eSIM for AUKUS(3 countries)

This plan covers the UK, the USA and Australia on one eSIM, which suits round-the-world trips, visiting family on two continents, or business travel between London, New York and Sydney. All three have mature 4G and 5G networks in cities; the real gaps are the Scottish Highlands, American national parks and the Australian Outback, plus everything in between airports.

A long-haul route for travellers heading west from the UK to Australia via the United States, with time in London and Edinburgh, New York, a two-day stopover in Los Angeles and the final days in Sydney and the Blue Mountains.

Length

14 days

Bases

6

When to go September to November works well on all three legs: mild autumn in London and New York, warm dry days in Los Angeles and spring in Sydney; avoid Edinburgh in August unless you want the festivals, and expect long security queues at all hubs in school holidays.

1. 01

   Day 1 London

   London: Westminster and the South Bank

   Start at Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament, cross Westminster Bridge and walk the South Bank past the London Eye to Tate Modern. Cross the Millennium Bridge to St Paul's Cathedral, then finish in Covent Garden. Contactless cards and phone wallets work on every bus and Tube line.

   Signal Strong 4G and 5G on O2, Vodafone or Three across central London; some deep Tube tunnels still drop between stations.

2. 02

   Day 2 London

   London: the British Museum and the Tower

   Spend the morning at the British Museum, then take the Tube to the Tower of London for the Crown Jewels and walk across Tower Bridge. In the late afternoon, explore Borough Market and walk back along the river, or visit the Natural History Museum and Hyde Park if it is raining.

   Signal Full coverage; thick-walled buildings like the Tower can drop to one bar indoors.

3. 03

   Day 3 Edinburgh

   Train to Edinburgh: the Old Town

   → LNER from London King's Cross to Edinburgh, about 4.5 hours.

   Take a morning train from King's Cross along the East Coast Main Line. In the afternoon, walk up the Royal Mile to Edinburgh Castle, then down Victoria Street to the Grassmarket. Climb Calton Hill in the evening for the view over the city and the Firth of Forth.

   Signal Good on the East Coast line with short gaps on the Northumberland coast; strong in Edinburgh.

4. 04

   Day 4 Edinburgh

   Edinburgh: Arthur's Seat and Leith

   Climb Arthur's Seat early from Holyrood, then visit the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Take the tram down to Leith for the Royal Yacht Britannia and the waterfront. In the afternoon, visit the National Museum of Scotland on Chambers Street before heading back towards London or flying out of Edinburgh.

   Signal Good on Arthur's Seat's open slopes and in Leith. The Scottish Highlands are a different story if you add a day trip: long gaps in Glencoe and beyond.

5. 05

   Day 5 New York City

   Fly to New York: Lower Manhattan

   → Flight London to New York, about 8 hours.

   Fly from London or Edinburgh to New York, having applied for an ESTA in advance. Time differences work in your favour heading west: arrive by mid-afternoon, then walk the Brooklyn Bridge from DUMBO towards Manhattan at sunset and see the 9/11 Memorial pools lit at night.

   Signal Your phone switches from a UK network to Verizon on landing. Strong 5G across Manhattan.

6. 06

   Day 6 New York City

   New York: the Statue of Liberty and Central Park

   Take an early ferry from Battery Park to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, booking timed tickets ahead. In the afternoon, take the subway to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and walk through Central Park past Bethesda Terrace to Columbus Circle. End at Times Square in the evening.

   Signal Full coverage on the harbour ferries and in Midtown; most subway stations have signal, some tunnels between them do not.

7. 07

   Day 7 New York City

   New York: the High Line and Greenwich Village

   Walk the High Line from Hudson Yards to the Whitney Museum, stopping at Chelsea Market. Continue through the West Village and Washington Square Park to SoHo and Chinatown. In the evening, go up an observation deck such as the Top of the Rock or the Empire State Building.

   Signal Excellent throughout Manhattan, including the High Line and the observation decks.

8. 08

   Day 8 Los Angeles

   Fly to Los Angeles: Santa Monica

   → Flight New York to Los Angeles, about 6 hours.

   Fly across the country to Los Angeles, watching for the Rockies and the desert south-west on a clear day. Collect a hire car or take a ride-hailing car to the coast, then in the late afternoon walk the Santa Monica Pier and the beach path south to Venice, with its canals and boardwalk. Stay for sunset over the Pacific.

   Signal Good 5G at LAX and along the coast; freeway traffic is the bigger problem than signal here.

9. 09

   Day 9 Los Angeles

   Los Angeles: Griffith Observatory and Hollywood

   Visit the Getty Center in the morning for its art and gardens above the city. In the afternoon, walk the Hollywood Walk of Fame, then drive or hike up to Griffith Observatory for the view of the Hollywood sign and the city at dusk. Catch your overnight flight to Sydney late in the evening.

   Signal Good across the city; the hiking trails in Griffith Park have a few weaker patches. Download everything you need for Sydney before boarding.

10. 10

    Day 10 In flight

    In the air across the Pacific

    → Flight Los Angeles to Sydney, about 14 to 15 hours.

    The overnight flight crosses the International Date Line, so you lose a calendar day and land in Sydney early on the morning of day eleven. Sleep as much as you can, keep hydrated and set your watch to Sydney time when you board. Fill in your Australian Incoming Passenger Card details on the plane.

    Signal No land signal over the Pacific. Switch roaming off for the flight and use the airline's wifi, if any, separately.

11. 11

    Day 11 Sydney

    Sydney: the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge

    Take the train from the airport to Circular Quay. Walk round to the Sydney Opera House and through the Royal Botanic Garden to Mrs Macquarie's Chair. After lunch, explore the Rocks and walk across the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Keep the day gentle to recover from the flight.

    Signal Your phone switches to Optus on landing. Strong 4G and 5G around the harbour.

12. 12

    Day 12 Sydney

    Sydney: Bondi to Coogee and Manly

    Take the bus to Bondi and walk the coastal path to Coogee, about two hours with swim stops. In the afternoon, take the ferry from Circular Quay to Manly, walk the beachfront to Shelly Beach and return at dusk for the view of the city lights.

    Signal Good along the walk and on the Manly ferry, with a few weak spots below the cliffs.

13. 13

    Day 13 Sydney

    The Blue Mountains

    → Train from Sydney Central to Katoomba, about 2 hours.

    Take the train to Katoomba. Walk to Echo Point for the Three Sisters, then follow the Prince Henry Cliff Walk to Katoomba Falls or take the Scenic World railway down into the Jamison Valley. Return to Sydney for the evening.

    Signal Good in Katoomba and at the main lookouts; weak or none on the valley floor.

14. 14

    Day 14 Sydney

    Sydney: Taronga Zoo and Darling Harbour

    Take the ferry across the harbour to Taronga Zoo for Australian animals and a view of the city from the hillside. In the afternoon, visit Barangaroo Reserve and walk through Darling Harbour. Allow plenty of time for the train to Sydney Airport.

    Signal Excellent across the city and on the airport line.