England’s best & least-connected attractions for phone signal

With a rich history and breathtaking landscape, England boasts an array of landmarks that attract millions of tourists every year, locally and globally. The demands of modern society mean staying connected while travelling is paramount, with a growing need to be aware of mobile connectivity ahead of time.

To determine which tourist attractions will keep you well-connected when travelling, we’ve analysed Ofcom data to reveal the attractions with the best and least connected phone signal.

Our experts took the top 100 attractions and landmarks in England by visitor, analysing the indoor and outdoor signal data from Vodafone, O2, EE and Three. Here are the attractions you should visit if you want to stay connected.

Best attractions in England for phone signal

1. Westminster Abbey, London
2. Natural History Museum, London
3. Science Museum, London
4. Royal Academy of Arts, London
5. Millenium Gallery, Sheffield
6. Victoria and Albert Museum, London
7. British Library, London
8. British Museum, London
9. Somerset House, London
10. Imperial War Museum, London

Among the country’s numerous museums and nature parks, the research found that Westminster Abbey is England’s best-connected attraction, with all four providers delivering at high signal strengths.

Unsurprisingly, 9 out of 10 of the best-connected attractions hail from the capital city, where infrastructure for smartphones continues to grow rapidly. The only English city keeping up with London’s impressive connectivity is in South Yorkshire, as Sheffield’s Millennium Gallery is crowned fifth place.

Attractions in England with the least reliable phone signal

1. Wendover Woods, Buckinghamshire
2. Design Museum, London
3. Tower Bridge, London
4. Thetford Forest Park, Suffolk
5. Southend-on-Sea Pier, Essex
6. Tyntesfield, Somerset
7. Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire
8. Westonbirt National Arboretum, Gloucestershire
9. Calke Abbey, Derby
10. Shakespeare’s Globe, London

Whilst the stunning English landscape is something to be marvelled, some fail to keep up with the times where connectivity is concerned. Wendover Woods in Buckinghamshire has been revealed as the attraction with the least reliable access to the internet. Wendover isn’t the only woodland to be disconnected, with Thetford Forest Park in Suffolk and the Forest of Dean also appearing in the bottom ranking.

The Design Museum and Tower Bridge in London came second and third-to-last, while Shakespeare’s Globe in tenth makes up the three London landmarks and attractions with the poorest phone service. Despite having poor connectivity these historic attractions are still worth a visit.

Top 10 historical sites for phone signal

1. Churchill War Rooms, London
2. Roman Baths, Bath
3. Lincoln Castle, Lincoln
4. Windsor Castle, Windsor
5. Tower of London, London
6. Canterbury Cathedral, Canterbury
7. Old Royal Naval College Painted Hall, London
8. Hampton Court Palace, London
9. Windsor Great Park, Windsor
10. Leeds Castle, Maidstone

England's complex history has resulted in a country built on magnificent architecture that reflects its past, with many of those being transformed into landmarks and heritage sites. Even while exploring ancient history, there are locations where you can stay well-connected; the Churchill War Rooms have been revealed to boast the best phone signal across the country’s vast historical sites.

The Roman Baths in Bath haven’t shied away from the demands of the modern day, ensuring mobile connectivity is top-notch and putting it in second place. Meanwhile, the nation’s castles also prove to be keeping up with the 21st century, with Lincoln Castle, Windsor Castle and Leeds Castle all appearing in the top 10 ranking.

Top 10 parks & gardens for phone signal

1. Eden Project, Cornwall
2. Nymans, West Sussex
3. Abbey Gardens, Bury St Edmunds
4. Wollaton Hall & Park, Nottingham
5. Beacon Park, Lichfield
6. Chatsworth, Derbyshire
7. Bedgebury National Pinetum & Forest, Kent
8. Delamere Forest, Cheshire
9. Royal Botanic Gardens (Kew), London
10. Jeskyns, Kent

Alongside magnificent architecture, England features expansive countryside, national parks, woodlands, and other unique landscapes. Out of all of them, the Eden Project (the world’s largest indoor rainforest) in Cornwall houses the best mobile connectivity.

Among the remaining top 10 are national trust sites such as Nymans and country homes Wollaton and Chatsworth for example, which include deer parks as part of their lands. The famous Royal Botanical Gardens in Kew join the list, providing both beautiful scenery and exceptional mobile signal when exploring.

Top 10 museums & galleries for phone signal

1. National History Museum, London
2. Science Museum, London
3. Millennium Gallery, Sheffield
4. Victoria & Albert Museum, London
5. British Museum, London
6. Somerset House, London
7. Imperial War Museum, London
8. Manchester Art Gallery, Manchester
9. Museum of London, London
10. World Museum Liverpool, Liverpool

England’s museums and galleries display renowned artefacts from across the globe, attracting millions of tourists each year. Serving its visitors the best with outstanding phone signal is the National History Museum, followed by the neighbouring Science Museum.

In 3rd place is the Millenium Gallery, proudly representing the Steel City of Sheffield and pushing other famous London spots further down the list. Manchester and Liverpool are the only other two cities outside the capital to feature in the top 10, as London remains a hub for connectivity.

Top 5 zoos & wildlife parks for phone signal

1. Adventure Island, Southend
2. Cannon Hall Farm, Barnsley
3. ZSL London Zoo, London
4. ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, Bedfordshire
5. Longleat Safari & Adventure Park, Wiltshire

For the perfect family day out, the admission-free fun park, Adventure Island, is situated on Southend's famous seafront and flaunts impressive mobile connectivity across the four providers. Meanwhile, representing the north of England, Cannon Hall Farm comes in at a close 2nd.

Top 5 religious & academic institutions for phone signal

1. Westminster Abbey, London
2. British Library, London
3. St Paul’s Cathedral, London
4. York Minster, York
5. Bodleian Library, Oxford

Topping the religious and academic institutions of England is the overall crown holder, Westminster Abbey. Keeping up with the capital, the beloved York Minster ensures a strong mobile connection for flocking tourists, as does one of the oldest libraries in Europe: the Bodleian Library at Oxford University.

An increasing demand for connectivity is encouraging countries around the world to prioritise infrastructure such as 5G, and it’s becoming easier to use mobile phones wherever people go. If you find yourself reaching for your phone regularly, our guide to mobile data will help you figure out how much you’ll need each month.