Manchester eSIM
In Manchester you connect to EE or Three, whichever is performing better where you are standing. The typical speed across the country is 67 Mbps. Your data starts working the moment you land, before you reach the immigration hall.
- Networks
- EE and Three
- Typical speed in United Kingdom
- 67 Mbps typical, 17 Mbps at busy times
- 5G
- yes, non standalone
- Throttle
- None on metered plans
- Tethering
- Allowed on every plan
Plans that cover Manchester
| Data | Validity | Price per GB | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | Never expires | $5.89 | $5.89 | |
| 3 GB | Never expires | $2.63 | $7.89 | |
| 5 GBMost travellers | Never expires | $1.98 | $9.89 | |
| 10 GB | Never expires | $1.49 | $14.89 | |
| 20 GB | Never expires | $1.19 | $23.89 | |
| 50 GB | Never expires | $0.94 | $46.89 |
How United Kingdom compares across Europe
- Regional typical speed
- 71 Mbps
- Upstream networks
- 2, EE, Three
- 5G
- Yes, non standalone
- Next fastest nearby
- Poland, 68 Mbps
- Next slowest nearby
- Slovakia, 67 Mbps
- Cities with their own page
- 4: London, Edinburgh, Manchester, Bath
Landing at Manchester Airport (MAN)
- Airport
- MAN / EGCC
- Distance
- 11 km from the centre of Manchester
- Wifi on arrival
- Free wifi in the terminalFree airport wi-fi; the network is "_FreeWIFI" and is certified by Friendly WiFi, meaning inappropriate content is filtered.
Getting into Manchester
- Manchester Airport station to Manchester Piccadilly (TransPennine Express and Northern) (MAN), about 20 minutes
- Metrolink Airport Line, Manchester Airport to Manchester Victoria (MAN)
- 24-hour Bee Network bus from The Station at Manchester Airport to the city centre (MAN)
- Licensed black cab from the ranks at Terminals 2 and 3 and The Station (MAN)
Underground and on the metro
Manchester Metrolink (tram and light rail, not a metro) runs 8 lines. It opened in 1992. The operator does not publish whether the tunnels carry a mobile signal, so we do not claim either way.
Worth knowing about Manchester
- Trains from Manchester Airport station reach Manchester Piccadilly in around 20 minutes and run every 10 minutes, seven days a week.
- Metrolink trams run direct from Manchester Airport to Victoria in the city centre every 12 minutes; the Airport Line opened on 3 November 2014 and runs on surface reserved track with short street-running sections rather than in tunnels.
- Manchester Airport's own website sells eSIMs through a partnership with CELITECH and makes no mention of physical SIM cards being sold at the airport.
- The airport's free wi-fi is filtered to the government-backed Friendly WiFi standard, so some sites are blocked on the airport network even though they load normally on a cellular or eSIM connection.
- Manchester Airport is 7 miles (11 km) south-west of Manchester city centre, and its rail and tram station is linked to the terminals by the covered Skylink walkway.
- The first train from Manchester Airport to the city centre leaves at 04:12, and the last departure of the day, at 01:34, also runs to Manchester Piccadilly.
- The airport's rail, tram and bus hub, The Station, sits between Terminals 2 and 3 and is open 24 hours. Expect a 5 to 15 minute walk from the terminals along the Skylink walkways.
- Metrolink tickets are not sold on board. Tap in and out at the stop with a contactless card, phone or smartwatch, use the Bee Network app, or buy from the platform machines.
- Manchester Airport has a 24-hour Bee Network bus link to the city centre. Bee Network routes 43, 103, 130, 199, 248, 288, 313 and 368 all use the bus station inside The Station.
- Black cabs work from Manchester Airport around the clock, from ranks outside both terminals and at The Station. Inside the Manchester licensed area the meter shows a set fare; further out, a fixed price can be agreed first.
- Uber and other private hire cars collect from the signed Express Pick Up areas at Terminals 2 and 3, not from the black cab ranks.
- Free city centre Wi-Fi runs from 22 digital information panels in areas such as Deansgate, Piccadilly and Piccadilly Gardens. Look for the Wi-Fi symbol, choose the Manchester City Council network and follow the prompts.
- Manchester Piccadilly station has free public Wi-Fi, step-free access to every platform and its own Metrolink stop, and the taxi rank is on Fairfield Street.