Travelling to London: Where and how to find a reliable and inexpensive calling card

[SuttonGirl]

I am a New Yorker who will be in England for a week. Is there a pre-paid calling card I can buy which will give me inexpensive rates calling within London and to London from places like Canterbury? If so, how and where do I get it?

[enfable]

I don't think we have calling cards here.

All phone boxes are owned by BT so there's no competition for them to worry about. You can buy phonecards but it's easier to use cash or a credit card. Alternatively buy a used pay as you go mobile, you can pick them up for next to nothing

[SuttonGirl]

I bought a prepaid calling card which I used in Geneva so I assumed that London had them also. I had hoped that I could purchase a calling card in London.

How do I get a used mobile phone? I like that idea. Pay as I go works. Is there a website with any info about including rates for calls within England and particularly within London?

Thanks.

[Hawkwalk]

http://www.londonphonecards.co.uk/

[Hawkwalk]

for used mobiles;

http://www.yaketyyak.net/list.php?type=second_ hand

[KARL]

Sadly, BT do not own all call boxes - BAA airports in Scotland do not have a single BT one and these places are monopolised by another company who do not allow incoming calls. You can call around for free if you aggree something like the following system with those you are calling: From a BT public phone you ring twice letting it ring twice each time, then hang up and get your coins back - the other party calls back your number (not on "callback" which is expensive) and you answer and the call is under way. If the other party knows what they are doing (on a landline) they can complete an unlimited length of call for at most 5 pence (ten US cents), or even for free, from anywhere in the country. For calls to other landline numbers (not special charge or premium ones - probably mobiles/cellphones too but much more expensive) I understand you can get pre-paid cards that are usable from most phones.

[Dee Sa]

go to any Post Office in the UK and buy their phone card. If you buy a rechargeable one [ in multiples of �10 and �20] you get 20 % extra free on recharging which can also be done at any post office.You can also use it to ring overseas.
We live here in the UK but use this card for all our long distance and overseas calls.

[SuttonGirl]

So if I buy a prepaid calling card at the post office, it will work at any phone booth including those not owned by BT? Also, I arrive on Saturday. Will the Post Office be open for me to buy the prepaid calling card?

[Hawkwalk]

most post offices are open until 12.00pm on a Saturday

[SuttonGirl]

Update. My brother in law loaned me his int'l mobile for my trip. He told me I need to get a SIM card from any electronics store once I arrive in London. Here are my follow-up questions.

How do I get the most minutes with the least amount of money? Do I buy a SIM card with prepaid minutes for calls within the UK and to the US? Or do I just get the SIM card in conjuction with a prepaid calling card I can buy at the Post Office? Which is the better thing to do or is there a 3rd way? Thanks!