List_of_dialling_codes_in_the_United_Kingdom

List of dialling codes in the United Kingdom

List of dialling codes in the United Kingdom

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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.

Telephone dialling codes in the United Kingdom

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

More information Initial digits, Service type ...

List of dialling codes

More information Short codes, 02x yyyy yyyy [eight-digit local number] ...

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.

More information Long codes, 01xxx [mostly six-digit local numbers] and 01xxxx [mostly five-digit local numbers] (but not 01x1 codes) ...

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

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

More information Number format, NSN ...

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

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.

More information Area code, Area code name ...

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

Notes

  1. [N 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. [N 2]
    Area code changed as a part of the Big Number Change in 2000.
  3. [N 3]
    Area code changed as a part of phONEday in 1995.
  4. [N 4]
    Area code changed in 1990.
  5. [N 5]
    (023) Wide area. Southampton numbers begin 80, 81, 82. Portsmouth numbers begin 92, 93, 94. Local numbers have eight digits.
  6. [N 6]
    (024) Wide area. Coventry numbers begin 75, 76, 77. Local numbers have eight digits.
  7. [N 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. [N 8]
    (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. [N 9]
    Area code changed in 1998.
  10. [N 10]
    (029) Wide area. Cardiff numbers begin 20, 21, 22. Local numbers have eight digits.
  11. [N 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. [N 12]

    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. [N 13]
    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. [N 14]

    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. [N 15]
    (01229) ELNS area. Barrow-in-Furness numbers begin 2, 4, 5, 6, 8. Millom numbers begin 3, 7, 9.
  16. [N 16]
    (01247) Mixed area. Bangor numbers began 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 before 2000.
  17. [N 17]
    All Northern Ireland 01xx xx "mixed" areas migrated to the new 028 area code in the Big Number Change in 2000.
  18. [N 18]
    (01265) Mixed area. Coleraine numbers began 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9 before 2000.
  19. [N 19]
    (01266) Mixed area. Ballymena numbers began 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9 before 2000.
  20. [N 20]
    (01339) ELNS area. Aboyne numbers begin 2, 3, 5, 8. Ballater numbers begin 4, 6, 7, 9.
  21. [N 21]
    (01365) Mixed area. Enniskillen numbers began 2, 3, 4, 8, 9 before 2000.
  22. [N 22]
    (0191) Numbers in Newcastle, Durham, Sunderland, Tyneside, and Wearside were migrated to 091, now 0191, between 1982 and 1988.
  23. [N 23]
    (01387) Mixed area. Dumfries numbers begin 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
  24. [N 24]
    (01388) ELNS area. Bishop Auckland numbers begin 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9. Stanhope (Eastgate) numbers begin 2, 5.
  25. [N 25]
    (01396) Mixed area. Downpatrick numbers began 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 before 2000.
  26. [N 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. [N 27]
    (01423) ELNS area. Boroughbridge numbers begin 3, 4, 9. Harrogate numbers begin 2, 5, 6, 7, 8.
  28. [N 28]
    (01430) ELNS area. Market Weighton numbers begin 6, 7, 8, 9. North Cave numbers begin 2, 3, 4, 5.
  29. [N 29]
    (01434) ELNS area. Bellingham numbers begin 2, 4, 9. Haltwhistle numbers begin 3, 5. Hexham numbers begin 6, 7, 8.
  30. [N 30]
    (01437) ELNS area. Clynderwen (Clunderwen) numbers begin 2, 3, 4, 5. Haverfordwest numbers begin 6, 7, 8, 9.
  31. [N 31]
    (01504) Mixed area. Londonderry numbers began 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 before 2000.
  32. [N 32]
    (01507) ELNS area. Alford (Lincs) numbers begin 4, 8, 9. Louth numbers begin 3, 6, 7. Spilsby numbers begin 2, 5.
  33. [N 33]
    (01524) Mixed area. Lancaster numbers begin 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
  34. [N 34]
    (01539) Mixed area. Kendal numbers begin 2, 3, 7, 8, 9.
  35. [N 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. [N 36]
    (01648) Mixed area. Magherafelt numbers began 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 before 2000.
  37. [N 37]
    (01662) Mixed area. Omagh numbers began 2, 3, 4, 8, 9 before 2000.
  38. [N 38]
    (01686) ELNS area. Llanidloes numbers begin 2, 3, 4, 7. Newtown numbers begin 5, 6, 8, 9.
  39. [N 39]
    (01693) Mixed area. Newry numbers began 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 before 2000.
  40. [N 40]
    (01697) Mixed area. Brampton six-figure numbers begin 2, 5, 6, 8, 9.
  41. [N 41]
    (01768) Mixed area. Penrith numbers begin 2, 5, 6, 8, 9.
  42. [N 42]
    (01847) ELNS area. Thurso numbers begin 2, 3, 4, 5, 8. Tongue numbers begin 6, 7, 9.
  43. [N 43]
    (01851) ELNS area. Great Bernera numbers begin 4, 6, 9. Stornoway numbers begin 2, 3, 5, 7, 8.
  44. [N 44]
    (01890) ELNS area. Ayton numbers begin 5, 6, 7, 9. Coldstream numbers begin 2, 3, 4, 8.
  45. [N 45]
    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. [N 46]
    (01946) Mixed area. Whitehaven numbers begin 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9.
  47. [N 47]
    (01964) ELNS area. Hornsea numbers begin 2, 5, 8, 9. Patrington numbers begin 3, 4, 6, 7.
  48. [N 48]
    (01975) ELNS area. Alford (Aberdeen) numbers begin 2, 4, 5, 9. Strathdon numbers begin 3, 6, 7, 8.
  49. [N 49]
    National Significant Number – the digit count after the 0 trunk code or +44 international country code.

References

  1. [1]
    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. [2]
    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. [3]
    Hallas, Sam (28 May 2010). "STD Equivalent List" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 May 2013.
  4. [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. [5]
    Ofcom (25 May 2005). "Telephone Numbering : London Telephone Numbers". Office of Communications. Archived from the original on 9 July 2010.
  6. [6]
    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. [7]
    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. [8]
    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. [9]
    Ofcom (11 April 2022). "Telecoms numbering: 0500 Freephone numbers withdrawn".
  10. [10]
    (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. [11]
    (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. [12]
    (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. [13]
    "01706 Area Code - UK Area Code Finder". Area-codes.org.uk. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  14. [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. [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. [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. [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. [18]
    Oftel (7 May 2003). "A User's Guide to Telephone Numbering". Office of Telecommunications. Archived from the original on 28 January 2004.
  19. [19]
    "Global Crossing extends FCO network to Tristan da Cunha". Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  20. [20]
    "Tristan Da Cunha Contact Information". UK Overseas Territories Association. Archived from the original on 16 June 2013.
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