Telephones

Public payphones

Wherever you find yourself in the UK, you will never be too far way from a public payphone, and these days they can often offer a lot more than simple telephoning services including email, mobile phone text messaging, and internet services.

Most payphones accept 10p, 20p, 50p & £1 coins. Some payphones accept £2 coins. Calls are charged to the nearest 10p. Only unused coins are returned so you should avoid using 50p, £1 or £2 coins for short calls. 

Some payphones accept 50c, 1 Euro and 2 Euro coins. The exchange rate is 1 Euro = 60p and Euros can only be used for directly dialled calls. Major credit/debit cards and country calling cards can also be used from most payphones.

Payphone charges

Domestic calls – cash calls to domestic numbers cost 30p for the first 15 minutes, then 10p for every 7.5 minutes after that. If you use a credit or debit card, the minimum fee for domestic calls is 95p. Calls to premium-rate numbers, mobile phones or calls made via the operator are £1.20.

International calls – the minimum fee is £1.20

Internet Access –  £1 for the first 15 minutes, then 10p per 1.5 minutes 

Web based email – £1 for the first 15 minutes, then 10p per 1.5 minutes

Text messages – 10p per standard 160 character message 

Instant email – 20p per message

Mobile phones

Most dual and tri band mobile phones that have GSM 900 or 1800, will work via roaming in Britain. Check with your mobile phone provider before you leave that the ‘roaming’ function is activated on your phone. You can buy a British prepay mobile phone including phone number and SIM card for as little as £30 in many high street shops. You do not need to provide identification to purchase a prepay phone, but you will need to provide identification and proof of address in Britain to set up a mobile phone contract.