WiFi Is Now Free When You Visit the UK –– if You Have a MasterCard

A tourist, yesterday. (Professional Images)

Using your phone or tablet when you’re overseas can be pretty pricey. Luckily, for everything else there’s MasterCard, as you can now enjoy free WiFi in the UK thanks to the card in your wallet.

Credit card and payment services company MasterCard has signed up with British WiFi provider The Cloud for free Internet connection in thousands of public places when you come to visit. Download the MasterCard Priceless London WiFi mobile app, available today from Google Play or the Apple App Store, and you’ll be wirelessly connected to the Web faster than a politician spotting 20p on the floor (that’s British for “very quickly”) without having to pay out a single pound, shilling, or queenpence (that’s British for “money”).

• 9 great travel apps to make your vacation painless

• I tested a bunch of gadgets on my vacation so you don’t have to

• Give up firstborn for free Wi-Fi? Some click ‘I agree’

• Connect as you commute with free Wi-Fi on the tube

• Leeds to get Doctor Who-style phone boxes with free Wi-Fi

• Going on an extended international trip? Get a local SIM

• For free Wi-Fi, please deposit your dog poop here

So when you’re on your holiday — sorry, on your vacation — or traveling for business, you can check email, catch up with your social media friends or even just find your way about without racking up huge data roaming charges or burning through your phone plan’s data allowance.

The ability to enjoy music and video streaming services over WiFi also saves you from having to preload your tablet with films, ebooks, or other entertainment for the trip. And it could help you sidestep extortionate WiFi fees from your hotel, too.

The Cloud is a company providing WiFi hotspots around the UK in public places including shops, bars, food places, and train stations. For the benefit of international readers who may not be familiar with UK institutions, those venues include WHSmith (books, magazines, dirty carpets); Greggs (two sausage rolls for a pound); Pret, Caffé Nero, and Eat (skinny lattes, skinnier sandwiches); Marks & Spencer (posh food, nice clothes, sturdy underwear); JD Wetherspoon (cheap beer, cheap meals, broken dreams); and PizzaExpress (students on dates).

The app also offers deals and promotions based on where you are with MasterCard’s Priceless Cities program. If you are planning on using the app, it’s important to note that MasterCard says you have to download it and register for the service while you’re still at home, before you travel — so plan ahead and contact MasterCard for more details.