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List of dialling codes in the United Kingdom

Telephone dialling codes in the United Kingdom and the Crown Dependencies

This is a list of telephone dialling codes in the United Kingdom and the Crown Dependencies, 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

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

List of dialling codes

[edit]
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 029 0113 to 0119 0121 to 0191
020 London[notes 1][4][5]
(previously 0171 and 0181)[notes 2]
(previously 071 and 081)[notes 3]
(previously 01)[notes 4]
 
0121 Birmingham (B1) (previously 021)[notes 3]
023 Southampton and Portsmouth[notes 5] (previously 01703 and 01705)[notes 2] (previously 0703 and 0705)[notes 3] 0113 Leeds (previously 0532)[notes 3] 0131 Edinburgh (E1) (previously 031)[notes 3]
024 Coventry[notes 6] (previously 01203)[notes 2] (previously 0203)[notes 3] 0114 Sheffield (previously 0742)[notes 3] 0141 Glasgow (G1) (previously 041)[notes 3]
0115 Nottingham (previously 0602)[notes 3] 0151 Liverpool (L1) (previously 051)[notes 3]
0116 Leicester (previously 0533)[notes 3] 0161 Manchester (M1) (previously 061)[notes 3]
0117 Bristol (previously 0272)[notes 3] 0171 unused (was Inner London until 2000) (previously 071)[notes 3] (previously 01)[notes 4]
028 Northern Ireland[notes 7] (previously used multiple 01xxx and 01xxxx area codes until 2000)[notes 2] (previously used multiple 0xxx and 0xxxx area codes until 1995)[notes 3] 0118 Reading[notes 8] (previously 01734)[notes 9] (previously 0734)[notes 3] 0181 unused (was Outer London until 2000) (previously 081)[notes 3] (previously 01)[notes 4]
029 Cardiff[notes 10] (previously 01222)[notes 2] (previously 0222)[notes 3] 0191 Wearside (W1), i.e., Tyneside, Sunderland, and Durham[notes 11] (previously 091)[notes 3]

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.

Long codes
01xxx [mostly six-digit local numbers][notes 12] and 01xxxx [mostly five-digit local numbers][notes 13] (but not 01x1 codes)
01200 to 01470 01471 to 01762 01763 to 01999
0201 was Bournemouth (BO1) – numbers were transferred to 0202[notes 14]
was Coventry (CO3) – numbers were transferred to 024 on 22 April 2000
See 0121 — Birmingham (B1) – previously 021
  • 01220 — unused
0220 was Cambridge (CA0) – numbers were transferred to 0223[notes 14]
  • 01221 — unused
0221 was Bath (BA1) – numbers were transferred to 0225[notes 14]
  • 01222 — unused
was Cardiff (CA2) – numbers were transferred to 029 on 22 April 2000
0230 was Bedford (BE0) – numbers were transferred to 0234[notes 14]
  • 01231 — unused
0231 was Belfast (BE1) – numbers were transferred to 0232[notes 14]
  • 01232 — unused
was Belfast (BE2) – numbers were transferred to 028 on 22 April 2000
was Saintfield, Belfast (BE) – numbers were transferred to 028 on 22 April 2000
  • 01239 — Cardigan (CD9)
  • 01240 — unused
0240 was Chiltern (CH0) – numbers were transferred to 0494[notes 14]
was Bangor, NI (BG7)[notes 16] – numbers were transferred to 028 on 22 April 2000
0251 was Aldershot (AL1) – numbers were transferred to 0252[notes 14]
was Coleraine (CN5)[notes 18] – numbers were transferred to 028 on 22 April 2000
  • 01266 — unused
was Ballymena (BM6)[notes 19] – numbers were transferred to 028 on 22 April 2000
0272 was Bristol (BR2) – numbers were transferred to 0117 on 16 April 1995
0276 was originally intended also to cover Ascot (AS6) and Bracknell (BR6)
0281 was Buckinghamshire (BU1) – numbers were transferred to 0753[notes 14]
CV was derived from Carnarvon, the English spelling of Caernarfon
See 0131 — Edinburgh (E1) – previously 031
0321 was Eastbourne (EA1) – numbers were transferred to 0323[notes 14]
0321 later used for Vodafone freephone; changed from 0321 to 0808 0 on 28 April 2001
0331 was Derby (DE1) – numbers were transferred to 0332[notes 14]
0331 later used for Premium rate numbers
0336 was Deeside (DE6) – numbers were transferred to 0975 (ELNS)[notes 14]
0336 7 later used for VodaPage pager numbers; changed from 0336 7 to 076 637 on 28 April 2001
0336 later used for Premium rate numbers; details of migration on 28 April 2001 are not available
  • 01337 — Ladybank, Fife (FF7)
  • 01338 — unused
0338 was Deeside (DE8) – numbers were transferred to 0339 (ELNS)[notes 14]
0338 later used for Mercury Premium rate numbers
0345 was Huddersfield (??) – numbers were transferred to 0484[notes 14]
0345 later used for BT Lo-call; changed from 0345 to 0845 7 on 28 April 2001
0351 was Fair Isle (FL1) – numbers were transferred to 0595[notes 14]
was Enniskillen (EN5)[notes 21] – numbers were transferred to 028 on 22 April 2000
0370 was Hockley, Essex (ES0) – numbers were transferred to 0702[notes 14]
0370 later used for Vodafone mobile; changed from 0370 to 07770 on 22 April 2001
0374 was Basildon, Essex (ES4) – numbers were transferred to 0268[notes 14]
0374 later used for Vodafone mobile; changed from 0374 to 07774 on 22 April 2001
0374 5 later used for National rate; changed from 0374 5 to 0870 45 on 22 April 2001
0378 was Epping (EP8) – numbers were transferred to 0992[notes 14]
0378 later used for Vodafone mobile; changed from 0378 to 07778 on 22 April 2001
0385 was Durham (DU5) – numbers were transferred to 091 in the 1980s[notes 22]
0385 4 and 0385 6 later used for VoData pagers; details of migration on 28 April 2001 are not available
0385 later used for Vodafone mobile; changed from 0385 to 07785 on 28 April 2001
0390 was Eyemouth (EY0) – numbers were transferred to 0890 (ELNS)[notes 14]
0390 later used for Orange mobile; changed from 0390 to 07790 on 28 April 2001
  • 01391 — unused
0391 was Fylde (FY1) – numbers were transferred to 0253[notes 14]
  • 01392 — Exeter (EX2)
  • 01393 — unused
0393 3 was Foula, Zetland (FZ33) – numbers prefixed by 75 and transferred to 01595 on PhONE day
was Downpatrick (DW6)[notes 25] – numbers were transferred to 028 on 22 April 2000
0399 was Dawley (DY9)
allocated to planned Telford new town, but numbers were instead allocated to 0952[notes 14]
0399 later used for Vodafone paging; changed from 0399 to 01399 in 1995
01399 later used for Vodafone paging; changed from 01399 to 076 99 on 28 April 2001
0399 later used for unknown services; changed from 0399 to 01399 in 1995
01399 later used for unknown services; changed from 01399 to 0845 4 on 28 April 2001
0401 was Hornsea (HO1) – numbers were transferred to 0964 (ELNS)[notes 14]
0401 later used for Cellnet mobile; changed from 0401 to 07701 on 28 April 2001
  • 01402 — unused
0402 was not an area code on its own. 04022 was Upminster, 04023 was Ingrebourne, 04024 was Hornchurch (HO2), 04025 was South Ockendon, 04026 was Purfleet, 04027 was Rainham and 04028 was Stapleford Abbotts – numbers were transferred to 0708[notes 14][notes 26]
0402 later used for Cellnet mobile; changed from 0402 to 07702 on 28 April 2001
0403 later used for Cellnet mobile; changed from 0403 to 07703 on 28 April 2001
0408 later used for BT mobile Personal Assistant; numbers discontinued on 28 April 2001
  • 01409 — Holsworthy (HO9)
  • 01410 — See 0141 — Glasgow (G1) – previously 041
0410 was later used for Cellnet mobile; changed from 0410 to 07710 on 28 April 2001
  • 01411 — See 0141 — Glasgow (G1) – previously 041
0411 was later used for Cellnet mobile; changed from 0411 to 07711 on 28 April 2001
  • 01412 – 01419
See 0141 — Glasgow (G1) – previously 041
0421 was Southampton, Hampshire (HA1) – numbers were transferred to 0703[notes 14]
0421 later used for Vodafone mobile; changed from 0421 to 07721 on 28 April 2001
0426 was Hastings (HA6)
allocated but never used, all numbers were on 0424[notes 14]
0426 later used for BT Paging; changed from 0426 to 01426 in 1995
01426 later used for BT Paging;[8] changed from 01426 to 076 26 on 28 April 2001
0432 5 later used for BT paging; changed from 0432 5 to 076 25 on 28 April 2001
0441 was Swansea, Glamorgan (GG1) – numbers were transferred to 0792[notes 14]
0441 later used for Vodafone mobile; changed from 0441 to 07741 on 28 April 2001
0447 was Cardiff, Glamorgan (GG7) – numbers were transferred to 0222[notes 14]
0(1?)447 later used for Kingston Communications Premium Rate changed from 0(1?)447 to 0xxx on 28 April 2001
  • 01448 — unused
0448 was Grange-over-Sands (GG8) – numbers were transferred to 05395 (mixed)[notes 14]
04481 later used for mobile; changed from 04481 to 07781 on 28 April 2001
0456 0 and 0456 1 later used for Orange mobile; changed from 0456 to unknown on 28 April 2001
original area allocation unknown
0459 later used for Mercury/PageOne and VodaPage paging; changed from 0459 to 01459 in 1995
01459 (2,9) later used for Mercury/PageOne paging; changed from 01459 to 076 59 on 28 April 2001
01459 (3-8) later used for VodaPage paging; changed from 01459 to 076 59 on 28 April 2001
04624 later used for Isle of Man mobile; changed from 04624 to 07624 on 28 April 2001
0467 later used for Vodafone mobile; changed from 0467 to 07767 on 28 April 2001
  • 01468 — unused
0468 was Ingleborough (IN8) – numbers were transferred to 05242 (mixed)[notes 14]
0468 later used for Vodafone mobile; changed from 0468 to 07768 on 29 April 2001
0486 was Guildford (GU6) – numbers were transferred to 0483[notes 14]
0498 was Haltwhistle (HW8) – numbers were transferred to 0434 (ELNS)[notes 14]
0498 later used for Vodafone mobile; changed from 0498 to 07798 on 28 April 2001
  • 01500 — unused
0500 was Edinburgh, Lothian (LO0) – numbers were transferred to 031[notes 14]
0500 was later used for 9-digit C&WC FreeCall numbers. New numbers were not allocated after 28 April 2001, although numbers active before that date remained in use until the range was shut down in July 2017[9]
was Derry (LO4)[notes 31] – numbers were transferred to 028 on 22 April 2000
See 0151 — Liverpool (L1)– previously 051
0521 was Alford, Lincolnshire (LC1) – numbers were transferred to 0507 (ELNS)[notes 14]
  • 01522 — Lincoln (LC2)
  • 01523 — unused
0523 was Wigan, Lancashire (LA3) – numbers were transferred to 0942[notes 14]
0523 later used for PageOne paging; changed from 0523 to 01523 in 1995
01523 later used for PageOne paging;[8] changed from 01523 to 076 23 on 28 April 2001
0532 was Leeds (LE2) – numbers were transferred to 0113 on 16 April 1995
  • 01533 — unused
0533 was Leicester (LE3) – numbers were transferred to 0116 on 16 April 1995
0537 was Leicester (LE7) – numbers were transferred to 0533[notes 14]
0541 was Langholm (LH1) – numbers were transferred to 03873 (mixed)[notes 14]
0541 later used for C&WC AreaCall; changed from 0541 to 0870 1 on 28 April 2001
0551 was Llanidloes (LL1) – numbers were transferred to 0686 (ELNS)[notes 14]
  • 01552 — unused
0552 was Hamilton, Lanarkshire (LK2) – numbers were transferred to 0698[notes 14]
was Larne (LR4) – numbers were transferred to 028 on 22 April 2000
allocated but never used; all numbers were on 0473
Used up to the 1960s for internal telephones in the London Kingsway tunnels (LTK), numbers were reachable on both 0585 and 01-585.
0585 later used for Cellnet mobile; changed from 0585 to 07885 on 28 April 2001
0587 was Sedbergh, Lune (LU7) – numbers were transferred to 05396 (mixed)[notes 14]
0589 was Livingston (LV9) – numbers were transferred to 0506[notes 14]
0589 later used for Cellnet mobile; changed from 0589 to 07789 on 28 April 2001
0596 was Keswick (KW6) – numbers were transferred to 07687 (mixed)[notes 14]
  • 01600 — Monmouth (MO0)
  • 01601 — unused
0601 was Northampton (NO1) – numbers were transferred to 0604[notes 14]
  • 01602 — unused
0602 was Nottingham (NO2) – numbers were transferred to 0115 on 16 April 1995
0605 was Norwich (NO5) – numbers were transferred to 0603[notes 14]
0607 was Nottingham (NO7) – numbers were transferred to 0602[notes 14]
See 0161 — Manchester (M1) – previously 061
0627 was Maidstone (MA7) – numbers were transferred to 0622[notes 14]
0632 was Newcastle upon Tyne (NE2) – numbers were transferred to 091 in the 1980s[notes 22]
0632 later used for Premium rate numbers; changed from 0632 to 09xx on 28 April 2001
Some 01632 numbers are reserved for use as fictional numbers for drama purposes
0640 was Mallaig (MG0) – numbers were transferred to 0687[notes 14]
0640 later used for Mercury Premium rate numbers; changed from 0640 to 09xx on 28 April 2001
0645 was Market Harborough (MH5) – numbers were transferred to 0858[notes 14]
0645 later used for C&WC LocalCall; changed from 0645 to 0845 9 on 28 April 2001
was Magherafelt (MG8)[notes 36] – numbers were transferred to 028 on 22 April 2000
  • 01649 — unused
0649 was Middlesbrough (MH9) – numbers were transferred to 0642[notes 14]
0657 was Millom (ML7) – numbers were transferred to 0229 (ELNS)[notes 14]
  • 01658 — unused
0658 was Mareham le Fen (ML8) – numbers were transferred to 0507 (ELNS)[notes 14]
0660 was Bellingham, Northumberland (NM0) – numbers were transferred to 0434 (ELNS)[notes 14]
0660 later used for PageOne pager numbers; changed from 0660 to 076 61 on 28 April 2001
0660 later used for Mercury Premium rate numbers; changed from 0660 to 09xx on 28 April 2001
  • 01661 — Prudhoe, Northumberland (NM1)
  • 01662 — unused
was Omagh[notes 37] – – Was originally 0063 (OM3) until changed to 0662 in 1968 – numbers were transferred to 028 on 22 April 2000
0679 was New Romney (NR9) – numbers were transferred to 0797[notes 14]
0682 was Nuneaton (NU2) – numbers were transferred to 0203 in 1982[notes 14] before changing to 01203 in 1995 and to 024 on 22 April 2000
was Newry (NY3)[notes 39] – numbers were transferred to 028 on 22 April 2000
was Market Weighton (MW6) – numbers were transferred to 0430 (ELNS)[notes 14]
0696 later used for Premium rate numbers; changed from 0696 to 09xx on 28 April 2001
Allocations included: 0696 6 – Jersey Telecoms, 0696 8 – Manx Telecoms and 0696 9 – Guernsey Telecoms
0699 was North West (NW9) – Armathwaite, Caldbeck, Raughton Head, Southwaite – numbers were transferred to 06974 (mixed)[notes 14]
  • 01700 — Rothesay (RO0)
  • 01701 — unused
0701 was Portsmouth (PO1) – numbers were transferred to 0705[notes 14]
was Southampton (SO3) – numbers were transferred to 023 on 22 April 2000
was Portsmouth (PO5) – numbers were transferred to 023 on 22 April 2000
Previously 0171 — Inner London (now 020) – previously 071
0731 was Peterborough (PE1) – numbers were transferred to 0733[notes 14]
was Reading (RE4) – numbers were transferred to 0118 on 9 January 1998[notes 8]
  • 01735 — unused
0735 was Reading (RE5) – numbers were transferred to 0734[notes 14]
0739 was Redditch (RE9) – numbers were transferred to 0527[notes 14]
0741 was Sheffield (SH1) – numbers were transferred to 0742[notes 14]
  • 01742 — unused
0742 was Sheffield (SH2) – numbers were transferred to 0114 on 19 April 1995
0755 was Plymouth (PL5) – numbers were transferred to 0752[notes 14]
07555 was Saltash with a 4 digit number, integrated to 0752 84XXXX c.1989
was Portadown (PN2) – numbers were transferred to 028 on 22 April 2000
0774 was Preston (PR4) – numbers were transferred to 0772[notes 14]
0781 was Stoke-on-Trent (ST1) – numbers were transferred to 0782[notes 14]
0783 was Sunderland (SU3) – numbers were transferred to 091 in the 1980s[notes 22]
0791 was Brighton, Sussex (SX1) – numbers were transferred to 0273[notes 14]
  • 01800 — unused
0800 was Tongue (TO0) – numbers were transferred to 0847 (ELNS)[notes 14]
0800 later used for BT Freefone numbers - usage of BT 9-digit 0800 numbers continued after the Big Number Change; all new 0800 allocations have 10 digits and multiple operators now issue 0800 numbers
  • 01801 — unused
0801 was Thrapston, Oundle – – Was originally 0085 (OU5) until changed to 0801 in 1968 – numbers were transferred to 0832[notes 14]
  • 01802 — unused
original area allocation unknown
0802 later used for Cellnet mobile; changed from 0802 to 07802 on 28 April 2001
  • 01803 — Torquay (TO3)
  • 01804 — unused
0804 was Torquay (TO4) – numbers were transferred to 0803[notes 14]
Previously 0181 — Outer London (now 020) – previously 081
  • 01820 — unused
0826 was Invergowrie, Tayside (TA6) – numbers were transferred to 0382[notes 14]
original area allocation unknown
0831 later used for Vodafone mobile; changed from 0831 to 07831 on 28 April 2001
0836 was Eigg (??) – numbers were transferred to 0687[notes 14]
0836 later used for Vodafone mobile; changed from 0836 to 07836 on 28 April 2001
0836 later used for Premium rate services; changed from 0836 to unknown on 28 April 2001
  • 01837 — Okehampton[notes 12] – – Was originally 0052 (OK2) until changed to 0837 in 1968
  • 01838 — Dalmally, Tyndrum (TD8)
  • 01839 — unused
original area allocation unknown - - Teesside? (TE9)
0839 later used for Vodafone mobile; changed from 0839 to 07839 on 28 April 2001
0839 later used for PageOne pager numbers; changed from 0839 to 076 61 on 28 April 2001
0839 later used for Mercury Premium rate services; changed from 0839 to unknown on 28 April 2001
was Lisburn – numbers were transferred to 028 on 22 April 2000
was Antrim – numbers were transferred to 028 on 22 April 2000
  • 01850 — unused
0850 was Callanish, Lewis, Outer Hebrides – – Was originally 0040 (OH0) until changed to 0850 in 1968 – numbers were transferred to 0851 (ELNS)[notes 14]
0850 later used for Cellnet mobile; changed from 0850 to 07850 on 29 April 2001
0853 was Ullswater (UL3) – numbers were transferred to 07684 (mixed)[notes 14]
0853 later used for Premium rate numbers; changed from 0853 to 09xx on 28 April 2001
  • 01854 — Ullapool (UL4)
  • 01855 — Ballachulish, Onich – – Was originally 0062 (ON2) until changed to 0855 in 1968
  • 01856 — Orkney – – Was originally 0076 (OR6) until changed to 0856 in 1968
  • 01857 — Sanday, Orkney – – Was originally 0077 (OR7) until changed to 0857 in 1968
  • 01858 — Market Harborough – – Was originally 0645 (MH5) until changed to 0858 around 1975
  • 01859 — Harris, Outer Hebrides – – Was originally 0046 (OH6) until changed to 0859 in 1968
  • 01860 — unused
original area allocation unknown
0860 later used for Cellnet mobile; changed from 0860 to 07860 on 28 April 2001
  • 01861 — unused
was Armagh – numbers were transferred to 028 on 22 April 2000
  • 01862 — Tain (TN2)
  • 01863 — Bonar Bridge, (BB1)
  • 01864 — Tinto, Abington (Crawford) (TN4)
  • 01865 — Oxford, University (UN5) Was originally 0092 (OX2) until changed to 0865 (UN5[iversity]) in 1968
  • 01866 — Kilchrenan, Oban – – Was originally 0025 (OB5) until changed to 0866 in 1968
  • 01867 — unused
0867 was Oxford – – Was originally 0096 (OX6) until changed to 0867 in 1968 – numbers were transferred to 0865[notes 14]
  • 01868 — unused
was Dungannon – numbers were transferred to 028 on 22 April 2000
original area allocation unknown
0881 (0,4,8) later used for PageOne pager numbers; changed from 0881 to 076 81 on 28 April 2001
0881 (1-3,5-7,9) later used for Mercury Premium rate numbers; changed from 0881 to 09xx on 28 April 2001
0890 later used for Premium rate numbers; changed from 0890 to 09xx on 28 April 2001
  • 01891 — unused
original area allocation unknown
0891 later used for BT ValueCall Premium rate numbers; changed from 0891 to 0906 5 on 28 April 2001
original area allocation unknown
0893 later used for BT Paging; changed from 0893 to 01893 in 1995
01893 later used for BT Paging; changed from 01893 to 076 93 on 28 April 2001
  • 01894 — unused
0894 was Tyneside (TY4) – numbers were transferred to 0632 and then on to 091 during the 1980s[notes 22]
0894 later used for BT Premium rate numbers; changed from 0894 to 09xx on 28 April 2001
0895 later used for Premium rate numbers; changed from 0895 to 09xx on 28 April 2001
0896 later used for Premium rate numbers; changed from 0896 to 09xx on 28 April 2001
  • 01897 — unused
0897 was never used as an area code
0897 later used for BT Premium rate numbers; changed from 0897 to 09xx on 28 April 2001
  • 01898 — unused
original area allocation unknown
0898 later used for BT Premium rate numbers; changed from 0898 to 09xx on 28 April 2001
0901 was Boroughbridge, Yorkshire (YO1) – numbers were transferred to 0423 (ELNS)[notes 14]
0906 was Worthing (WO6) – numbers were transferred to 0903[notes 14]
  • 01907 — unused
0907 was Wolverhampton (WO7) – numbers were transferred to 0902[notes 14]
See 0191 — Tyne and Wear, Sunderland (tY1neside) and Durham – previously 091
The 091 area was formed in the 1980s by the amalgamation of the older 0632, 0385, 0894, and 0783 area codes[notes 22]
  • 01920 — Ware (WA0)
  • 01921 — unused
original area allocation unknown
0927 was Watford (WA7) – numbers were transferred to 0923[notes 14]
  • 01928 — Runcorn, Warrington (WA8)
  • 01929 — Wareham (WA9)
  • 01930 — unused
0930 was Brough, Westmorland (WE0) – numbers were transferred to 07683 (mixed)[notes 14]
0930 later used for Premium rate numbers; changed from 0930 to 09xx on 28 April 2001
0930 7 later used for One2One Mobile (and mirrored to 0961 7);[notes 45] changed from 0930 7 to 07930 7 on 28 April 2001
0936 was Weaver (WE6) – numbers were transferred to 0270[notes 14]
0940 was Gosforth, Whitehaven (WH0) – numbers were transferred to 09467 (mixed)[notes 14]
  • 01941 — unused
original area allocation unknown
0941 later used for Premium rate numbers (Orange HPL pagers); changed from 0941 to 076 41 on 28 April 2001
0956 was Weardale (WL6) – numbers were transferred to 0388 (ELNS)[notes 14]
0956 later used for One2One mobile; changed 0956 to 07956 on 28 April 2001
0956 7 later used for FleXtel personal numbering from 1994; changed from 0956 7 to 070 107 on 28 April 2001
  • 01957 — Mid Yell, Yell (YL7)
  • 01958 — unused
0958 was Aysgarth, Wensleydale (WL8) – numbers were transferred to 0969[notes 14]
0958 later used for One2One mobile; changed from 0958 to 07958 on 28 April 2001
  • 01959 — Westerham, Otford, West Kent (WK9) – – Was originally 0083 (OT) until changed to 0959 in 1968
  • 01960 — unused
was Ballyclare – numbers were transferred to 028 on 22 April 2000
  • 01961 — unused
original area allocation unknown
0961 later used for One2One mobile; changed from 0961 to 07961 on 28 April 2001
0961 7 was a mirror of 0930 7 (also One2One mobile);[notes 45] changed from 0930 7 to 07930 7 on 28 April 2001
0965 was Wigton (WN5) – numbers were transferred to 06973 (mixed)[notes 14]
  • 01966 — unused
0966 was Windermere (WM6) – numbers were transferred to 05394 (mixed)[notes 14]
0966 later used for Orange mobile; changed from 0966 to 07966 on 28 April 2001
0973 was Leeds, West Riding (WR3) – numbers were transferred to 0532[notes 14]
0973 later used for Orange mobile; changed from 0973 to 07973 on 28 April 2001
0976 was Bradford, West Riding (WR6) – numbers were transferred to 0274[notes 14]
0976 later used for Orange mobile; changed from 0976 to 07976 on 28 April 2001
original area allocation unknown
0979 7 later used for Jersey Telecom mobile; changed from 0979 7 to 07797 7 on 28 April 2001
Brand new area code allocation post-BigNumber for a new town, chosen to be significantly different from the area codes of the adjacent areas of Gravesend and Dartford.[14]
0990 was Wentworth (WW0) – numbers were transferred to 0344[notes 14]
0990 later used for BT NationalCall; changed from 0990 to 0870 5 on 28 April 2001
  • 01991 — unused
0991 was Clynderwen, West Wales (WW1) – numbers were transferred to 0437 (ELNS)[notes 14]
0991 later used for Premium rate numbers; changed from 0991 to 09xx on 28 April 2001
0996 was Wilmslow (WW6) – numbers were transferred to 0625[notes 14]
original area allocation unknown
  • 01999 — unused
The code 0999 was used for dialling by PO operators only to mobile relief exchanges in the Glasgow area in the 1970s. Likely reason for non-allocation of 01999 is similarity to the 999 emergency services access code.

01426, 01523 and other non-standard 01 prefixes were briefly used for pagers[8] 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.[15][16]

Code length

[edit]

The length of the area code part and the local number part is found as follows:[17]

Number format NSN[notes 49] 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 or 9 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.[18]

The number format '5+4' refers to, e.g. Brampton, numbers using the (0169 77) xxxx format.[18]

Areas with mandatory area code dialling

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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 code Area code name Date effective
01202 Bournemouth (BO2) 1 November 2012[6]
01224 Aberdeen (AB4) 1 October 2014[7]
01273 Brighton (BR3) 1 October 2014[7]
01274 Bradford (BR4) 1 October 2014[7]
01642 Middlesbrough (MI2) 1 October 2014[7]
01908 Milton Keynes (WO8) 1 October 2014[7]

Overseas Territories

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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

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Others

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Notes

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  1. ^ (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.
  2. ^ a b c d e Area code changed as a part of the Big Number Change in 2000.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Area code changed as a part of phONEday in 1995.
  4. ^ a b c Area code changed in 1990.
  5. ^ (023) Wide area. Southampton numbers begin 80, 81, 82. Portsmouth numbers begin 92, 93, 94. Local numbers have eight digits.
  6. ^ (024) Wide area. Coventry numbers begin 75, 76, 77. Local numbers have eight digits.
  7. ^ (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 Archived 2015-11-08 at the Wayback Machine).
  8. ^ a b (0118) Numbers in Reading separately migrated to 0118 several years after PhONEday and a couple of years before the BigNumber change. Local numbers have seven digits and begin 2, 3, 4 or 9.
  9. ^ Area code changed in 1998.
  10. ^ (029) Wide area. Cardiff numbers begin 20, 21, 22. Local numbers have eight digits.
  11. ^ (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.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao
    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, 01363, 01364, 01384, 01386, 01404, 01420, 01460, 01461, 01480, 01488, 01524 (mixed), 01527, 01562, 01566, 01606, 01629, 01635, 01647, 01659, 01695, 01726, 01744, 01750, 01768 (mixed), 01827, 01837, 01884, 01900, 01905, 01935, 01946 (mixed), 01949, 01963 and 01995.
  13. ^ a b 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 Ofcom. "Code and number blocks – 1600 00 to 1799 99". Office of Communication. Archived from the original on 18 September 2012.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci
    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.
  15. ^ (01229) ELNS area. Barrow-in-Furness numbers begin 2, 4, 5, 6, 8. Millom numbers begin 3, 7, 9.
  16. ^ (01247) Mixed area. Bangor numbers began 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 before 2000.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p All Northern Ireland 01xx xx "mixed" areas migrated to the new 028 area code in the Big Number Change in 2000.
  18. ^ (01265) Mixed area. Coleraine numbers began 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9 before 2000.
  19. ^ (01266) Mixed area. Ballymena numbers began 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9 before 2000.
  20. ^ (01339) ELNS area. Aboyne numbers begin 2, 3, 5, 8. Ballater numbers begin 4, 6, 7, 9.
  21. ^ (01365) Mixed area. Enniskillen numbers began 2, 3, 4, 8, 9 before 2000.
  22. ^ a b c d e (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. ^ (01396) Mixed area. Downpatrick numbers began 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 before 2000.
  26. ^ Historical note: In fact 0402 was equivalent to 07088, and translated as such for call connection, but (say) 070884 xxxxx was too long a dial string for the numbering plan, so 04024 xxxxx was used.
  27. ^ (01423) ELNS area. Boroughbridge numbers begin 3, 4, 9. Harrogate numbers begin 2, 5, 6, 7, 8.
  28. ^ (01430) ELNS area. Market Weighton numbers begin 6, 7, 8, 9. North Cave numbers begin 2, 3, 4, 5.
  29. ^ (01434) ELNS area. Bellingham numbers begin 2, 4, 9. Haltwhistle numbers begin 3, 5. Hexham numbers begin 6, 7, 8.
  30. ^ (01437) ELNS area. Clynderwen (Clunderwen) numbers begin 2, 3, 4, 5. Haverfordwest numbers begin 6, 7, 8, 9.
  31. ^ (01504) Mixed area. Londonderry numbers began 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 before 2000.
  32. ^ (01507) ELNS area. Alford (Lincs) numbers begin 4, 8, 9. Louth numbers begin 3, 6, 7. Spilsby numbers begin 2, 5.
  33. ^ (01524) Mixed area. Lancaster numbers begin 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
  34. ^ (01539) Mixed area. Kendal numbers begin 2, 3, 7, 8, 9.
  35. ^ (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.
  36. ^ (01648) Mixed area. Magherafelt numbers began 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 before 2000.
  37. ^ (01662) Mixed area. Omagh numbers began 2, 3, 4, 8, 9 before 2000.
  38. ^ (01686) ELNS area. Llanidloes numbers begin 2, 3, 4, 7. Newtown numbers begin 5, 6, 8, 9.
  39. ^ (01693) Mixed area. Newry numbers began 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 before 2000.
  40. ^ (01697) Mixed area. Brampton six-figure numbers begin 2, 5, 6, 8, 9.
  41. ^ (01768) Mixed area. Penrith numbers begin 2, 5, 6, 8, 9.
  42. ^ (01847) ELNS area. Thurso numbers begin 2, 3, 4, 5, 8. Tongue numbers begin 6, 7, 9.
  43. ^ (01851) ELNS area. Great Bernera numbers begin 4, 6, 9. Stornoway numbers begin 2, 3, 5, 7, 8.
  44. ^ (01890) ELNS area. Ayton numbers begin 5, 6, 7, 9. Coldstream numbers begin 2, 3, 4, 8.
  45. ^ a b Historical note: 0930 was a Premium rate number range, however 0930 7 was used by One2One mobile phones. Where switchboards blocked 0930 as Premium rate, the mobile phones could not be contacted. 0961 7 was mirrored onto this allocation to get round the problem.
  46. ^ (01946) Mixed area. Whitehaven numbers begin 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9.
  47. ^ (01964) ELNS area. Hornsea numbers begin 2, 5, 8, 9. Patrington numbers begin 3, 4, 6, 7.
  48. ^ (01975) ELNS area. Alford (Aberdeen) numbers begin 2, 4, 5, 9. Strathdon numbers begin 3, 6, 7, 8.
  49. ^ National Significant Number – the digit count after the 0 trunk code or +44 international country code.

References

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  1. ^ a b Roger Haworth (22 November 1999). "UK Geographic STD codes". Archived from the original on 24 July 2012. — contains largely the same information as this page.
  2. ^ a b Selwyn Horne, Andy Emmerson; et al. (16 April 2006). "British Subscriber Trunk Dialling Codes". Archived from the original on 9 July 2012. — The original alphanumeric codes in all their glory!
  3. ^ Hallas, Sam (28 May 2010). "STD Equivalent List" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 May 2013.
  4. ^ Ofcom (8 August 2009). "Telephone numbers – the facts and figures : (Boxout) Is it (020) 7 or 0207?". Office of Communications. Archived from the original on 10 July 2010.
  5. ^ Ofcom (25 May 2005). "Telephone Numbering : London Telephone Numbers". Office of Communications. Archived from the original on 9 July 2010.
  6. ^ a b Ofcom (20 March 2012). "Dialling the 01202 area code in Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch". Press Releases. Office of Communications. Archived from the original on 15 April 2012.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Ofcom (19 July 2013). "Changes to making local calls in five area codes". Consultations. Office of Communications. Archived from the original on 29 August 2013.
  8. ^ a b c Pritchard, Stephen (19 January 1997). "We're talking telephone numbers". The Independent. London: Independent Print Limited. Archived from the original on 23 April 2013.
  9. ^ Ofcom (11 April 2022). "Telecoms numbering: 0500 Freephone numbers withdrawn".
  10. ^ a b (0169 77) BT (16 May 2003). "BT's Response to the Consultation by OFTEL on Proposals to Publish a National Telephone Numbering Plan" (PDF). British Telecommunications PLC. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 June 2011. Page 7: '01697 – Brampton should be 0169 77; not 01697'.
  11. ^ a b (0169 77) Oftel (7 May 2003). "A User's Guide to Telephone Numbering" (PDF). Office of Telecommunications. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 April 2006. Pages 6 and 7 show Brampton examples using 0169 77 and +44 169 77 codes.
  12. ^ a b (0169 77) Director General of Telecommunications (9 July 2003). "The National Telephone Numbering Plan" (PDF). Office of Telecommunications. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 January 2009. Page 20 shows Brampton listed as 0169 77.
  13. ^ "01706 Area Code - UK Area Code Finder". Area-codes.org.uk. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  14. ^ (01987) Ofcom (29 April 2008). "Telephone Numbering : Creation of New Area Code for Ebbsfleet". Office of Communications. Archived from the original on 3 September 2010.
  15. ^ Oftel (1 June 1999). "Numbers Used For Drama. ca. 1999". Oftel Numbering Bulletin 38. Office of Telecommunications. Archived from the original on 15 May 2004.
  16. ^ Ofcom (26 October 2004). "Telephone Numbers for drama purposes (TV, Radio etc) revised 2004". Office of Communications. Archived from the original on 26 July 2010.
  17. ^ Ofcom. "The National Telephone Numbering Plan – downloadable data files". Office of Communications. Archived from the original on 26 August 2010. — List of all UK number allocations and their dialling format.
  18. ^ a b Oftel (7 May 2003). "A User's Guide to Telephone Numbering". Office of Telecommunications. Archived from the original on 28 January 2004.
  19. ^ "Global Crossing extends FCO network to Tristan da Cunha". Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  20. ^ "Tristan Da Cunha Contact Information". UK Overseas Territories Association. Archived from the original on 16 June 2013.
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