Yes. You'll get a local UK mobile number. This means that people in the UK (airlines, tour operators, hotels etc) call you on a local UK mobile number, just like you were a Brit! People back home call and SMS you on your UK number (they'll of course pay the cost of an international call/SMS to your UK number).
Many people ask us what they should do with their Australian mobile phone - click here to read more information.
If you'd like to know how people back home can call and SMS you just click here to read more information.