How do you call home to the UK while you're abroad?

Whether you're away for a weekend or backpacking for months, here's how to actually call home — and what it costs.

Short answer: WhatsApp or FaceTime over data is the easiest, cheapest way for almost everyone. Your physical UK SIM also still works for normal calls and texts while you're away — but don't assume that's free without checking your network first.

The free way — call over data

WhatsApp, FaceTime, Signal and similar apps work exactly the same abroad as they do at home, as long as you've got data — your travel eSIM, hotel wifi, or your normal UK data plan if it includes roaming. There's no special trick to it: open the app, call the contact, done.

Calling a UK number directly from your phone

An eSIM only takes over your data — your physical UK SIM keeps working for calls and texts the whole time, so in most cases you can just call a saved contact normally, exactly as you would at home.

If you need to dial a UK number manually, use +44 followed by the full number with the leading 0 dropped — for example +44 7700 900000 for a mobile, or +44 20 7946 0000 for a London landline.

Will it actually be free?

It depends entirely on your specific UK network and plan. Free EU roaming isn't a given any more since Brexit — several UK networks now charge for calls, texts or data once you're in the EU, not just further afield. Outside Europe, roaming charges for calls and texts are the norm rather than the exception. Check your provider's current policy for your destination before you travel, and treat WhatsApp/FaceTime over your eSIM as the reliable fallback regardless of what your network charges.

A couple of destinations need extra care

UAE and Saudi Arabia: standard VoIP calls — including WhatsApp and FaceTime voice/video calls — are routinely blocked in both countries, so don't rely on them as your free option there. Mobile data still works for everything else; you just can't count on app-based calling specifically.

Mainland China: WhatsApp (and most non-Chinese apps) is blocked outright. If you're travelling there, sort out an alternative — like a VPN-compatible option or your physical SIM's roaming rates — before you go rather than finding out at the airport.

Sort your data before you fly

An eSIM means you've got data — and a way to call home — from the moment you land, no airport wifi hunt required.

Compare eSIMs for your destination →

Common questions

Does it cost more to call the UK from abroad than from home?

It can — if you're calling via your phone's normal call function while roaming, you're at the mercy of your UK network's roaming rates, which vary a lot by destination and aren't guaranteed to be free any more, even within the EU. Calling over WhatsApp, FaceTime or a similar app using data is free wherever you are, so it's the safer default.

Can I just text instead of calling?

Texting carries the same roaming caveats as calling — it depends on your network and destination. WhatsApp or iMessage over data avoids the question entirely and is free either way.

What's the dialling code to call a UK number from abroad?

Dial +44, then the full UK number with the leading 0 dropped. For example, a mobile number 07700 900000 becomes +44 7700 900000. Most phones do this automatically if you call a UK contact saved in your address book.

Will my eSIM let me call home directly?

Not on its own — an eSIM is data-only, so it powers WhatsApp/FaceTime-style calls but not standard phone calls or texts. Those still go through your physical UK SIM, which keeps working for calls and texts even while your eSIM handles data.