List of dialling codes in the United Kingdom explained

This is a list of telephone dialling codes in the United Kingdom, which adopts an open telephone numbering plan for its public switched telephone network. The national telephone numbering plan is maintained by Ofcom, an independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries. This list is based on the official standard, but includes defunct codes and historical changes, including the derivation of the two letter identities, in cases where known.[1] [2] [3] Dialling codes do not correspond to specific political boundaries: for example, the Coventry dialling code covers a large area of Warwickshire and the Manchester dialling code covers part or all of several neighbouring towns.

When dialling within the country, all area codes are preceded by the national trunk prefix 0, which has been included in all listings in this article. 0 was traditionally the number dialled for the operator for long-distance calls before subscriber trunk dialling (STD) was introduced, and so was retained as a prefix for direct-dialled calls. In the majority of areas, the area code still corresponds to the original STD letter code. When dialling from abroad, the 0 prefix is not dialled. When dialling within the same area, the area code is not needed, save for a handful of areas that do require this. When calling from a mobile telephone or through a VoIP service, such as BT's 'Digital Voice', the area code is always needed.

Code prefixes

Initial digitsService type
00International call prefix
01Geographic area codes since 1995
02Geographic area codes since 2000
03Non-geographic numbers charged at geographic rates
04Reserved
05Reserved (previously, corporate numbering and VoIP)
06Reserved
07Mobile telephony, paging services and personal numbering
08Freephone and revenue share non-geographic numbers
09Premium-rate services

List of dialling codes

Short codes
02x yyyy yyyy [eight-digit local number]011x yyy yyyy [seven-digit local number]01x1 yyy yyyy [seven-digit local number]
020 to 0290113 to 01190121 to 0191
London[4] [5] [6]
[7]

 
0121 Birmingham (B1) [8]
023 Southampton and Portsmouth[9] 0113 0131 Edinburgh (E1)
024 Coventry[10] 0141 Glasgow (G1)
0115 0151 Liverpool (L1)
0116 0161 Manchester (M1)
0117
028 Northern Ireland[11] 0118 Reading [12] [13]
029 Cardiff[14] Wearside (W1), i.e., Tyneside, Sunderland, and Durham[15]

For an explanation of the two-letter STD codes used below, see Introduction of area codes.

ELNS denotes Extended Linked Numbering Scheme areas, where an area code is associated with more than one place name.

01426, 01523 and other non-standard 01 prefixes were briefly used for pagers[47] in the late 1990s and then moved to new 076 prefixes in the Big Number Change in 2000/2001.

In several area codes, a block of 1,000 numbers is set aside for use as fictional numbers for drama.[48] [49]

Code length

The length of the area code part and the local number part is found as follows:[50]

Number formatNSN[51] Geographic area code
2+8 only 10 020, 023, 024, 028, 029
3+7 only 10 0113, 0114, 0115, 0116, 0117, 0118, 0121, 0131, 0141, 0151, 0161, 0191
4+6 only 10 All 01xxx area codes from 01200 to 01999 not otherwise mentioned.
4+6 areas where part of range is assigned as 5+5 10 01387, 01539
4+6 areas where part of range is assigned as mixed 5+5 and 5+4 10 01697
Mixed 4+6 and 4+5 10 or 9 01204, 01208, 01254, 01276, 01297, 01298, 01363, 01364, 01384, 01386, 01404, 01420, 01460, 01461, 01480, 01488, 01527, 01562, 01566, 01606, 01629, 01635, 01647, 01659, 01695, 01726, 01744, 01750, 01827, 01837, 01884, 01900, 01905, 01935, 01949, 01963, 01995
Mixed 4+6 and 4+5 areas where part of range is assigned as 5+5 10 or 9 01524, 01768, 01946
5+5 only 10 0138 73, 0152 42, 0153 94, 0153 95, 0153 96, 0169 73, 0169 74, 0176 83, 0176 84, 0176 87, 0194 67
Mixed 5+5 and 5+4 10 or 9 0169 77
The number format '2+8' refers to, e.g. London, numbers using the (020) xxxx xxxx format.

The number format '5+4' refers to, e.g. Brampton, numbers using the (0169 77) xxxx format.[52]

Areas with mandatory area code dialling

In the following areas, the area code must be included when dialling local numbers. This enables local numbers to start with 0 or 1 and was introduced to increase the number of available telephone numbers within these areas.

Area codeArea code nameDate effective
01202 Bournemouth (BO2) 1 November 2012[53]
01224 Aberdeen (AB4) 1 October 2014[54]
01273 Brighton (BR3) 1 October 2014
01274 Bradford (BR4) 1 October 2014
01642 Middlesbrough (MI2) 1 October 2014
01908 Milton Keynes (WO8) 1 October 2014

Overseas Territories

Unlike the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man which use the UK area codes 01534, 01481 and 01624, respectively, telephone numbers in British Overseas Territories do not come under the UK telephone numbering plan. Some are within the North American Numbering Plan (NANP). These calls are treated as international calls. Below are the access codes for the overseas territories:

North American Numbering Plan

Others

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: UK Geographic STD codes . Roger Haworth . 1999-11-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120724061632/http://www.rhaworth.myby.co.uk/phreak/std_geog.htm . 2012-07-24. — contains largely the same information as this page.
  2. Web site: British Subscriber Trunk Dialling Codes . Selwyn Horne, Andy Emmerson. 2006-04-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120709065613/http://strowger-net.telefoonmuseum.com/tel_hist_earlystd.html . 2012-07-09. etal. — The original alphanumeric codes in all their glory!
  3. Web site: STD Equivalent List . Sam . Hallas . 2010-05-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130508104506/http://www.samhallas.co.uk/repository/documents/std_equivalents.pdf . 2013-05-08.
  4. (020) The codes 0207 & 0208 do not exist: London is under a single code, 020. Local numbers have eight digits and currently begin 0, 3, 4, 7, or 8.
  5. Web site: Telephone numbers – the facts and figures : (Boxout) Is it (020) 7 or 0207? . . Office of Communications . 2009-08-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100710141637/http://consumers.ofcom.org.uk/2009/08/phone-numbers/#video . 2010-07-10.
  6. Web site: Telephone Numbering : London Telephone Numbers . . Office of Communications . 2005-05-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100709070538/http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/telecoms/numbering/guidance-tele-no/london-area-code/ . 2010-07-09.
  7. Area code changed as a part of the Big Number Change in 2000.
  8. Area code changed as a part of phONEday in 1995.
  9. (023) Wide area. Southampton numbers begin 80, 81, 82. Portsmouth numbers begin 92, 93, 94. Local numbers have eight digits.
  10. (024) Wide area. Coventry numbers begin 75, 76, 77. Local numbers have eight digits.
  11. (028) Eight-digit local numbers begin as follows: Ballycastle: 20, Martinstown: 21, Ballymena: 25, Ballymoney: 27, Larne: 28, Kilrea: 29, Newry: 30, Armagh: 37, Portadown: 38, Banbridge: 40, Rostrevor: 41, Kircubbin: 42, Newcastle (Co. Down): 43, Downpatrick: 44, Enniskillen: 66, Lisnaskea: 67, Kesh: 68, Coleraine: 70, Derry: 71, Limavady: 77, Magherafelt: 79, Carrickmore: 80, Newtownstewart: 81, Omagh: 82, Ballygawley: 85, Cookstown: 86, Dungannon: 87, Fivemiletown: 89, Belfast: 90 and 95, Bangor (Co. Down): 91, Lisburn: 92, Ballyclare: 93, Antrim: 94, Saintfield: 97. When dialling Northern Ireland from the Republic of Ireland, it may be cheaper to dial 048 xxxx xxxx rather than the normal 00 44 28 xxxx xxxx (see ComReg website).
  12. Area code changed in 1998.
  13. Area code changed in 1990.
  14. (029) Wide area. Cardiff numbers begin 20, 21, 22. Local numbers have eight digits.
  15. (0191) ELNS area. Tyneside numbers begin 2, 4, 6, 8 (North Tyneside/Newcastle 2, 6 – South Tyneside/Gateshead 4, 8). Durham numbers begin 3, 9. Sunderland numbers begin 5, 7. Local numbers have seven digits.

  16. There are some places with the standard (01xxx) four-digit area code but which have both six-digit and five-digit local numbers, as described at Telephone numbers in the United Kingdom. These codes include 01204, 01208, 01254, 01276, 01297, 01298, <
  17. There are some places with an (01xx xx) five-digit area code. These areas can potentially have either or both five-digit and four-digit local numbers. Nowadays only Brampton (0169 77) has four-digit local numbers (0169 77) 2xxx and (0169 77) 3xxx, as well as five-digit local numbers (0169 77) 4xxxx to (0169 77) 9xxxx, as described at Telephone numbers in the United Kingdom and at Web site: Code and number blocks – 1600 00 to 1799 99 . . Office of Communication . https://web.archive.org/web/20120918011856/http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/numbering/sabcde4.xls . 2012-09-18.

  18. This change happened prior to PhONEday (16 April 1995); the new code is not to be confused with the current allocations of dialling codes commencing 02 to 09, as this code would have changed again (mostly by adding the '1' after initial zero) on PhONEday.
  19. (01229) ELNS area. Barrow-in-Furness numbers begin 2, 4, 5, 6, 8. Millom numbers begin 3, 7, 9.
  20. All Northern Ireland 01xx xx "mixed" areas migrated to the new 028 area code in the Big Number Change in 2000.
  21. (01339) ELNS area. Aboyne numbers begin 2, 3, 5, 8. Ballater numbers begin 4, 6, 7, 9.
  22. (0191) Numbers in Newcastle, Durham, Sunderland, Tyneside, and Wearside were migrated to 091, now 0191, between 1982 and 1988.
  23. (01387) Mixed area. Dumfries numbers begin 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
  24. (01388) ELNS area. Bishop Auckland numbers begin 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9. Stanhope (Eastgate) numbers begin 2, 5.
  25. (01423) ELNS area. Boroughbridge numbers begin 3, 4, 9. Harrogate numbers begin 2, 5, 6, 7, 8.
  26. (01430) ELNS area. Market Weighton numbers begin 6, 7, 8, 9. North Cave numbers begin 2, 3, 4, 5.
  27. (01434) ELNS area. Bellingham numbers begin 2, 4, 9. Haltwhistle numbers begin 3, 5. Hexham numbers begin 6, 7, 8.
  28. (01437) ELNS area. Clynderwen (Clunderwen) numbers begin 2, 3, 4, 5. Haverfordwest numbers begin 6, 7, 8, 9.
  29. (01507) ELNS area. Alford (Lincs) numbers begin 4, 8, 9. Louth numbers begin 3, 6, 7. Spilsby <
  30. (01524) Mixed area. Lancaster numbers begin 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
  31. (01539) Mixed area. Kendal numbers begin 2, 3, 7, 8, 9.
  32. (01595) Lerwick numbers begin 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 77, 78, 79, 8, 9. Foula numbers begin 75. Fair Isle numbers begin 76.
  33. (01686) ELNS area. Llanidloes numbers begin 2, 3, 4, 7. Newtown numbers begin 5, 6, 8, 9.
  34. (01697) Mixed area. Brampton six-figure numbers begin 2, 5, 6, 8, 9.
  35. (0169 77) Web site: BT's Response to the Consultation by OFTEL on Proposals to Publish a National Telephone Numbering Plan . BT . British Telecommunications PLC . 2003-05-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110605092216/http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archive/oftel/publications/responses/2003/ntnp0303/bt.pdf . 2011-06-05 . Page 7: '01697 – Brampton should be 0169 77; not 01697'..
  36. (0169 77) Web site: A User's Guide to Telephone Numbering . Oftel . Office of Telecommunications . 2003-05-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20060407173247/http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archive/oftel/publications/numbering/2003/num_guide.pdf . 2006-04-07 . Pages 6 and 7 show Brampton examples using 0169 77 and +44 169 77 codes..
  37. (0169 77) Web site: The National Telephone Numbering Plan . Director General of Telecommunications . Office of Telecommunications . 2003-07-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090107215635/http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archive/oftel/publications/numbering/2003/ntnp0703_b.pdf . 2009-01-07 . Page 20 shows Brampton listed as 0169 77..
  38. Web site: 01706 Area Code - UK Area Code Finder . Area-codes.org.uk . 2013-02-11.
  39. (01768) Mixed area. Penrith numbers begin 2, 5, 6, 8, 9.
  40. (01847) ELNS area. Thurso numbers begin 2, 3, 4, 5, 8. Tongue numbers begin 6, 7, 9.
  41. (01851) ELNS area. Great Bernera numbers begin 4, 6, 9. Stornoway numbers begin 2, 3, 5, 7, 8.
  42. (01890) ELNS area. Ayton numbers begin 5, 6, 7, 9. Coldstream numbers begin 2, 3, 4, 8.
  43. (01946) Mixed area. Whitehaven numbers begin 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9.
  44. (01964) ELNS area. Hornsea numbers begin 2, 5, 8, 9. Patrington numbers begin 3, 4, 6, 7.
  45. (01975) ELNS area. Alford (Aberdeen) numbers begin 2, 4, 5, 9. Strathdon numbers begin 3, 6, 7, 8.
  46. (01987) Web site: Telephone Numbering : Creation of New Area Code for Ebbsfleet . . Office of Communications . 2008-04-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100903225345/http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/ebbsfleet/ . 2010-09-03.
  47. News: We're talking telephone numbers . Stephen . Pritchard . . London . Independent Print Limited . 1997-01-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130423191309/http://www.independent.co.uk/money/were-talking-telephone-numbers-1284041.html . 2013-04-23.
  48. Web site: Numbers Used For Drama. ca. 1999 . Oftel . Oftel Numbering Bulletin 38 . Office of Telecommunications . 1999-06-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20040515064223/http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archive/oftel/publications/1995_98/numbering/nb38.htm . 2004-05-15.
  49. Web site: Telephone Numbers for drama purposes (TV, Radio etc) revised 2004 . . Office of Communications . 2004-10-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100726121805/http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/telecoms/numbering/guidance-tele-no/numbers-for-drama . 2010-07-26.
  50. Web site: The National Telephone Numbering Plan – downloadable data files . . Office of Communications . https://web.archive.org/web/20100826044036/http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/numbering/#geog1 . 2010-08-26. — List of all UK number allocations and their dialling format.
  51. National Significant Number – the digit count after the 0 trunk code or +44 international country code.
  52. Web site: A User's Guide to Telephone Numbering . Oftel . Office of Telecommunications . 2003-05-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20040128223549/http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archive/oftel/publications/numbering/2003/num_guide.htm#1b . 2004-01-28.
  53. Web site: Dialling the 01202 area code in Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch . . Press Releases . Office of Communications . 2012-03-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120415100755/http://media.ofcom.org.uk/2012/03/20/dialling-the-01202-area-code-in-bournemouth-poole-and-christchurch/ . 2012-04-15 . dead .
  54. Web site: Changes to making local calls in five area codes . . Consultations . Office of Communications . 2013-07-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130829061026/http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/local-area-codes/summary . 2013-08-29 . live .
  55. Web site: Global Crossing extends FCO network to Tristan da Cunha. 14 August 2015.
  56. Web site: https://archive.today/20130616102746/http://www.ukota.org/tristan_da_cunha.asp?id=6&portal=OT. Tristan Da Cunha Contact Information. 16 June 2013. UK Overseas Territories Association.

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