Advice sought - using my US iphone 5s in the UK

[AZ Gull]

Over here in the US I have an iphone 5s with Verizon (which is unlocked for international purposes). Next weekend I am flying to the UK for a couple of weeks to spend Christmas with family. I would like to be able to make and receive calls and texts within the UK (I'm not particularly bothered about data as there will be wifi where I am staying). I won't need to make international calls; on this trip I will be visiting Eastbourne/Brighton/London/Molineux.

I know that I need to purchase a nano sim, and it will obviously be a prepaid/pay-as-you-go deal. Given these circumstances, I have the following questions:-

1) What would be the best provider/deal for me?
2) Do the cards/money balances expire after a certain period of inactivity? If I keep the card, would I be able to use it again if I return in 12 months?
3) Where would I purchase the card? Would I have to go to a specialist phone shop, or are they sold in the likes of supermarkets and newsagents?

Thanks to my fellow "nice" Albion fans for any help you can give.

 

[Rookie]

No idea what the best provider but giff gaff is cheap and you can just ask for a sim to be sent to where you are staying in the uk and set it up when you get here.

 

[Brightonfan1983]

Have a look at this as an example...

http://www.carphonewarehouse.com/sims/pay-as-you-go/pay-as-you-go-sims

I remember having to buy a PAYG sim in Brighton funnily enough a few years ago, from a newsagent, then chancing upon an Orange shop with hugely better deals.

In short, you'll be topping up. How much and how often depends on what proportion of texts/data/minutes you want.

You could get someone to buy one/order one in advance of your return, and the 30 days won't start ticking until you pop it in your phone and activate it.

 

[8ace]

Another vote for giffgaff

Free SIM - Order Your Free SIM card with giffgaff.com

 

[AZ Gull]

Another vote for giffgaff

Free SIM - Order Your Free SIM card with giffgaff.com

Thanks [MENTION=588]8ace[/MENTION] (and others); SIM duly ordered.