 September 2026. For the catalogue-wide picture, see our travel eSIM calls and SMS audit.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a UK eSIM with a phone number?
Yes. Six UK plans on Code eSIM come with a UK mobile number and 20 to 450 minutes for calls to UK numbers, running on Vodafone UK. Prices started at $4.59 on 28 September 2026. Most travel eSIMs are data-only, so these are the exception.
Can people call me on the UK eSIM number?
Yes. Each plan’s description says receiving calls is free, so a hotel, driver or letting agent can ring the UK number without using your minutes. Keep the line switched on and signed in to the network for incoming calls to reach you.
Can I call home with a UK eSIM’s minutes?
No. The plans state that minutes are for domestic calls to UK numbers only. To call family abroad, use WhatsApp, FaceTime or another app over the plan’s data, which works on every one of the six plans.
Does the UK eSIM number receive text messages?
The six plans list minutes but do not list SMS, so we cannot confirm that texts arrive reliably. For bank and airline codes, keep your own number active alongside the eSIM, or buy a UK pay-as-you-go SIM if you need a UK number for texts.
Which network do UK eSIM plans with minutes use?
All six run on Vodafone UK and list 5G where it is available. Across our full UK range of 80 plans, travel eSIMs also list O2, EE and Three, but the minutes plans specifically use Vodafone UK.
How many minutes do I need for a UK trip?
For a week of occasional bookings and callbacks, 20 to 40 minutes is usually plenty, since incoming calls are free. If you will phone agents, offices or tour operators regularly, the 100-minute 5 GB plan gives more room for 30 days.
Do most travel eSIMs include calls?
No. In our audit of 877 travel eSIM plans on 28 September 2026, only 12 included calling minutes, and six of those were these UK plans. The rest were data-only, which is the norm across the category.
Can I keep the UK number after my trip?
Do not count on it. The plans are one-time prepaid packages, and the listing does not promise the number survives after the plan ends. Treat it as a number for the trip, and avoid registering it for anything you will need later.
Bottom line
If being reachable in Britain matters, these six plans solve it neatly: a UK mobile number, free incoming calls, 20 to 450 minutes for UK calls, and data on Vodafone UK from $4.59. They are not a substitute for a local SIM when you need texts or a number you keep, and if you only need data, the data-only UK plans are cheaper. For everyone in between — bookings, callbacks, letting agents, first weeks in a new city — one of these is the simplest way to arrive with a working UK number.
Last reviewed 28 September 2026. Plan details and prices are from our own catalogue and plan descriptions on that date and change daily; product pages are authoritative. Coverage and speeds are Vodafone UK’s. Vodafone, O2, EE and Three are trademarks of their owners; this article is independent and not affiliated with them. Illustrations are our own.