Cell service - Which company do you recommend?

I'm looking into cell service for us once we get to the UK (2.5 more weeks). Three seems to have the best deals on iPhones (we're bringing ours as they are unlocked). However, the cheap price made me wonder if the service is cheap too. Any recommendations or are they all about the same?  We'll be in the Northwest if that matters. Thanks!

I find mobile prices much better here. I use three and I haven't had any issues with them. Hubby uses O2 and he likes them. Neither of us is on a contract. It seems to depend on where you live as to what kind of signal you'll get. I think 3 actually has a coverage map on their site somewhere.
FYI, they don't tend to use the term cell phone here. Well at least not where I live. I can remember being chuckled at(ok they flat out laughed) once when I said it in the pub. They use the term mobile phone. 

I have giffgaff. It runs on the O2 network, and for £10 a month pay-as-you-go, you get 250 minutes, unlimited texts and 1GB of data; for another £2 you get unlimited data. I've been with them for over a year and it's been great.

My wife had Three some years back (2005 or so) and hated them.  I don't know if they're better now.

We've been on EE (used to be Orange) since 2007 and they've been good.

My wife had Three some years back (2005 or so) and hated them.  I don't know if they're better now.

I was with Three for 2011-2012 and they sucked. I couldn't get reliable cell phone signal, and I live in central London where they promise something like 99% coverage. Internet was generally good, but not being able to stay connected on calls really didn't work for me.

I've switched to giffgaff and, aside from the cellular data connection settings sometimes resetting themselves to O2 values rather than giffgaff (thus disabling my data connectivity), they seem quite good so far.

I have 3 so do DH and DD and we have for 4 years..love them.. no issues better coverage than I had with orange it must just depend on your area ...I would highly recommend

I have a pay as you go sim with Giffgaff (they piggyback on O2's network). 12 UK pounds doe unlimited data, unlimited texts and 250 minutes. Very reliable and the best deal I could find.

If you don't need data their payg prices are 8p minute outgoing calls, 6p outgoing texts. Also 8p minute calls to many overseas countries including the US.

FYI, they don't tend to use the term cell phone here. Well at least not where I live. I can remember being chuckled at(ok they flat out laughed) once when I said it in the pub. They use the term mobile phone. 

South Africans use "cell phone". Pub quiz material....

South Africans use "cell phone". Pub quiz material....

LOL...all I know is they chuckled at me here in the UK for using the term cell phone, and then when we were back in the US, I said mobile phone, and my co-workers looked at me funny. I couldn't win 

I haved used Three for the same reason (unlocked iPhone) and am perfectly happy with the service.  Sometimes I don't have service and my husbands O2 phone does.  But other times he doesn't have service and I do.

I also chose Three because I moved here with work and had to establish my own credit and Three would give me a contract with my bank account and no UK credit history.

I've been with Three for two years now and am very happy with their service. One of the main reasons I switched from O2 to Three was the fact that O2 stopped their unlimited data plans. My Three iPhone plan has 'all-you-can-eat' data and I have never been charged for data usage, and I use a LOT of data.

Look into EE - as this is the combined Orange and T-Mobile so they generally have good coverage. Worth checking websites of various providers though as many will have  pages where you can check coverage in various parts of teh country by entering post cade. So when i was looking for a new mobile I just checked my home and work postcodes.

Hi,

As per responses above, you can't really recommend one over the other as the service is a 'radio' signal and thus, one operator might have great transmission in an area and another one not so good, and just a mile away it could be reversed. The 'coverage' maps are just a guide really and local conditions, buildings, RF interference, terrain etc all play a part.

You do have a cooling off period if you take a contract out I believe, and if you subsequently find the signal poor in your house or place of work consistently etc, and other colleagues/family and friends etc on different networks get better signal, you can come out of the contract, although don't quote me on that!

A way to help is to perhaps get a £5 top up with each provider and try their service out ? a bit more long winded and a hassle but something to consider?

Cheers, DtM! West London & Slough UK!

I have giffgaff. It runs on the O2 network, and for £10 a month pay-as-you-go, you get 250 minutes, unlimited texts and 1GB of data; for another £2 you get unlimited data. I've been with them for over a year and it's been great.

Key thing, with the 1 gig you can tether!!! (Cant tether with the unlimited)

Ive been with them for about 14 months now and wont go back.
VERY happy with their service.

How do you unlock an iPhone? I have an iPhone 4 in the US right now. I'll be moving to London in September/October hopefully (still need to apply for spouse visa after getting married, need to figure all of this stuff out, which is why I'm here!). But it would be nice to not have to buy a new phone. Can I make my phone work in the UK? Then I wouldn't lose all my data (like chat history, etc.), I think? I currently use AT&T in the US.