Telephone numbers in the United Kingdom - wikipedia Telephone numbers in the United Kingdom Jump to : navigation , search `` + 44 '' redirects here . For the band , see + 44 ( band ) . This article may be too long to read and navigate comfortably . Please consider splitting content into sub-articles , condensing it , or adding or removing subheadings . ( March 2013 ) United Kingdom telephone numbers Location of the United Kingdom Location Country United Kingdom Continent Europe Regulator Ofcom Type Open NSN length 7 , 9 , 10 Typical format various , see text Numbering plan The National Telephone Numbering Plan Last updated 13 December 2013 Access codes Country calling code + 44 International call prefix 00 Trunk prefix 0 List of United Kingdom dialing codes Telephone numbers in the United Kingdom are administered by the UK government 's Office of Communications ( Ofcom ) . For this purpose Ofcom established a telephone numbering plan , known as the National Telephone Numbering Plan , which is the system for assigning telephone numbers to subscriber stations . Contents ( hide ) 1 Structure 2 Format 2.1 Geographic numbering 2.1. 1 Standard geographic numbers 2.1. 1.1 Four - digit area codes 2.1. 1.2 Three - digit area codes 2.1. 1.3 Two - digit area codes 2.1. 1.4 Five - digit area codes 2.1. 2 National dialling only ranges 2.2 Mobile telephones 2.3 Pagers and personal numbering 2.4 Non-geographic numbering 2.4. 1 Non-geographic numbers charged at geographic rate 2.4. 2 Corporate and VoIP numbering 2.4. 3 Freephone numbers 2.4. 4 Fixed - rate or special - rate services 2.4. 5 Other 08xx number ranges 2.4. 6 Premium rate content services ( PRS and SES ) 3 Crown dependencies 3.1 Guernsey 3.2 Jersey 3.3 Isle of Man 4 Fictitious numbers 5 Special service numbers 5.1 Emergency services and helplines 5.2 Speaking clock 5.3 Automated services and access codes 6 History 7 Telephone numbers in Overseas Territories 7.1 North American Numbering Plan 7.2 Others 8 See also 9 Notes 10 References 11 External links Structure ( edit ) Since 28 April 2001 , almost all geographic numbers and most non-geographic numbers have 9 or 10 national ( significant ) numbers after the `` 0 '' trunk code . All mobile telephone numbers have 10 national ( significant ) numbers after the `` 0 '' trunk code . The overall structure of the UK 's National Numbering Plan is : Prefix Service type 01 Geographic area codes . 02 Geographic area codes ( introduced in 2000 ) . 03 Non-geographic numbers charged at standard geographic area code rates ( introduced 2007 ) . 04 Reserved . 05 Corporate numbering and VoIP services ( some VoIP services use 08 or geographic numbers ) . Freephone ( toll free ) on 0500 until June 2017 . 06 Was reserved for possible use by personal numbering ( PNS ) instead of 070 following consumer confusion with mobile phones . 07 Mostly for mobile phones on 071xx , 072xx , 073xx , 074xx , 075xx , 07624 , 077xx , 078xx , and 079xx . Personal numbering on 070 . Pagers on 076xx . 08 Freephone ( toll free ) on 080 , and Special Services ( formerly known as local and national rate ) on 084 and 087 . 09 Premium Rate services ( PRS ) . A short sample of geographic numbers , set out in the officially approved ( Ofcom ) number groups : Number Location ( 020 ) xxxx xxxx London ( 024 ) 7xxx xxxx Coventry ( 029 ) xxxx xxxx Cardiff ( 0113 ) xxx xxxx Leeds ( 0114 ) xxx xxxx Sheffield ( 0121 ) xxx xxxx Birmingham ( 0117 ) xxx xxxx Bristol ( 0131 ) xxx xxxx Edinburgh ( 0141 ) xxx xxxx Glasgow ( 0161 ) xxx xxxx Manchester ( 01223 ) xxxxxx Cambridge ( 01257 ) xxxxxx Chorley ( 01382 ) xxxxxx Dundee ( 01386 ) xxxxxx Evesham ( 01935 ) xxxxxx Yeovil ( 01865 ) xxxxxx Oxford ( 01772 ) xxxxxx Preston ( 01792 ) xxxxxx Swansea ( 01204 ) xxxxx Bolton ( 0153 96 ) xxxxx Sedbergh ( 0169 77 ) xxxx Brampton In the United Kingdom , area codes are two , three , four , or , rarely , five digits long ( after the initial zero ) . Regions with shorter area codes , typically large cities , permit the allocation of more telephone numbers as the local number portion has more digits . Local customer numbers are four to eight figures long . The total number of digits is ten , but in a very few areas the total may be nine digits ( after the initial zero ) . The `` area code '' is also referred to as an `` STD ( code ) '' ( subscriber trunk dialling ) or a `` dialling code '' in the UK . The code allocated to the largest population is ( 020 ) for London . The code allocated to the largest area is ( 028 ) for all of Northern Ireland . The UK Numbering Plan also applies to three British Crown dependencies -- Jersey , Guernsey and the Isle of Man -- even though they are not part of the UK itself . Format ( edit ) This section needs additional citations for verification . Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources . Unsourced material may be challenged and removed . ( April 2018 ) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message ) Possible number formats for UK telephone numbers are as follows : Number length 10 digits 9 digits 7 digits 4 digits 3 digits Number formats ( 01xx xx ) xxxxx ( 01xxx ) xxxxxx ( 01x1 ) xxx xxxx ( 011x ) xxx xxxx ( 02x ) xxxx xxxx 03xx xxx xxxx 055 xxxx xxxx 056 xxxx xxxx 070 xxxx xxxx 07624 xxxxxx 076 xxxx xxxx 07xxx xxxxxx 0800 xxx xxxx 08xx xxx xxxx 09xx xxx xxxx ( 0169 77 ) xxxx ( 01xxx ) xxxxx 0500 xxxxxx 0800 xxxxxx 0800 1111 0845 46 4x 1470 1471 1475 1477 1571 999 112 111 123 101 118 105 Number ranges starting 01 can have National Significant Number ( NSN ) length as 10 or 9 digits . The 0800 range can have NSN length as 10 , 9 or 7 digits . The 0845 range can have NSN length as 10 or 7 digits . The 0500 range has NSN length as 9 digits only . There are no telephone numbers in the UK with an NSN length of 8 digits . Geographic Numbering ( edit ) Main article : List of dialling codes in the United Kingdom Standard geographic numbers ( edit ) Geographic telephone numbers in the UK always have nine or ten digits . Four - digit area codes ( edit ) Four - digit area codes have either six - digit subscriber numbers or a mix of five - and six - digit subscriber numbers . ( 01xxx ) xxxxxx This is the format used by most areas . It has a four - digit area code ( after the initial zero ) and a six digit subscriber number , and is known as 4 + 6 format . These area codes were changed by adding a `` 1 '' directly after the initial zero as a part of PhONEday in 1995 . Just short of 581 areas use this format , and the area codes range from 01200 to 01998 . Almost all ( 01xxx ) area codes now have only six digit subscriber numbers , but a small number of these areas also have some subscriber numbers only five digits in length ( see next section ) . 01224 Aberdeen 22 = AB 01244 Chester 24 = CH 01382 Dundee 38 = DU 01387 Dumfries ( mixed ) 38 = DU local numbers can not begin with 3 01452 Gloucester 45 = GL 01472 Grimsby 47 = GR 01473 Ipswich 47 = IP 01429 Hartlepool 42 = HA 01482 Hull 48 = HU 01539 Kendal ( mixed ) 53 = KE local numbers can not begin with 4 , 5 or 6 01582 Luton 58 = LU 01670 Morpeth 67 = MP 01697 Brampton , North West ( mixed ) 69 = NW local numbers can not begin with 3 , 4 or 7 01730 Petersfield 73 = PE 01736 Penzance 73 = PE 01772 Preston 77 = PR 01792 Swansea 79 = SW 01793 Swindon 79 = SW 01854 Ullapool 85 = UL 01947 Whitby 94 = WH Six of the four - digit area codes are known as `` mixed '' areas as they share those four digits with the twelve five - digit area codes . This leads to a restriction as to which initial digits can be used for subscriber numbers within those four - digit area codes , e.g. in the 01387 four - digit area code , subscriber numbers can not begin with a 3 because 013873 is a separate five - digit area code ; likewise in the 01946 four - digit area code , subscriber numbers can not begin with a 7 because 019467 is a separate five - digit area code . ( 01xxx ) xxxxx This is used for forty smaller towns where some subscriber numbers within the area code have only five digits and is known as 4 + 5 format . The numbers therefore have only nine digits after the initial zero trunk code . These area codes were changed by adding a `` 1 '' directly after the initial zero as a part of PhONEday in 1995 . These towns always have a mixture of six and five digit local numbers , each type allocated in specific DE blocks ; e.g. in the 01647 area code numbers beginning 24xxx and 61xxx have five digits whereas all other DE blocks within that area code are allocated as six digit numbers . The number of places with five digit subscriber numbers and an 01xxx area code has declined rapidly in recent decades . There were 511 ranges allocated across 56 different area codes in January 1998 . The Big Number Change removed many , especially in Northern Ireland , and by July 2005 there were only 329 ranges in 42 codes . By April 2010 this had reduced to 324 ranges in 40 codes , with the same number still in November 2012 . The 40 area codes are listed in the table below . 01204 Bolton 20 = BO 61 - 64 01208 Bodmin 20 = BO 72 - 79 01254 Blackburn 25 = BL 51 - 57 , 59 01276 Camberley 27 = CR 20 - 29 , 31 - 38 , 61 - 66 01297 Axminster 29 = AX 20 - 24 , 32 - 35 01298 Buxton 29 = BX 22 - 28 , 70 - 74 , 77 - 79 , 83 - 85 01363 Crediton 36 = CN 82 - 85 01364 Ashburton , Devon 36 = DN 72 , 73 01384 Dudley 38 = DU 70 , 74 - 79 01386 Evesham 38 = EV 40 , 41 , 45 , 47 - 49 01404 Honiton 40 = HO 41 - 47 01420 Alton , Hampshire 42 = HA 22 , 23 , 80 - 89 01460 Chard , Ilminster 46 = IM 30 , 52 - 55 , 57 , 61 - 68 , 72 - 78 01461 Gretna 46 = GN 40 01480 Huntingdon 48 = HU 52 01488 Hungerford 48 = HU 71 - 73 01524 Lancaster ( mixed ) 52 = LA 32 - 37 , 39 , 60 - 69 local numbers can not begin with 2 01527 Redditch 60 - 69 01562 Kidderminster 56 = KM 60 , 66 - 69 01566 Launceston 56 = LN 86 01606 Northwich , Winsford 60 = NO 40 - 49 , 74 - 77 , 79 01629 Matlock 62 = MA 55 - 57 01635 Newbury 63 = NE 30 - 39 , 40 - 49 01647 Moretonhampstead 64 = MH 24 , 61 01659 Sanquhar , Nithsdale 65 = NL 50 , 58 , 66 , 67 , 74 01695 Skelmersdale / Ormskirk 50 - 54 01726 St Austell 72 = SA 61 , 63 - 69 , 70 - 77 01744 St Helens 74 = SH 20 - 29 01750 Selkirk 75 = SK 20 - 23 , 32 , 42 , 52 , 62 , 76 , 82 01768 Penrith ( mixed ) 76 = PN 882 , 883 , 884 , 886 , 887 , 888 local numbers can not begin with 3 , 4 or 7 01827 Tamworth 82 = TA 50 - 59 , 60 - 69 01837 Okehampton 52 - 55 , 82 , 83 , 89 01884 Tiverton 88 = TV 32 - 35 , 38 01900 Workington 90 = WO 61 - 68 , 85 01905 Worcester 90 = WO 20 - 29 01935 Yeovil 93 = YE 83 01946 Whitehaven ( mixed ) 94 = WH 61 - 68 local numbers can not begin with 7 01949 Whatton 94 = WH 20 , 21 , 81 01963 Wincanton 96 = WN 23 , 31 - 34 01995 Garstang , Wyre 99 = WY 61 Three - digit area codes ( edit ) Three - digit area codes always have seven - digit subscriber numbers and always begin 011x or 01x1 . ( 01x1 ) xxx xxxx This is the geographic number format for the first round of five large cities moved to all figure dialling in the 1960s , and subsequently also used in the metropolitan county of Tyne and Wear , eastern County Durham and south - eastern Northumberland from the 1980s onwards . These six areas have a three - digit area code matching the pattern 1x1 ( after the initial zero ) and a seven digit subscriber number , and this is known as 3 + 7 format . These area codes were changed by adding a `` 1 '' directly after the initial zero as a part of PhONEday in 1995 . 0121 Birmingham formerly 021 ( 2 = B) 0131 Edinburgh formerly 031 ( 3 = E ) 0141 Glasgow formerly 041 ( 4 = G ) 0151 Liverpool formerly 051 ( 5 = L ) 0161 Manchester formerly 061 ( 6 = M ) 0171 Used for Inner London from 1990 until 2000 0181 Used for Outer London from 1990 until 2000 0191 County of Tyne and Wear , eastern County Durham , south - eastern Northumberland formerly 091 ( 9 = tYne ) ( 011x ) xxx xxxx This is the geographic number format for the second round of large cities and towns moved to brand - new three - digit area codes . Five of these were moved in 1995 as a part of PhONEday , with Reading then following a year later . At the time of the change , an extra digit was added to the subscriber number . These six areas have a three - digit area code matching the pattern 11x , with a seven - digit subscriber number , and this is known as 3 + 7 format . The first three digits of the local number identifies a small area within the town or city . The former Reading area code had already been changed once , by adding a `` 1 '' directly after the initial zero as a part of PhONEday in 1995 . 0113 Leeds formerly 0532 ( 53 = LE ) 0114 Sheffield formerly 0742 ( 74 = SH ) 0115 Nottingham formerly 0602 ( 60 = NO ) 0116 Leicester formerly 0533 ( 53 = LE ) 0117 Bristol formerly 0272 ( 27 = BR ) 0118 Reading formerly 0734 , then 01734 ( 73 = RE ) Two - digit area codes ( edit ) Two - digit area codes always have eight - digit subscriber numbers and always begin 02 . ( 02x ) xxxx xxxx This is the newest geographic number format . It is used for the third tier of large cities and for Northern Ireland , and was formed as a part of the Big Number Change in 2000 . The new area code is much shorter than the old one , and begins 02 unlike the previous 01 area codes . Numbers in these five areas are commonly misquoted , e.g. London as 0207 or Cardiff as 02920 . The numbers consist of a two - digit area code matching the pattern 02x , and an eight - digit subscriber number , and this is known as 2 + 8 format . The first four digits of the local number identifies a small area within the town or city . At the time of the change , the subscriber part of the number gained an extra digit in London , those in Northern Ireland gained two or three digits , and the subscriber part of the number in the other areas gained two digits . All of these areas were also subject to a previous code change , one that added a `` 1 '' directly after the initial zero , as a part of PhONEday in 1995 . 020 London ( 020 ) 3xxx xxxx new since 2005 . ( 020 ) 7xxx xxxx formerly 0171 and ( 020 ) 8xxx xxxx formerly 0181 ( both 1995 -- 2000 ) , 071 and 081 ( 1990 -- 1995 ) , 01 ( 1960s - 1990 ) 023 Southampton ( 023 ) 8xxx xxxx formerly 01703 ( 70 = SO ) Portsmouth ( 023 ) 9xxx xxxx formerly 01705 ( 70 = PO ) 024 Coventry ( 024 ) 7xxx xxxx formerly 01203 ( 20 = CO ) 028 Northern Ireland ( 028 ) 25xx xxxx Ballymena formerly ( 01266 ) xxxxxx ( 028 ) 28xx xxxx Larne formerly ( 01574 ) xxxxxx ( 028 ) 37xx xxxx Armagh formerly ( 01861 ) xxxxxx ( 028 ) 71xx xxxx Derry formerly ( 01504 ) xxxxxx ( 028 ) 82xx xxxx Omagh formerly ( 01662 ) xxxxxx ( 028 ) 90xx xxxx Belfast formerly ( 01232 ) xxxxxx ( 028 ) 92xx xxxx Lisburn formerly ( 01846 ) xxxxxx ( 028 ) 95xx xxxx Belfast new number range 029 Cardiff ( 029 ) 2xxx xxxx formerly 01222 ( 22 = CA ) Five - digit area codes ( edit ) Five - digit area codes have either five - digit subscriber numbers or a mix of four - and five - digit subscriber numbers . Five - digit area codes always share their first four digits with four - digit area codes . ( 01xx xx ) xxxxx and ( 01xx xx ) xxxx This is the oldest geographic number format and is used for twelve smaller towns and villages where the subscriber number is either five or ( in one area code ) four digits long . These are known as 5 + 5 and 5 + 4 format . Therefore , the STD code and the subscriber number does not always total ten digits after the initial zero trunk code . These area codes were changed by adding a `` 1 '' directly after the initial zero as a part of PhONEday in 1995 . The number of places using these two formats has declined rapidly in recent decades and Brampton is the last place in the UK with four - digit local numbers . 0138 73 Langholm 0152 42 Hornby 0153 94 Hawkshead 0153 95 Grange - over-Sands 0153 96 Sedbergh 0169 73 Wigton 0169 74 Raughton Head 0169 77 Brampton 0176 83 Appleby 0176 84 Pooley Bridge 0176 87 Keswick 0194 67 Gosforth The above twelve area codes and their six ' parent ' area codes ( 01387 , 01524 , 01539 , 01697 , 01768 and 01946 ) are known as ' Mixed ' areas due to multiple area codes sharing the same SABC digits . National dialling only ranges ( edit ) These ranges have subscriber numbers beginning with the digits `` 0 '' or `` 1 '' , e.g. : 0169 77 0xxxx Brampton 01332 050xxx Derby 01382 006xxx Dundee 0141 005 xxxx Glasgow 0117 101 xxxx Bristol 0118 00x xxxx Reading 020 0003 xxxx London Currently , these numbers are mostly used as the termination points for non-geographic numbers , and by some automated systems such as alarms . As such they are not usually meant to be directly dialled . These numbers have been problematic as some mobile phone operators in the UK do not allow access to these ranges , and there may also be difficulty accessing these numbers from outside the UK . Regulator Ofcom proposes that in future these numbers be released for wider , general - purpose use in up to 70 area codes facing number shortage . In order to avoid confusion with codes beginning with these digits , the area code must always be dialled , even from within the same geographic exchange . Accordingly , if these numbers are eventually released for general use , Ofcom proposes completely removing the ability to dial locally without the area code in areas affected . This occurred on 1 November 2012 for the 01202 area code , which covers Bournemouth . Recently , the carrier TalkTalk have inadvertently released parts of the 020 0011 range to the general public , with these numbers currently being in use . For example , the charity Give a Car used the number 020 0011 1664 for a while , but recently switched to a proper London number . Mobile telephones ( edit ) 07xxx xxxxxx -- mobile phones and WiFi numbers . Individual mobile phone companies are allocated different ranges within the 073xx , 074xx , 075xx , 07624 , 077xx , 078xx and 079xx area codes . Changes to mobile phone numbers in the Big Number Change were mostly straight replacements , such as Vodafone customers on the 0378 block became 07778 . 073xx xxxxxx Mobile phones ( in use since November 2014 ) 074xx xxxxxx Mobile phones ( in use since November 2009 ) 075xx xxxxxx Mobile phones ( in use since May 2007 ) 07624 xxxxxx Mobile phones on the Isle of Man 077xx xxxxxx Mobile phones ( former 03xx and 04xx -- mostly Vodafone and O2 ( formerly Cellnet ) ) 078xx xxxxxx Mobile phones ( former 05xx , 06xx and 08xx -- mostly Vodafone and O2 ( formerly Cellnet ) ) 079xx xxxxxx Mobile phones ( former 09xx -- mostly EE ( formerly Orange and one2one ) ) 07911 2xxxxx 07911 8xxxxx WiFi numbers ( e.g. 3G / LTE - enabled tablet computers ) Since the advent of Mobile number portability , mobile phone number prefixes can no longer be relied on to determine the current operator of a particular mobile phone -- only the original operator . Pagers and personal Numbering ( edit ) 07x xxxx xxxx -- pagers and personal numbering ( PNS ) . 070 and 076 numbers are often charged at a much higher rate than calling the similar - looking 07xxx mobile telephone numbers . 070 xxxx xxxx Personal numbering 076 xxxx xxxx Pagers ( excluding 07624 , used for mobile phones on the Isle of Man ) Personal numbers beginning 070 are regulated by Phone - paid Services Authority . Non-geographic Numbering ( edit ) Main article : Non-geographic telephone numbers in the United Kingdom Non-geographic numbers charged at geographic rate ( edit ) 03xx xxx xxxx -- `` UK - wide '' numbering . On 27 July 2006 , Ofcom announced that companies will soon be able to use an `` 03 '' non-geographic number , in place of other non-geographic numbers ( such as 0870 or 0845 numbers ) . Callers would be charged at the same rate as if they were calling a geographic number ( 01 or 02 ) . This means that customers who are benefiting from inclusive minutes on mobile phone or landline calling plans would also be able to call these numbers using their inclusive minutes . On 13 February 2007 , Ofcom released more details on their plans for the 03 range and announced that allocations of 03 numbers to providers would begin in March 2007 . Whilst 01 , 02 and 07 numbers can receive text messages , currently the majority of cellular network providers do not support the sending of text messages to 03 numbers . Three different ranges of numbers were announced ; those beginning 030x are reserved for qualifying public bodies and non-profit organisations , those beginning 033x , which are available for allocation to anyone , and those beginning 034x and 037x which will be used for migration from the matching 084x and 087x number ranges respectively . Ofcom itself began using 03 numbers on 13 November 2007 for public use . 030x xxx xxxx For qualifying public bodies and non-profit organisations as defined by Ofcom 033x xxx xxxx For any end user 034x xxx xxxx Migration range for operators who have 084x numbers 037x xxx xxxx Migration range for operators who have 087x numbers Corporate and VoIP Numbering ( edit ) 05x xxxx xxxx -- Corporate and VoIP numbering . Unlike 03 numbers there is no uniform pricing for 05 numbers ; BT charge a number of different rates depending on the number dialled . Some are charged at geographic rate , others not . Other operators are not required to charge the same rates as BT for calling 05 numbers . 055 xxxx xxxx Corporate Numbering ( but also used by BT for its Broadband Voice service ) 056 xxxx xxxx Allocated by Ofcom for LIECS ( Location Independent Electronic Communications Services ) , e.g. VoIP services Freephone numbers ( edit ) 0500 xxxxxx -- Freephone services allocated before 1999 . Until July 2017 , the 0500 range was used for some freephone services which were originally provided by Mercury Communications Ltd ( now Cable & Wireless Worldwide ) . These numbers were different from the rest of the 05 range in that they are only 9 digits in length after the 0 trunk code , e.g. 0500 007 007 ( National Savings and Investments ) , 0500 2 88 2 91 ( BBC Radio 2 , 88 to 91 FM ) , 0500 600 600 ( Crimewatch ) , 0500 600 700 ( Watchdog ) , and 0500 909 693 ( BBC Radio 5 Live , 909 and 693 kHz ) . Numerous universities , government departments , airlines , banks and businesses also used these numbers . They were allocated before the general trend of using longer numbers started in 1997 and long before the rest of the 05 range was assigned to corporate and VoIP numbering after 2000 . 0500 xxxxxx Special Services - No charge to Customer a.k.a. `` Freephone '' Free to call from landline , up to 40p per minute from mobile . The range was withdrawn by Ofcom in July 2017 as a result of a series of consultations starting from 2012 0800 xxxxxx , 0800 xxx xxxx and 0808 xxx xxxx -- Freephone services . 0800 xxxxxx Special Services - No charge to Customer a.k.a. `` Freephone '' Free to call from landline , and was up to 40p per minute from mobile , until July 2015 when calls to 080 numbers from mobiles became free . Calls to certain charity and similar services were always free from most mobiles . 0808 9xx xxxx numbers are used by freephone internet services . 0800 xxx xxxx 0808 xxx xxxx There is one short `` special '' number in this range , 0800 1111 for Childline . Additionally , numbers in the range 0808 80x xxxx are reserved for not - for - profit helplines and as such are usually free to call from most mobile telephones . A number of other numbers can also called for free from mobiles , but this varies by network . Fixed - rate or special - rate services ( edit ) 084x xxx xxxx and 087x xxx xxxx -- Non-geographic fixed - rate , or special - rate services . With the exception of 080x freephone numbers , 08xx numbers are charged above geographic rates , with some of the extra revenue going to the terminating telco . This additional revenue may be shared with the subscriber , but is often used instead to subsidise additional network services , such as fax - to - email , virtual office applications , call queuing , voicemail and easy number redirection . None of these call management services is exclusive to 08xx numbers , and they could be provided on any number range . 0845 xxx xxxx Special Services basic rate Up to 5p a minute , varies daytime / evening / weekend , from BT landline , other providers may charge more ; up to 42p a minute from mobiles . 0844 00x xxxx Special Services basic rate Non-BT Discount Scheme -- Internet Services incorporating unmetered access up to and including 5p for BT customers 0844 01x xxxx to 0844 09x xxxx currently unused 0844 1xx xxxx currently unused 0844 2xx xxxx to 0844 9xx xxxx Up to 4.26 pa minute ( plus VAT ) , varies daytime / evening / weekend , from BT landline , other providers may charge more ; up to 42p a minute from mobiles . 0843 xxx xxxx Up to 4.26 pa minute ( plus VAT ) , but fixed ( e.g. always 3p / minute or always 4p / minute ) from BT landline , other providers may charge more ; up to 42p a minute from mobiles . 0842 xxx xxxx Up to 4.26 pa minute ( plus VAT ) , but fixed ( e.g. always 3p / minute or always 4p / minute ) from BT landline , other providers may charge more ; up to 42p a minute from mobiles . There were a few short `` special '' number in this range , such as 0845 46 47 for NHS Direct ; this was closed in 2014 and replaced by NHS 111 except in Wales , where the transition took place in 2015 . 0870 xxx xxxx Non-Geographic Number Up to 8p a minute ( plus VAT ) , varies daytime / evening / weekend ( charged at no more than the caller would pay for a call to a Geographic Number ) from landline ; up to 42p a minute from mobiles . 0871 0xx xxxx Special Services higher rate Internet Services metered access , up to and including 10p / minute for BT customers . 0871 1xx xxxx currently unused 0871 2xx xxxx to 0871 9xx xxxx Up to 8.5 pa minute ( plus VAT ) but fixed ( e.g. always 6p / minute or always 8.5 p / minute ) from BT landline , other providers may charge more ; up to 50p a minute from mobiles . 0872 xxx xxxx Up to 8.5 pa minute ( plus VAT ) but fixed ( e.g. always 6p / minute or always 8.5 p / minute ) from BT landline , other providers may charge more ; up to 50p a minute from mobiles . 0873 xxx xxxx Up to 8.5 pa minute ( plus VAT ) but fixed ( e.g. always 6p / minute or always 8.5 p / minute ) from BT landline , other providers may charge more ; up to 50p a minute from mobiles . The usage of 0871 , 0872 and 0873 numbers is regulated by PhonepayPlus . There is widespread confusion about the cost of calling 084 and 087 numbers . They often do not qualify for discounts and bundled minutes , and can be prohibitively expensive when called from mobiles and payphones . Many major companies persist in misdescribing them as `` Local Rate '' , `` Lo Call '' ( often as ' locall rate ' which can be easily misread as ' local rate ' ) or `` National Rate '' for which the Advertising Standards Authority can take action . In the future , it is likely that users of 084 and 087 numbers will have to declare the service charge element of the call cost when advertising their phone number , whilst telecoms companies will need to inform their customers about their access charge for calling each number range . Additionally , the EU Consumer Rights Directive requires that many entities that held 084 and 087 numbers will no longer be allowed to use them . The directive bans the usage of numbers that cost more than calling a geographic number for customer service and complaints lines , and other such purposes . From 1 July 2015 , the charge for calls to 084 , 087 , 09 and 118 numbers will be split into two parts : An access charge ( payable to the company you make your phone calls with - e.g. BT , EE , Sky , etc . ) and a service charge ( the part of the call that goes to the company offering the service ) . A list of these new access charges can be found here , which is updated regularly with new information when available . Source : ( 1 ) Other 08xx number ranges ( edit ) 08xx xxx xxxx -- Internet for schools and Inbound routing codes . 0820 xxx xxxx Special Services : Internet for schools 0899 9xx xxxx Inbound routing codes Premium rate content services ( prs and ses ) ( edit ) 09xx xxx xxxx -- Premium Rate Content Services Numbers in the 09xx range are charged at the highest rates of any calls within the United Kingdom , and are controlled by various regulations regarding their use . The regulator is Phone - paid Service Authority formally known as PhonepayPlus , formerly known as ICSTIS ( and they also cover 070 ( PNS ) , 0871 , 0872 , 0873 and 118xxx ( DQ ) services ) . There are a large number of charge bands , some with high pence - per - minute rates , others with a high fixed - price for the entire call . 090x xxx xxxx Premium rate content services ( PRS ) 0908 xxx xxxx 0909 xxx xxxx Sexual entertainment services ( SES ) ( not available for new allocations ) 091x xxx xxxx Premium rate non-content services ( PRS ) 098x xxx xxxx Sexual entertainment services ( SES ) The earlier unused 092x xxx xxxx - 099x xxx xxxx allocation for `` Broadband Internet Services '' no longer exists and was removed from the number plan in 2005 . Crown dependencies ( edit ) Although calls from UK landlines to landlines in the islands are charged at the same rate as those to other UK landlines ( i.e. they are not treated as international calls ) , calls may be excluded from calling plans offering unlimited UK fixed line calls . Mobile operators may also charge more for calls to the islands and these calls are usually excluded from calling plans . Calls and SMS messages sent to island mobile phone numbers are not charged at the same rate as calls to UK mobile phone numbers . Guernsey ( edit ) ( 01481 ) xxxxxx Fixed line 48 = GU ( 01481 ) 832xxx Fixed line ( Sark ) ( 01481 ) 833xxx 07781 xxxxxx Sure mobile phones and pagers 07839 xxxxxx Airtel Vodafone mobile phones 07911 xxxxxx Wave Telecom mobile phones , not for UK This area code is also used for Alderney and Sark . Jersey ( edit ) ( 01534 ) xxxxxx Fixed line 53 = JE 07509 xxxxxx Jersey Telecom mobile phones and pagers 07797 xxxxxx 07937 xxxxxx 07700 xxxxxx Sure mobile network 07829 xxxxxx Airtel Vodafone mobile network Several Jersey companies also have non-geographic numbers allocated . Isle of Man ( edit ) ( 01624 ) xxxxxx Fixed line 62 = MA 07624 xxxxxx Mobile phones and paging services 07524 xxxxxx Mobile phones additional capacity 07924 xxxxxx On the Isle of Man , both fixed ( 01624 ) and mobile phone ( 07624 ) numbers can be dialled locally in the six - digit format . Fictitious numbers ( edit ) Ofcom has also reserved certain number ranges for use in television dramas and films , so as to avoid the risk of people having their telephone numbers displayed , and receiving unwanted calls . This is similar to the use of fictitious telephone numbers in the United States and Canada starting with the digits 555 . In most of the large cities with three - digit area codes a range of numbers is reserved , usually all the numbers starting with the digits 496 . For fictitious numbers in other areas the area code 01632 is reserved ; this code is not in use , although 0632 was used for Newcastle upon Tyne until the late 1980s ( 63 = NE ) and briefly reallocated for use by premium rate services in the 1990s . There are also reserved ranges for fictitious mobile , freephone , and premium rate numbers . The Post Office even produced dial centre labels for use in advertisements and film / TV with a mythical exchange called VINcent plus four digits . The numerical equivalent of VIN was 846 and all the caller got was the speaking clock ( i.e. 846 is also numerical equivalent of TIM ) in the big city `` Director '' areas . At around the same time as the other Big Number Change changes , Ofcom revised their recommendations to update the prefixes , add additional areas , and increase the size of the allocation from 10 to 1000 numbers per block . Those changes are listed in the Big Number Change article . In Coronation Street , the fictional Manchester suburb of Weatherfield uses the unallocated range ( 0161 ) 715 xxxx . Special service numbers ( edit ) Emergency services and helplines ( edit ) The UK has two free emergency numbers -- the traditional 999 , which is still widely used , and the EU standard 112 , which can be used in all member states of the European Union . Both 999 and 112 are used to contact all emergency services : Police , Fire Service , Ambulance Service , and Coastguard . ( Standard advice for Mountain Rescue or Cave Rescue is to ask the emergency operator for the police , who oversee the communication with these two services . ) Both numbers can be called from mobile phones with the keylock on , or without entering the PIN where that would otherwise be required . Although some mobile phones allow emergency calls to be attempted without a SIM card , at present the UK networks reject such calls . Since November 2009 , an emergency call can be made through any UK mobile network as long as there is a SIM for any valid UK network in the handset . Although UK VOIP phone providers are required to offer 999 / 112 service this is subject to a registration for the service and with a verified service address and users need to be aware such service may not work in a power blackout ; However International VOIP providers may not provide this service . The chargeable number 101 was introduced for non-urgent crime and community safety calls on a trial basis in 2006 . In Wales , the scheme was taken forward by all four police forces , who adopted the number for non-emergency calls on a permanent basis in early 2009 . In England the scheme was on trial until 2012 , when it was adopted nationwide and the cost to call changed from 10p per call to 15p per call . In Northern Ireland , the number was introduced by the Police Service of Northern Ireland in March 2014 . The operator is obtained via 100 from landlines , while directory enquiries , formerly 192 , is now provided in the 118xxx range , e.g. 118 212 , 118 800 , 118 500 , 118 118 , by different companies . International Operator assistance is reached through 155 . From early 2010 , the pan-European 116 number range came into use for social helplines . The first three numbers allocated were Missing People using 116 000 for a missing children helpline , the NSPCC ChildLine on 116 111 , and Samaritans using 116 123 for an emotional support helpline . A recent consultation for the numbers 116 106 and 116 117 has yet to see any result . The National Health Service ( NHS ) can be reached on 111 for non-emergency calls ( from landlines and mobiles only ) . In other European countries the number 116 117 is used for a similar purpose . Local electricity network operators can be reached on 105 to report power cuts . Two telephone helplines within the regular code space have only eight digits , namely 0800 1111 for ChildLine and 0845 4647 for NHS Direct in Wales . Speaking clock ( edit ) Since the mid-1990s speaking clock services have been available throughout Britain using the number 123 . Before this , exchanges in `` Director '' areas ( Birmingham , Edinburgh , Glasgow , Liverpool , London and Manchester ) dialled 846 ( TIM ) , later changing to 123 , and main exchanges in `` non-Director '' areas originally used `` 952 '' , later changing to `` 80 '' with the introduction of STD and eventually to `` 8081 '' as other recorded services were introduced on 80X1 codes . Some mobile operators allocate other services to 123 -- such as customer services or voicemail etc . Automated services and access codes ( edit ) Short codes beginning with 1 are reserved for telecom service providers ' own functionality ; some of the most well - known are codes for use with Caller Display : 141 Withhold number when normally released 1470 Release number when normally withheld 1471 Call return caller may press 3 to return call on most networks 1475 1471 erasure removes details of last call from 1471 service . May need to be prefixed with 1470 if number is normally withheld 1477 Automatic Call Trace Stores number ( even if withheld ) of nuisance caller at terminating exchange for subsequent investigation and enforcement , but service is seldom enabled by default 1571 Voicemail service For people who do not have answering machines . If there is a new message , the dial tone will be stuttered . # 31 # Withhold number 141 equivalent for use on mobile networks Many fixed line telephone subscribers , e.g. BT , Virgin Media , SkyTalk Sky , TalkTalk and PlusNet have the opportunity to use an automated messaging service which takes messages when the called number is either engaged ( `` busy '' ) or not answered within a given time . This can be accessed by calling 1571 . For fixed line users , it is possible to override the carrier pre-selection ( CPS ) on a per - call basis , dialling a special code before the number , e.g. 1280 for BT , 1664 for LowerCall , or 1844 for Daisy . Ofcom defines the range for these as : `` 124 to 140 , 143 to 146 , 148 to 149 , 160 to 169 , and 181 to 189 inclusive . Numbers of up to 5 - digits used to access an Indirect Access Provider ( ' Type B Access Codes ' ) '' . History ( edit ) Main article : History of telephone numbers in the United Kingdom Telephone numbers in Overseas Territories ( edit ) Telephone numbers in British Overseas Territories do not come under the UK telephone numbering plan . These calls are treated as international calls . Below are the access codes for the overseas territories : North American Numbering Plan ( edit ) Anguilla + 1 - 264 Bermuda + 1 - 441 British Virgin Islands + 1 - 284 Cayman Islands + 1 - 345 Montserrat + 1 - 664 Turks and Caicos Islands + 1 - 649 Others ( edit ) British Antarctic Territory + 44 ( Shared with the UK ) British Indian Ocean Territory + 246 Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands + 500 Gibraltar + 350 Saint Helena and Tristan da Cunha + 290 Ascension Island + 247 Akrotiri and Dhekelia + 357 ( Shared with Cyprus ) Pitcairn Islands + 64 ( Shared with New Zealand ) See also ( edit ) Big Number Change List of dialling codes in the United Kingdom List of UK dialling codes covering Wales Non-geographic telephone numbers in the United Kingdom Telecommunications in the United Kingdom Telephone number Telephone number portability Telephone numbering plan Telephone numbers in Ireland UK telephone code misconceptions -- includes the common `` 0207 '' and `` 0208 '' misconceptions Notes ( edit ) Jump up ^ 7 for two special 08xx numbers ; 9 in some 01xxx areas , one 01xxxx area , all 0500 numbers , and some 0800 numbers ; 10 in all other areas Jump up ^ Older pre-PhONEday nine - digit 0500 numbers were left as nine - digit numbers after PhONEday . No new 0500 number ranges were released after PhONEday . Jump up ^ Older pre-PhONEday nine - digit 0800 numbers were left as nine - digit numbers after PhONEday . All new 0800 number ranges released after PhONEday have ten digits after the 0 trunk code . References ( edit ) Jump up ^ Oftel ( 7 May 2003 ) . `` A User 's Guide to Telephone Numbering '' . Office of Telecommunications . Archived from the original on 28 May 2013 . Retrieved 5 May 2005 . Jump up ^ `` Telephone area codes '' . Ofcom . Retrieved 1 August 2014 . Jump up ^ `` Co . Londonderry - UK Codes - The Phone Book from BT '' . British Telecom . Retrieved 1 August 2014 . Jump up ^ Erdunast , Howard ( 16 May 2003 ) . `` BT 's Response to the Consultation by OFTEL on Proposals to Publish a National Telephone Numbering Plan '' ( PDF ) . British Telecommunications PLC . Retrieved 2 April 2010 . Page 7 : ' 01697 -- Brampton should be 016977 ; not 01697 ' . Jump up ^ Director General of Telecommunications ( 9 July 2003 ) . `` The National Telephone Numbering Plan '' ( PDF ) . Oftel . Office of Telecommunications . Retrieved 2 April 2010 . Page 20 shows Brampton listed as 0169 77 . Jump up ^ Oftel ( 7 May 2003 ) . `` A User 's Guide to Telephone Numbering '' . Office of Telecommunications . Retrieved 5 May 2005 . Only BT and Kingston Communications ( Hull ) are obliged to ensure that their customers can dial all numbers within the UK . Jump up ^ Ofcom ( 25 November 2010 ) . `` Ofcom Geographic telephone numbers '' . Office of Communications . Archived from the original on 26 June 2013 . Retrieved 7 November 2012 . Jump up ^ `` Geographic telephone numbers '' . Ofcom . Retrieved 5 July 2017 . Jump up ^ `` 0200 Numbers and 0201 Numbers '' . UK Area Codes and Phone Number Information . Retrieved 28 January 2016 . Jump up ^ Ofcom ( 26 April 2007 ) . `` Conditions regulating Sexual Entertainment Services '' ( PDF ) . Office of Communications . Archived ( PDF ) from the original on 26 May 2011 . Retrieved 10 October 2010 . Jump up ^ Ofcom ( 13 February 2007 ) . `` Ofcom introduces UK - wide 03 numbers '' . Office of Communications . Archived from the original on 13 August 2013 . Retrieved 28 July 2010 . Jump up ^ Ofcom . `` Contacting Ofcom '' . Office of Communications . Archived from the original on 8 February 2014 . Retrieved 10 October 2010 . Jump up ^ BT . `` ( Section 2 , Part 11 ) 05xx Numbers '' . BT Price List . British Telecommunications PLC . Archived from the original on 8 July 2012 . Retrieved 5 May 2005 . Jump up ^ Ofcom . `` Telecoms numbering : 0500 Freephone numbers withdrawn '' . Jump up ^ Ofcom ( 23 October 2012 ) . `` Proposal for the withdrawal of 0500 Freephone telephone numbers '' . Office of Communications . Archived from the original on 27 August 2013 . Retrieved 23 October 2012 . Jump up ^ Vodafone ( 28 October 2010 ) . `` Free - to - caller charity numbers '' ( PDF ) . Vodafone Limited . Archived ( PDF ) from the original on 22 February 2013 . Retrieved 11 November 2012 . Jump up ^ O. `` Free numbers '' . Telefónica UK Limited . Retrieved 11 November 2012 . Jump up ^ Virgin . `` Freephone numbers and Charity Helplines '' . Virgin Mobile Telecoms Ltd . Archived from the original on 1 May 2014 . Retrieved 11 November 2012 . Jump up ^ T - Mobile ( 30 January 2012 ) . `` Free to Call Helpline Services '' ( PDF ) . Everything Everywhere Limited . Archived from the original ( PDF ) on 3 May 2012 . Retrieved 11 November 2012 . Jump up ^ Orange ( 7 February 2005 ) . `` Orange make it free to call '' . Orange ( UK ) . Archived from the original on 21 April 2013 . Retrieved 11 November 2012 . Jump up ^ Orange ( 7 February 2005 ) . `` Free Charity and Helpline Calls '' . Orange ( UK ) . Archived from the original on 5 March 2005 . Retrieved 11 November 2012 . Jump up ^ DWP ( 15 January 2010 ) . `` Free mobile calls for benefit claimants starting from 18 January 2010 '' . Department for Work and Pensions . Archived from the original on 3 January 2014 . Retrieved 11 November 2012 . Jump up ^ Orange ( 1 February 2011 ) . `` Free numbers of Department of Work and Pensions '' . Orange ( UK ) . Archived from the original on 12 February 2011 . Retrieved 11 November 2012 . ^ Jump up to : PP . `` PhonepayPlus - the UK premium rate phone number and service regulator '' . PhonepayPlus . Archived from the original on 19 April 2014 . Retrieved 11 November 2012 . Jump up ^ ASA ( 6 April 2005 ) . `` Emap Active Ltd '' . Non-broadcast Adjudications . Advertising Standards Authority . Archived from the original on 4 July 2013 . Retrieved 7 November 2012 . the claim `` Lo - call '' was misleading , because calls to 0870 numbers were not charged at a low rate as implied . Jump up ^ ASA ( 4 January 2006 ) . `` Windsor Telecom plc '' . Non-broadcast Adjudications . Advertising Standards Authority . Archived from the original on 20 March 2013 . Retrieved 7 November 2012 . we told Windsor Telecom to stop describing 0845 numbers as ' local rate ' Jump up ^ ASA ( 25 April 2007 ) . `` NET Homeworkers '' . Non-broadcast Adjudications . Advertising Standards Authority . Archived from the original on 20 March 2013 . Retrieved 7 November 2012 . We therefore concluded that the description of the ' 0845 ' number as a ' local rate ' call was misleading . Jump up ^ ASA ( 12 December 2007 ) . `` Datel Group plc '' . Broadcast Adjudications . Advertising Standards Authority . Archived from the original on 20 March 2013 . Retrieved 7 November 2012 . We told Max TV not to describe calls to 0845 numbers as ' local rate ' calls . Jump up ^ ASA ( 6 April 2005 ) . `` Langley Miniature Models '' . Non-broadcast Adjudications . Advertising Standards Authority . Archived from the original on 10 June 2013 . Retrieved 7 November 2012 . The Authority considered that the description `` National Rate Calls '' for an 0870 number was misleading and likely to confuse consumers . The Authority told the advertisers not to refer to 0870 numbers as ' national rate ' . Marketing communications should also state that the price of calls originating from non-BT call providers varies . Jump up ^ ASA ( 20 September 2006 ) . `` British Sky Broadcasting Ltd t / a Sky Travel Shop '' . Broadcast Adjudications . Advertising Standards Authority . Archived from the original on 25 September 2006 . Retrieved 7 November 2012 . Because most UK callers now paid more for calls to non-geographic 0870 numbers than for calls to geographic national destinations , we considered that the term `` national rate '' was inaccurate . Jump up ^ ASA ( 21 May 2008 ) . `` Men at Work Ltd '' . Non-broadcast Adjudications . Advertising Standards Authority . Archived from the original on 20 March 2013 . Retrieved 7 November 2012 . ( we ) ruled that the costs of making calls to such numbers ( 0870 ) should be stated in the ad . Jump up ^ Committee of Advertising Practice ( 10 March 2005 ) . `` Hanging on the telephone . On and on and on '' . CAP News . Advertising Standards Authority . Archived from the original on 29 June 2006 . Retrieved 7 November 2012 . Jump up ^ Committee of Advertising Practice ( 8 September 2005 ) . `` Stop the call confusion '' . CAP News . Advertising Standards Authority . Archived from the original on 2 January 2006 . Retrieved 7 November 2012 . The Committee of Advertising Practice ( CAP ) ... has told advertisers who quote 084 and 087 numbers ... that they must not describe calls to those numbers as being charged at ' local ' or ' national ' rate ... On their introduction , calls to 084 ( 5 ) numbers were charged at the BT standard local rate and those to 087 ( 0 ) numbers were charged at BT standard national rate . Calls made from other phone companies were often more expensive . BT has abolished its standard rate for the majority of its customers , making the description of calls being charged at ' local ' or ' national ' rate meaningless for them . Jump up ^ Committee of Advertising Practice ( 8 September 2005 ) . `` Advertising 0845 and 087 numbers '' . CAP Alerts . Advertising Standards Authority . Archived from the original on 18 January 2006 . Retrieved 7 November 2012 . Jump up ^ Committee of Advertising Practice ( 8 August 2012 ) . `` Chargeable 08 numbers : General '' . Advice Online database . Advertising Standards Authority . Archived from the original on 28 March 2013 . Retrieved 7 November 2012 . Jump up ^ Committee of Advertising Practice ( 12 July 2010 ) . `` Chargeable 0845 numbers '' . Advice Online database . Advertising Standards Authority . Archived from the original on 28 March 2013 . Retrieved 7 November 2012 . ^ Jump up to : Committee of Advertising Practice ( 8 August 2012 ) . `` Chargeable ( 0842 ) 0843 and 0844 numbers '' . Advice Online database . Advertising Standards Authority . Archived from the original on 28 March 2013 . Retrieved 7 November 2012 . Jump up ^ Committee of Advertising Practice ( 7 June 2013 ) . `` Premium - rate Services : 09 , 0871 , 0872 and 0873 numbers '' . Advice Online database . Advertising Standards Authority . Archived from the original on 10 June 2013 . Retrieved 7 June 2013 . Jump up ^ BIS . `` Consumer Rights Directive '' . Department for Business , Innovation & Skills . Retrieved 11 November 2012 . Jump up ^ EU . `` Directive 2011 / 83 / EU on Consumer Rights '' ( PDF ) . European Union . Retrieved 11 November 2011 . Jump up ^ JCRA ( 9 September 2009 ) . `` Jersey telephone number allocations '' . Jersey Competition Regulatory Authority . Archived from the original on 15 October 2013 . Retrieved 11 November 2012 . Jump up ^ Oftel ( 1 June 1999 ) . `` Numbers Used For Drama . ca . 1999 '' . Oftel Numbering Bulletin 38 . Office of Telecommunications . Archived from the original on 28 May 2013 . Retrieved 19 July 2009 . Jump up ^ Ofcom ( 26 October 2004 ) . `` Telephone Numbers for drama purposes ( TV , Radio etc ) revised 2004 '' . Office of Communications . Archived from the original on 16 February 2014 . Retrieved 16 July 2010 . Jump up ^ Reynolds , Phil ( 23 November 2012 ) . `` Phone numbers '' . Archived from the original on 6 June 2013 . Retrieved 12 December 2012 . Jump up ^ Ofcom . `` Code and number blocks - 1600 00 to 1799 99 '' ( XLS ) . Office of Communications . Archived from the original on 18 September 2012 . Retrieved 28 July 2010 . Jump up ^ `` Archived copy '' . Archived from the original on 27 April 2015 . Retrieved 20 April 2015 . Jump up ^ `` Scottish Mountain Rescue '' . Mountainrescuescotland.org. 2014 - 06 - 20 . Retrieved 2017 - 07 - 06 . Jump up ^ `` contact cave rescue The Cave Rescue Organisation '' . Cro.org.uk . Retrieved 2017 - 07 - 06 . Jump up ^ `` Police Service of Northern Ireland '' . www.psni.police.uk . Retrieved 5 July 2017 . Jump up ^ Finnigan , Lexi ( 6 September 2016 ) . `` New national phone line launched for power cuts '' . The Telegraph . Retrieved 12 January 2018 . Jump up ^ Richardson , Tim ( 29 June 2001 ) . `` BT to offer free voicemail from Monday '' . The Register . Archived from the original on 2 March 2014 . Retrieved 5 May 2005 . Jump up ^ `` Other telephone features '' ( PDF ) . Telephone price guide . Virgin Media . 20 October 2006 . p. 3 . Archived from the original ( PDF ) on 5 November 2006 . Retrieved 5 May 2007 . Jump up ^ Ofcom ( 20 December 2012 ) . `` The National Telephone Numbering Plan '' ( PDF ) . Office of Communications . p. 34 . Archived ( PDF ) from the original on 17 February 2013 . Retrieved 15 February 2013 . External links ( edit ) UK Numbering Policy section of Ofcom 's website UK National Telephone Numbering Plan ( PDF ) UK Future Numbering Plan from Ofcom 's website Ofcom - Telephone Area Code Tool - UK dialling code lookup Ralph Adam , ' Send a boy -- or dial it yourself ? numbering for the information society ' , Aslib Proceedings , 51 : 1 , January 1999 ( subscription required ) UK telephone numbering plan in detail UK area codes list UK free phone numbers UK phone codes Regular Expressions for Validating and Formatting GB Telephone Numbers The first 25 years of STD code changes summarised ( PDF ) UK British Telecom White Pages Directory ( phonenumbercustomerservice.co.uk UK Phone Number Directory ) Telephone numbers in the United Kingdom Number plan List of dialling codes Non-geographic numbers Number changes All - figure dialling Area name changes Big Number Change Code misconceptions PhONEday Special numbers 100 101 105 111 112 116000 116111 116123 118xxx 123 141 1471 150 155 1571 1572 999 Notes Numbers above can be dialled only from within the United Kingdom . Numbers below can be dialled within the United Kingdom by prefixing with a 0 or with + 44 , and from outside the United Kingdom by prefixing with + 44 . Geographic area codes 113 114 115 116 117 118 1200 1202 1204 1205 1206 1207 1208 1209 121 1223 1224 1225 1226 1227 1228 1229 1233 1234 1235 1236 1237 1239 1241 1242 1243 1244 1245 1246 1248 1249 1250 1252 1253 1254 1255 1256 1257 1258 1259 1260 1261 1262 1263 1264 1267 1268 1269 1270 1271 1273 1274 1275 1276 1277 1278 1279 1280 1282 1283 1284 1285 1286 1287 1288 1289 1290 1291 1292 1293 1294 1295 1296 1297 1298 1299 1300 1301 1302 1303 1304 1305 1306 1307 1308 1309 131 1320 1322 1323 1324 1325 1326 1327 1328 1329 1330 1332 1333 1334 1335 1337 1339 1340 1341 1342 1343 1344 1346 1347 1348 1349 1350 1352 1353 1354 1355 1356 1357 1358 1359 1360 1361 1362 1363 1364 1366 1367 1368 1369 1371 1372 1373 1375 1376 1377 1379 1380 1381 1382 1383 1384 1386 1387 13873 1388 1389 1392 1394 1395 1397 1398 1400 1403 1404 1405 1406 1407 1408 1409 141 1420 1422 1423 1424 1425 1427 1428 1429 1430 1431 1432 1433 1434 1435 1436 1437 1438 1439 1440 1442 1443 1444 1445 1446 1449 1450 1451 1452 1453 1454 1455 1456 1457 1458 1460 1461 1462 1463 1464 1465 1466 1467 1469 1470 1471 1472 1473 1474 1475 1476 1477 1478 1479 1480 1481 1482 1483 1484 1485 1487 1488 1489 1490 1491 1492 1493 1494 1495 1496 1497 1499 1501 1502 1503 1505 1506 1507 1508 1509 151 1520 1522 1524 15242 1525 1526 1527 1528 1529 1530 1531 1534 1535 1536 1538 1539 15394 15395 15396 1540 1542 1543 1544 1545 1546 1547 1548 1549 1550 1553 1554 1555 1556 1557 1558 1559 1560 1561 1562 1563 1564 1565 1566 1567 1568 1569 1570 1571 1572 1573 1575 1576 1577 1578 1579 1580 1581 1582 1583 1584 1586 1588 1590 1591 1592 1593 1594 1595 1597 1598 1599 1600 1603 1604 1606 1608 1609 161 1620 1621 1622 1623 1624 1625 1626 1628 1629 1630 1631 1633 1634 1635 1636 1637 1638 1639 1641 1642 1643 1644 1646 1647 1650 1651 1652 1653 1654 1655 1656 1659 1661 1663 1664 1665 1666 1667 1668 1669 1670 1671 1672 1673 1674 1675 1676 1677 1678 1680 1681 1683 1684 1685 1686 1687 1688 1689 1690 1691 1692 1694 1695 1697 16973 16974 16977 1698 1700 1702 1704 1706 1707 1708 1709 1720 1721 1722 1723 1724 1725 1726 1727 1728 1729 1730 1732 1733 1736 1737 1738 1740 1743 1744 1745 1746 1747 1748 1749 1750 1751 1752 1753 1754 1756 1757 1758 1759 1760 1761 1763 1764 1765 1766 1767 1768 17683 17684 17687 1769 1770 1771 1772 1773 1775 1776 1777 1778 1779 1780 1782 1784 1785 1786 1787 1788 1789 1790 1792 1793 1794 1795 1796 1797 1798 1799 1803 1805 1806 1807 1808 1809 1821 1822 1823 1824 1825 1827 1828 1829 1830 1832 1833 1834 1835 1837 1838 1840 1841 1842 1843 1844 1845 1847 1848 1851 1852 1854 1855 1856 1857 1858 1859 1862 1863 1864 1865 1866 1869 1870 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1892 1895 1896 1899 1900 1902 1903 1904 1905 1908 1909 191 1920 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1928 1929 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1937 1938 1939 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 19467 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1957 1959 1962 1963 1964 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1974 1975 1977 1978 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1992 1993 1994 1995 1997 20 23 24 28 29 Non-geographic prefixes charged at geographic rate 300 302 303 306 308 330 331 332 333 342 343 344 345 370 371 372 373 Personal , pager , VoIP and corporate numbering 55 56 70 76 Mobile telephone prefixes 71xx 72xx 73xx 74xx 75xx 7624 77xx 78xx 79xx Non-geographic prefixes that are free - to - caller 500 800 808 Non-geographic prefixes with additional Service Charge 842 843 844 845 870 871 872 873 Non-geographic prefixes with additional Service Charge 900 901 902 903 904 905 906 907 911 912 913 Non-geographic prefixes with additional Service Charge used for Adult services 908 909 982 983 984 989 Telephone numbers in Europe Sovereign states Albania Andorra Armenia Austria Azerbaijan Belarus Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Georgia Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Kazakhstan Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macedonia Malta Moldova Monaco Montenegro Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia San Marino Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom Vatican City States with limited recognition Abkhazia Artsakh Kosovo Northern Cyprus South Ossetia Transnistria Dependencies and other entities Åland Faroe Islands Gibraltar Guernsey Isle of Man Jersey Svalbard Telecommunications industry in the United Kingdom Economy of the United Kingdom Science and technology in the United Kingdom Companies Infrastructure providers Arqiva Babcock International BT Wholesale and Ventures Openreach Interxion TelecityGroup Telehouse Europe Service providers Current Andrews & Arnold Asda Mobile BT Group BT Consumer BT Business and Public Sector BT Global Services EE Plusnet Claranet Colt Group The Co-operative Cable & Wireless Communications Delight Mobile Family Mobile Inmarsat KCOM Group Eclipse Internet Lebara Mobile Lycamobile Mapesbury Communications O2 ( UK ) Giffgaff Sky Sky Broadband Talkmobile TalkTalk Group AOL Broadband TalkTalk Business TalkTalk Mobile TalkTalk TV Telecom Plus Tesco Mobile Three SMARTY Tru Virgin Media Virgin Media Business Virgin Mobile UK Vodafone Vodafone UK Voipfone WightFibre Zen Internet Defunct Atlantic Telegraph Company Be Un Limited Bonelli 's Electric Telegraph Company Cable & Wireless plc Cable & Wireless Worldwide Dolphin Telecom Electric Telegraph Company Energis General Post Office Ionica London and Provincial District Telegraph Company Mercury Communications Mobile by Sainsbury 's National Telephone Company NTL Orange UK Ovivo Post Office Telecommunications Pipex Rabbit Stan Mobile Tiscali UK T - Mobile UK Universal Private Telegraph Company Suppliers Current ARM Holdings Artevea CSR Icera Metaswitch Pace Sarantel Spirent Telent Defunct GEC Plessey Telecommunications Marconi Company Marconi Communications PicoChip Standard Telephones and Cables Other Carphone Warehouse Hibu Phones 4u Dial - a-Phone Government and regulatory bodies Broadband Stakeholder Group Defence Science and Technology Laboratory European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations International Telecommunication Union Ofcom PhonepayPlus Industry bodies GSM Association Internet Service Providers Association LONAP London Internet Exchange MaNAP Symbian Foundation Internet Telephony Services Providers ' Association Other Adastral Park British Approvals Board for Telecommunications British Telecommunications Act 1981 British telephone sockets BT Research BT site engineering code Communications Act 2003 Earth stations in the United Kingdom Hull Colour Pages Interception of Communications Act 1985 Internet in the United Kingdom Telegraph Act Telegraph Act 1868 Telegraph Act 1885 Telephone numbers in the United Kingdom UK telephone code misconceptions Web blocking in the United Kingdom Category Commons Telecommunications History Beacon Broadcasting Cable protection system Cable TV Communications satellite Computer network Drums Electrical telegraph Fax Heliographs Hydraulic telegraph Internet Mass media Mobile phone Optical telecommunication Optical telegraphy Pager Photophone Prepay mobile phone Radio Radiotelephone Satellite communications Semaphore Smartphone Smoke signals Telecommunications history Telautograph Telegraphy Teleprinter ( teletype ) Telephone The Telephone Cases Television Timeline of communication technology Undersea telegraph line Videoconferencing Videophone Videotelephony Whistled language Pioneers Edwin Howard Armstrong John Logie Baird Paul Baran Alexander Graham Bell Tim Berners - 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( March 2013 ) United Kingdom telephone numbers Location of the United Kingdom Location Country United Kingdom Continent Europe Regulator Ofcom Type Open NSN length 7 , 9 , 10 Typical format various , see text Numbering plan The National Telephone Numbering Plan Last updated 13 December 2013 Access codes Country calling code + 44 International call prefix 00 Trunk prefix 0 List of United Kingdom dialing codes Location of the United Kingdom Location Country United Kingdom Continent Europe Regulator Ofcom Type Open NSN length 7 , 9 , 10 Typical format various , see text Numbering plan The National Telephone Numbering Plan Last updated 13 December 2013 Access codes Country calling code + 44 International call prefix 00 Trunk prefix 0 List of United Kingdom dialing codes Telephone numbers in the United Kingdom are administered by the UK government 's Office of Communications ( Ofcom ) . For this purpose Ofcom established a telephone numbering plan , known as the National Telephone Numbering Plan , which is the system for assigning telephone numbers to subscriber stations . Since 28 April 2001 , almost all geographic numbers and most non-geographic numbers have 9 or 10 national ( significant ) numbers after the `` 0 '' trunk code . All mobile telephone numbers have 10 national ( significant ) numbers after the `` 0 '' trunk code . The overall structure of the UK 's National Numbering Plan is : Prefix Service type 01 Geographic area codes . 02 Geographic area codes ( introduced in 2000 ) . 03 Non-geographic numbers charged at standard geographic area code rates ( introduced 2007 ) . 04 Reserved . 05 Corporate numbering and VoIP services ( some VoIP services use 08 or geographic numbers ) . Freephone ( toll free ) on 0500 until June 2017 . 06 Was reserved for possible use by personal numbering ( PNS ) instead of 070 following consumer confusion with mobile phones . 07 Mostly for mobile phones on 071xx , 072xx , 073xx , 074xx , 075xx , 07624 , 077xx , 078xx , and 079xx . Personal numbering on 070 . Pagers on 076xx . 08 Freephone ( toll free ) on 080 , and Special Services ( formerly known as local and national rate ) on 084 and 087 . 09 Premium Rate services ( PRS ) . Prefix Service type 01 Geographic area codes . 02 Geographic area codes ( introduced in 2000 ) . 03 Non-geographic numbers charged at standard geographic area code rates ( introduced 2007 ) . 04 Reserved . 05 Corporate numbering and VoIP services ( some VoIP services use 08 or geographic numbers ) . Freephone ( toll free ) on 0500 until June 2017 . 06 Was reserved for possible use by personal numbering ( PNS ) instead of 070 following consumer confusion with mobile phones . 07 Mostly for mobile phones on 071xx , 072xx , 073xx , 074xx , 075xx , 07624 , 077xx , 078xx , and 079xx . Personal numbering on 070 . Pagers on 076xx . 08 Freephone ( toll free ) on 080 , and Special Services ( formerly known as local and national rate ) on 084 and 087 . 09 Premium Rate services ( PRS ) . A short sample of geographic numbers , set out in the officially approved ( Ofcom ) number groups : Number Location ( 020 ) xxxx xxxx London ( 024 ) 7xxx xxxx Coventry ( 029 ) xxxx xxxx Cardiff ( 0113 ) xxx xxxx Leeds ( 0114 ) xxx xxxx Sheffield ( 0121 ) xxx xxxx Birmingham ( 0117 ) xxx xxxx Bristol ( 0131 ) xxx xxxx Edinburgh ( 0141 ) xxx xxxx Glasgow ( 0161 ) xxx xxxx Manchester ( 01223 ) xxxxxx Cambridge ( 01257 ) xxxxxx Chorley ( 01382 ) xxxxxx Dundee ( 01386 ) xxxxxx Evesham ( 01935 ) xxxxxx Yeovil ( 01865 ) xxxxxx Oxford ( 01772 ) xxxxxx Preston ( 01792 ) xxxxxx Swansea ( 01204 ) xxxxx Bolton ( 0153 96 ) xxxxx Sedbergh ( 0169 77 ) xxxx Brampton Number Location ( 020 ) xxxx xxxx London ( 024 ) 7xxx xxxx Coventry ( 029 ) xxxx xxxx Cardiff ( 0113 ) xxx xxxx Leeds ( 0114 ) xxx xxxx Sheffield ( 0121 ) xxx xxxx Birmingham ( 0117 ) xxx xxxx Bristol ( 0131 ) xxx xxxx Edinburgh ( 0141 ) xxx xxxx Glasgow ( 0161 ) xxx xxxx Manchester ( 01223 ) xxxxxx Cambridge ( 01257 ) xxxxxx Chorley ( 01382 ) xxxxxx Dundee ( 01386 ) xxxxxx Evesham ( 01935 ) xxxxxx Yeovil ( 01865 ) xxxxxx Oxford ( 01772 ) xxxxxx Preston ( 01792 ) xxxxxx Swansea ( 01204 ) xxxxx Bolton ( 0153 96 ) xxxxx Sedbergh ( 0169 77 ) xxxx Brampton In the United Kingdom , area codes are two , three , four , or , rarely , five digits long ( after the initial zero ) . Regions with shorter area codes , typically large cities , permit the allocation of more telephone numbers as the local number portion has more digits . Local customer numbers are four to eight figures long . The total number of digits is ten , but in a very few areas the total may be nine digits ( after the initial zero ) . The `` area code '' is also referred to as an `` STD ( code ) '' ( subscriber trunk dialling ) or a `` dialling code '' in the UK . The code allocated to the largest population is ( 020 ) for London . The code allocated to the largest area is ( 028 ) for all of Northern Ireland . The UK Numbering Plan also applies to three British Crown dependencies -- Jersey , Guernsey and the Isle of Man -- even though they are not part of the UK itself . This section needs additional citations for verification . Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources . Unsourced material may be challenged and removed . ( April 2018 ) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message ) This section needs additional citations for verification . Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources . Unsourced material may be challenged and removed . ( April 2018 ) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message ) Possible number formats for UK telephone numbers are as follows : Number length 10 digits 9 digits 7 digits 4 digits 3 digits Number formats ( 01xx xx ) xxxxx ( 01xxx ) xxxxxx ( 01x1 ) xxx xxxx ( 011x ) xxx xxxx ( 02x ) xxxx xxxx 03xx xxx xxxx 055 xxxx xxxx 056 xxxx xxxx 070 xxxx xxxx 07624 xxxxxx 076 xxxx xxxx 07xxx xxxxxx 0800 xxx xxxx 08xx xxx xxxx 09xx xxx xxxx ( 0169 77 ) xxxx ( 01xxx ) xxxxx 0500 xxxxxx 0800 xxxxxx 0800 1111 0845 46 4x 1470 1471 1475 1477 1571 999 112 111 123 101 118 105 Number length 10 digits 9 digits 7 digits 4 digits 3 digits Number formats ( 01xx xx ) xxxxx ( 01xxx ) xxxxxx ( 01x1 ) xxx xxxx ( 011x ) xxx xxxx ( 02x ) xxxx xxxx 03xx xxx xxxx 055 xxxx xxxx 056 xxxx xxxx 070 xxxx xxxx 07624 xxxxxx 076 xxxx xxxx 07xxx xxxxxx 0800 xxx xxxx 08xx xxx xxxx 09xx xxx xxxx ( 0169 77 ) xxxx ( 01xxx ) xxxxx 0500 xxxxxx 0800 xxxxxx 0800 1111 0845 46 4x 1470 1471 1475 1477 1571 999 112 111 123 101 118 105 Number ranges starting 01 can have National Significant Number ( NSN ) length as 10 or 9 digits . The 0800 range can have NSN length as 10 , 9 or 7 digits . The 0845 range can have NSN length as 10 or 7 digits . The 0500 range has NSN length as 9 digits only . There are no telephone numbers in the UK with an NSN length of 8 digits . Geographic telephone numbers in the UK always have nine or ten digits . Four - digit area codes have either six - digit subscriber numbers or a mix of five - and six - digit subscriber numbers . ( 01xxx ) xxxxxx ( 01xxx ) xxxxxx This is the format used by most areas . It has a four - digit area code ( after the initial zero ) and a six digit subscriber number , and is known as 4 + 6 format . These area codes were changed by adding a `` 1 '' directly after the initial zero as a part of PhONEday in 1995 . Just short of 581 areas use this format , and the area codes range from 01200 to 01998 . Almost all ( 01xxx ) area codes now have only six digit subscriber numbers , but a small number of these areas also have some subscriber numbers only five digits in length ( see next section ) . 01224 Aberdeen 22 = AB 01244 Chester 24 = CH 01382 Dundee 38 = DU 01387 Dumfries ( mixed ) 38 = DU local numbers can not begin with 3 01452 Gloucester 45 = GL 01472 Grimsby 47 = GR 01473 Ipswich 47 = IP 01429 Hartlepool 42 = HA 01482 Hull 48 = HU 01539 Kendal ( mixed ) 53 = KE local numbers can not begin with 4 , 5 or 6 01582 Luton 58 = LU 01670 Morpeth 67 = MP 01697 Brampton , North West ( mixed ) 69 = NW local numbers can not begin with 3 , 4 or 7 01730 Petersfield 73 = PE 01736 Penzance 73 = PE 01772 Preston 77 = PR 01792 Swansea 79 = SW 01793 Swindon 79 = SW 01854 Ullapool 85 = UL 01947 Whitby 94 = WH 01224 Aberdeen 22 = AB 01244 Chester 24 = CH 01382 Dundee 38 = DU 01387 Dumfries ( mixed ) 38 = DU local numbers can not begin with 3 01452 Gloucester 45 = GL 01472 Grimsby 47 = GR 01473 Ipswich 47 = IP 01429 Hartlepool 42 = HA 01482 Hull 48 = HU 01539 Kendal ( mixed ) 53 = KE local numbers can not begin with 4 , 5 or 6 01582 Luton 58 = LU 01670 Morpeth 67 = MP 01697 Brampton , North West ( mixed ) 69 = NW local numbers can not begin with 3 , 4 or 7 01730 Petersfield 73 = PE 01736 Penzance 73 = PE 01772 Preston 77 = PR 01792 Swansea 79 = SW 01793 Swindon 79 = SW 01854 Ullapool 85 = UL 01947 Whitby 94 = WH Six of the four - digit area codes are known as `` mixed '' areas as they share those four digits with the twelve five - digit area codes . This leads to a restriction as to which initial digits can be used for subscriber numbers within those four - digit area codes , e.g. in the 01387 four - digit area code , subscriber numbers can not begin with a 3 because 013873 is a separate five - digit area code ; likewise in the 01946 four - digit area code , subscriber numbers can not begin with a 7 because 019467 is a separate five - digit area code . ( 01xxx ) xxxxx ( 01xxx ) xxxxx This is used for forty smaller towns where some subscriber numbers within the area code have only five digits and is known as 4 + 5 format . The numbers therefore have only nine digits after the initial zero trunk code . These area codes were changed by adding a `` 1 '' directly after the initial zero as a part of PhONEday in 1995 . These towns always have a mixture of six and five digit local numbers , each type allocated in specific DE blocks ; e.g. in the 01647 area code numbers beginning 24xxx and 61xxx have five digits whereas all other DE blocks within that area code are allocated as six digit numbers . The number of places with five digit subscriber numbers and an 01xxx area code has declined rapidly in recent decades . There were 511 ranges allocated across 56 different area codes in January 1998 . The Big Number Change removed many , especially in Northern Ireland , and by July 2005 there were only 329 ranges in 42 codes . By April 2010 this had reduced to 324 ranges in 40 codes , with the same number still in November 2012 . The 40 area codes are listed in the table below . 01204 Bolton 20 = BO 61 - 64 01208 Bodmin 20 = BO 72 - 79 01254 Blackburn 25 = BL 51 - 57 , 59 01276 Camberley 27 = CR 20 - 29 , 31 - 38 , 61 - 66 01297 Axminster 29 = AX 20 - 24 , 32 - 35 01298 Buxton 29 = BX 22 - 28 , 70 - 74 , 77 - 79 , 83 - 85 01363 Crediton 36 = CN 82 - 85 01364 Ashburton , Devon 36 = DN 72 , 73 01384 Dudley 38 = DU 70 , 74 - 79 01386 Evesham 38 = EV 40 , 41 , 45 , 47 - 49 01404 Honiton 40 = HO 41 - 47 01420 Alton , Hampshire 42 = HA 22 , 23 , 80 - 89 01460 Chard , Ilminster 46 = IM 30 , 52 - 55 , 57 , 61 - 68 , 72 - 78 01461 Gretna 46 = GN 40 01480 Huntingdon 48 = HU 52 01488 Hungerford 48 = HU 71 - 73 01524 Lancaster ( mixed ) 52 = LA 32 - 37 , 39 , 60 - 69 local numbers can not begin with 2 01527 Redditch 60 - 69 01562 Kidderminster 56 = KM 60 , 66 - 69 01566 Launceston 56 = LN 86 01606 Northwich , Winsford 60 = NO 40 - 49 , 74 - 77 , 79 01629 Matlock 62 = MA 55 - 57 01635 Newbury 63 = NE 30 - 39 , 40 - 49 01647 Moretonhampstead 64 = MH 24 , 61 01659 Sanquhar , Nithsdale 65 = NL 50 , 58 , 66 , 67 , 74 01695 Skelmersdale / Ormskirk 50 - 54 01726 St Austell 72 = SA 61 , 63 - 69 , 70 - 77 01744 St Helens 74 = SH 20 - 29 01750 Selkirk 75 = SK 20 - 23 , 32 , 42 , 52 , 62 , 76 , 82 01768 Penrith ( mixed ) 76 = PN 882 , 883 , 884 , 886 , 887 , 888 local numbers can not begin with 3 , 4 or 7 01827 Tamworth 82 = TA 50 - 59 , 60 - 69 01837 Okehampton 52 - 55 , 82 , 83 , 89 01884 Tiverton 88 = TV 32 - 35 , 38 01900 Workington 90 = WO 61 - 68 , 85 01905 Worcester 90 = WO 20 - 29 01935 Yeovil 93 = YE 83 01946 Whitehaven ( mixed ) 94 = WH 61 - 68 local numbers can not begin with 7 01949 Whatton 94 = WH 20 , 21 , 81 01963 Wincanton 96 = WN 23 , 31 - 34 01995 Garstang , Wyre 99 = WY 61 01204 Bolton 20 = BO 61 - 64 01208 Bodmin 20 = BO 72 - 79 01254 Blackburn 25 = BL 51 - 57 , 59 01276 Camberley 27 = CR 20 - 29 , 31 - 38 , 61 - 66 01297 Axminster 29 = AX 20 - 24 , 32 - 35 01298 Buxton 29 = BX 22 - 28 , 70 - 74 , 77 - 79 , 83 - 85 01363 Crediton 36 = CN 82 - 85 01364 Ashburton , Devon 36 = DN 72 , 73 01384 Dudley 38 = DU 70 , 74 - 79 01386 Evesham 38 = EV 40 , 41 , 45 , 47 - 49 01404 Honiton 40 = HO 41 - 47 01420 Alton , Hampshire 42 = HA 22 , 23 , 80 - 89 01460 Chard , Ilminster 46 = IM 30 , 52 - 55 , 57 , 61 - 68 , 72 - 78 01461 Gretna 46 = GN 40 01480 Huntingdon 48 = HU 52 01488 Hungerford 48 = HU 71 - 73 01524 Lancaster ( mixed ) 52 = LA 32 - 37 , 39 , 60 - 69 local numbers can not begin with 2 01527 Redditch 60 - 69 01562 Kidderminster 56 = KM 60 , 66 - 69 01566 Launceston 56 = LN 86 01606 Northwich , Winsford 60 = NO 40 - 49 , 74 - 77 , 79 01629 Matlock 62 = MA 55 - 57 01635 Newbury 63 = NE 30 - 39 , 40 - 49 01647 Moretonhampstead 64 = MH 24 , 61 01659 Sanquhar , Nithsdale 65 = NL 50 , 58 , 66 , 67 , 74 01695 Skelmersdale / Ormskirk 50 - 54 01726 St Austell 72 = SA 61 , 63 - 69 , 70 - 77 01744 St Helens 74 = SH 20 - 29 01750 Selkirk 75 = SK 20 - 23 , 32 , 42 , 52 , 62 , 76 , 82 01768 Penrith ( mixed ) 76 = PN 882 , 883 , 884 , 886 , 887 , 888 local numbers can not begin with 3 , 4 or 7 01827 Tamworth 82 = TA 50 - 59 , 60 - 69 01837 Okehampton 52 - 55 , 82 , 83 , 89 01884 Tiverton 88 = TV 32 - 35 , 38 01900 Workington 90 = WO 61 - 68 , 85 01905 Worcester 90 = WO 20 - 29 01935 Yeovil 93 = YE 83 01946 Whitehaven ( mixed ) 94 = WH 61 - 68 local numbers can not begin with 7 01949 Whatton 94 = WH 20 , 21 , 81 01963 Wincanton 96 = WN 23 , 31 - 34 01995 Garstang , Wyre 99 = WY 61 Three - digit area codes always have seven - digit subscriber numbers and always begin 011x or 01x1 . ( 01x1 ) xxx xxxx ( 01x1 ) xxx xxxx This is the geographic number format for the first round of five large cities moved to all figure dialling in the 1960s , and subsequently also used in the metropolitan county of Tyne and Wear , eastern County Durham and south - eastern Northumberland from the 1980s onwards . These six areas have a three - digit area code matching the pattern 1x1 ( after the initial zero ) and a seven digit subscriber number , and this is known as 3 + 7 format . These area codes were changed by adding a `` 1 '' directly after the initial zero as a part of PhONEday in 1995 . 0121 Birmingham formerly 021 ( 2 = B) 0131 Edinburgh formerly 031 ( 3 = E ) 0141 Glasgow formerly 041 ( 4 = G ) 0151 Liverpool formerly 051 ( 5 = L ) 0161 Manchester formerly 061 ( 6 = M ) 0171 Used for Inner London from 1990 until 2000 0181 Used for Outer London from 1990 until 2000 0191 County of Tyne and Wear , eastern County Durham , south - eastern Northumberland formerly 091 ( 9 = tYne ) 0121 Birmingham formerly 021 ( 2 = B) 0131 Edinburgh formerly 031 ( 3 = E ) 0141 Glasgow formerly 041 ( 4 = G ) 0151 Liverpool formerly 051 ( 5 = L ) 0161 Manchester formerly 061 ( 6 = M ) 0171 Used for Inner London from 1990 until 2000 0181 Used for Outer London from 1990 until 2000 0191 County of Tyne and Wear , eastern County Durham , south - eastern Northumberland formerly 091 ( 9 = tYne ) ( 011x ) xxx xxxx ( 011x ) xxx xxxx This is the geographic number format for the second round of large cities and towns moved to brand - new three - digit area codes . Five of these were moved in 1995 as a part of PhONEday , with Reading then following a year later . At the time of the change , an extra digit was added to the subscriber number . These six areas have a three - digit area code matching the pattern 11x , with a seven - digit subscriber number , and this is known as 3 + 7 format . The first three digits of the local number identifies a small area within the town or city . The former Reading area code had already been changed once , by adding a `` 1 '' directly after the initial zero as a part of PhONEday in 1995 . 0113 Leeds formerly 0532 ( 53 = LE ) 0114 Sheffield formerly 0742 ( 74 = SH ) 0115 Nottingham formerly 0602 ( 60 = NO ) 0116 Leicester formerly 0533 ( 53 = LE ) 0117 Bristol formerly 0272 ( 27 = BR ) 0118 Reading formerly 0734 , then 01734 ( 73 = RE ) 0113 Leeds formerly 0532 ( 53 = LE ) 0114 Sheffield formerly 0742 ( 74 = SH ) 0115 Nottingham formerly 0602 ( 60 = NO ) 0116 Leicester formerly 0533 ( 53 = LE ) 0117 Bristol formerly 0272 ( 27 = BR ) 0118 Reading formerly 0734 , then 01734 ( 73 = RE ) Two - digit area codes always have eight - digit subscriber numbers and always begin 02 . ( 02x ) xxxx xxxx ( 02x ) xxxx xxxx This is the newest geographic number format . It is used for the third tier of large cities and for Northern Ireland , and was formed as a part of the Big Number Change in 2000 . The new area code is much shorter than the old one , and begins 02 unlike the previous 01 area codes . Numbers in these five areas are commonly misquoted , e.g. London as 0207 or Cardiff as 02920 . The numbers consist of a two - digit area code matching the pattern 02x , and an eight - digit subscriber number , and this is known as 2 + 8 format . The first four digits of the local number identifies a small area within the town or city . At the time of the change , the subscriber part of the number gained an extra digit in London , those in Northern Ireland gained two or three digits , and the subscriber part of the number in the other areas gained two digits . All of these areas were also subject to a previous code change , one that added a `` 1 '' directly after the initial zero , as a part of PhONEday in 1995 . 020 London ( 020 ) 3xxx xxxx new since 2005 . ( 020 ) 7xxx xxxx formerly 0171 and ( 020 ) 8xxx xxxx formerly 0181 ( both 1995 -- 2000 ) , 071 and 081 ( 1990 -- 1995 ) , 01 ( 1960s - 1990 ) 023 Southampton ( 023 ) 8xxx xxxx formerly 01703 ( 70 = SO ) Portsmouth ( 023 ) 9xxx xxxx formerly 01705 ( 70 = PO ) 024 Coventry ( 024 ) 7xxx xxxx formerly 01203 ( 20 = CO ) 028 Northern Ireland ( 028 ) 25xx xxxx Ballymena formerly ( 01266 ) xxxxxx ( 028 ) 28xx xxxx Larne formerly ( 01574 ) xxxxxx ( 028 ) 37xx xxxx Armagh formerly ( 01861 ) xxxxxx ( 028 ) 71xx xxxx Derry formerly ( 01504 ) xxxxxx ( 028 ) 82xx xxxx Omagh formerly ( 01662 ) xxxxxx ( 028 ) 90xx xxxx Belfast formerly ( 01232 ) xxxxxx ( 028 ) 92xx xxxx Lisburn formerly ( 01846 ) xxxxxx ( 028 ) 95xx xxxx Belfast new number range 029 Cardiff ( 029 ) 2xxx xxxx formerly 01222 ( 22 = CA ) 020 London ( 020 ) 3xxx xxxx new since 2005 . ( 020 ) 7xxx xxxx formerly 0171 and ( 020 ) 8xxx xxxx formerly 0181 ( both 1995 -- 2000 ) , 071 and 081 ( 1990 -- 1995 ) , 01 ( 1960s - 1990 ) 023 Southampton ( 023 ) 8xxx xxxx formerly 01703 ( 70 = SO ) Portsmouth ( 023 ) 9xxx xxxx formerly 01705 ( 70 = PO ) 024 Coventry ( 024 ) 7xxx xxxx formerly 01203 ( 20 = CO ) 028 Northern Ireland ( 028 ) 25xx xxxx Ballymena formerly ( 01266 ) xxxxxx ( 028 ) 28xx xxxx Larne formerly ( 01574 ) xxxxxx ( 028 ) 37xx xxxx Armagh formerly ( 01861 ) xxxxxx ( 028 ) 71xx xxxx Derry formerly ( 01504 ) xxxxxx ( 028 ) 82xx xxxx Omagh formerly ( 01662 ) xxxxxx ( 028 ) 90xx xxxx Belfast formerly ( 01232 ) xxxxxx ( 028 ) 92xx xxxx Lisburn formerly ( 01846 ) xxxxxx ( 028 ) 95xx xxxx Belfast new number range 029 Cardiff ( 029 ) 2xxx xxxx formerly 01222 ( 22 = CA ) Five - digit area codes have either five - digit subscriber numbers or a mix of four - and five - digit subscriber numbers . Five - digit area codes always share their first four digits with four - digit area codes . ( 01xx xx ) xxxxx and ( 01xx xx ) xxxx ( 01xx xx ) xxxxx and ( 01xx xx ) xxxx This is the oldest geographic number format and is used for twelve smaller towns and villages where the subscriber number is either five or ( in one area code ) four digits long . These are known as 5 + 5 and 5 + 4 format . Therefore , the STD code and the subscriber number does not always total ten digits after the initial zero trunk code . These area codes were changed by adding a `` 1 '' directly after the initial zero as a part of PhONEday in 1995 . The number of places using these two formats has declined rapidly in recent decades and Brampton is the last place in the UK with four - digit local numbers . 0138 73 Langholm 0152 42 Hornby 0153 94 Hawkshead 0153 95 Grange - over-Sands 0153 96 Sedbergh 0169 73 Wigton 0169 74 Raughton Head 0169 77 Brampton 0176 83 Appleby 0176 84 Pooley Bridge 0176 87 Keswick 0194 67 Gosforth 0138 73 Langholm 0152 42 Hornby 0153 94 Hawkshead 0153 95 Grange - over-Sands 0153 96 Sedbergh 0169 73 Wigton 0169 74 Raughton Head 0169 77 Brampton 0176 83 Appleby 0176 84 Pooley Bridge 0176 87 Keswick 0194 67 Gosforth The above twelve area codes and their six ' parent ' area codes ( 01387 , 01524 , 01539 , 01697 , 01768 and 01946 ) are known as ' Mixed ' areas due to multiple area codes sharing the same SABC digits . These ranges have subscriber numbers beginning with the digits `` 0 '' or `` 1 '' , e.g. : 0169 77 0xxxx Brampton 01332 050xxx Derby 01382 006xxx Dundee 0141 005 xxxx Glasgow 0117 101 xxxx Bristol 0118 00x xxxx Reading 020 0003 xxxx London 0169 77 0xxxx Brampton 01332 050xxx Derby 01382 006xxx Dundee 0141 005 xxxx Glasgow 0117 101 xxxx Bristol 0118 00x xxxx Reading 020 0003 xxxx London Currently , these numbers are mostly used as the termination points for non-geographic numbers , and by some automated systems such as alarms . As such they are not usually meant to be directly dialled . These numbers have been problematic as some mobile phone operators in the UK do not allow access to these ranges , and there may also be difficulty accessing these numbers from outside the UK . Regulator Ofcom proposes that in future these numbers be released for wider , general - purpose use in up to 70 area codes facing number shortage . In order to avoid confusion with codes beginning with these digits , the area code must always be dialled , even from within the same geographic exchange . Accordingly , if these numbers are eventually released for general use , Ofcom proposes completely removing the ability to dial locally without the area code in areas affected . This occurred on 1 November 2012 for the 01202 area code , which covers Bournemouth . Recently , the carrier TalkTalk have inadvertently released parts of the 020 0011 range to the general public , with these numbers currently being in use . For example , the charity Give a Car used the number 020 0011 1664 for a while , but recently switched to a proper London number . 07xxx xxxxxx -- mobile phones and WiFi numbers . 07xxx xxxxxx -- mobile phones and WiFi numbers . Individual mobile phone companies are allocated different ranges within the 073xx , 074xx , 075xx , 07624 , 077xx , 078xx and 079xx area codes . Changes to mobile phone numbers in the Big Number Change were mostly straight replacements , such as Vodafone customers on the 0378 block became 07778 . 073xx xxxxxx Mobile phones ( in use since November 2014 ) 074xx xxxxxx Mobile phones ( in use since November 2009 ) 075xx xxxxxx Mobile phones ( in use since May 2007 ) 07624 xxxxxx Mobile phones on the Isle of Man 077xx xxxxxx Mobile phones ( former 03xx and 04xx -- mostly Vodafone and O2 ( formerly Cellnet ) ) 078xx xxxxxx Mobile phones ( former 05xx , 06xx and 08xx -- mostly Vodafone and O2 ( formerly Cellnet ) ) 079xx xxxxxx Mobile phones ( former 09xx -- mostly EE ( formerly Orange and one2one ) ) 07911 2xxxxx 07911 8xxxxx WiFi numbers ( e.g. 3G / LTE - enabled tablet computers ) 073xx xxxxxx Mobile phones ( in use since November 2014 ) 074xx xxxxxx Mobile phones ( in use since November 2009 ) 075xx xxxxxx Mobile phones ( in use since May 2007 ) 07624 xxxxxx Mobile phones on the Isle of Man 077xx xxxxxx Mobile phones ( former 03xx and 04xx -- mostly Vodafone and O2 ( formerly Cellnet ) ) 078xx xxxxxx Mobile phones ( former 05xx , 06xx and 08xx -- mostly Vodafone and O2 ( formerly Cellnet ) ) 079xx xxxxxx Mobile phones ( former 09xx -- mostly EE ( formerly Orange and one2one ) ) 07911 2xxxxx 07911 8xxxxx WiFi numbers ( e.g. 3G / LTE - enabled tablet computers ) Since the advent of Mobile number portability , mobile phone number prefixes can no longer be relied on to determine the current operator of a particular mobile phone -- only the original operator . 07x xxxx xxxx -- pagers and personal numbering ( PNS ) . 07x xxxx xxxx -- pagers and personal numbering ( PNS ) . 070 and 076 numbers are often charged at a much higher rate than calling the similar - looking 07xxx mobile telephone numbers . 070 xxxx xxxx Personal numbering 076 xxxx xxxx Pagers ( excluding 07624 , used for mobile phones on the Isle of Man ) 070 xxxx xxxx Personal numbering 076 xxxx xxxx Pagers ( excluding 07624 , used for mobile phones on the Isle of Man ) Personal numbers beginning 070 are regulated by Phone - paid Services Authority . 03xx xxx xxxx -- `` UK - wide '' numbering . 03xx xxx xxxx -- `` UK - wide '' numbering . On 27 July 2006 , Ofcom announced that companies will soon be able to use an `` 03 '' non-geographic number , in place of other non-geographic numbers ( such as 0870 or 0845 numbers ) . Callers would be charged at the same rate as if they were calling a geographic number ( 01 or 02 ) . This means that customers who are benefiting from inclusive minutes on mobile phone or landline calling plans would also be able to call these numbers using their inclusive minutes . On 13 February 2007 , Ofcom released more details on their plans for the 03 range and announced that allocations of 03 numbers to providers would begin in March 2007 . Whilst 01 , 02 and 07 numbers can receive text messages , currently the majority of cellular network providers do not support the sending of text messages to 03 numbers . Three different ranges of numbers were announced ; those beginning 030x are reserved for qualifying public bodies and non-profit organisations , those beginning 033x , which are available for allocation to anyone , and those beginning 034x and 037x which will be used for migration from the matching 084x and 087x number ranges respectively . Ofcom itself began using 03 numbers on 13 November 2007 for public use . 030x xxx xxxx For qualifying public bodies and non-profit organisations as defined by Ofcom 033x xxx xxxx For any end user 034x xxx xxxx Migration range for operators who have 084x numbers 037x xxx xxxx Migration range for operators who have 087x numbers 030x xxx xxxx For qualifying public bodies and non-profit organisations as defined by Ofcom 033x xxx xxxx For any end user 034x xxx xxxx Migration range for operators who have 084x numbers 037x xxx xxxx Migration range for operators who have 087x numbers 05x xxxx xxxx -- Corporate and VoIP numbering . 05x xxxx xxxx -- Corporate and VoIP numbering . Unlike 03 numbers there is no uniform pricing for 05 numbers ; BT charge a number of different rates depending on the number dialled . Some are charged at geographic rate , others not . Other operators are not required to charge the same rates as BT for calling 05 numbers . 055 xxxx xxxx Corporate Numbering ( but also used by BT for its Broadband Voice service ) 056 xxxx xxxx Allocated by Ofcom for LIECS ( Location Independent Electronic Communications Services ) , e.g. VoIP services 055 xxxx xxxx Corporate Numbering ( but also used by BT for its Broadband Voice service ) 056 xxxx xxxx Allocated by Ofcom for LIECS ( Location Independent Electronic Communications Services ) , e.g. VoIP services 0500 xxxxxx -- Freephone services allocated before 1999 . 0500 xxxxxx -- Freephone services allocated before 1999 . Until July 2017 , the 0500 range was used for some freephone services which were originally provided by Mercury Communications Ltd ( now Cable & Wireless Worldwide ) . These numbers were different from the rest of the 05 range in that they are only 9 digits in length after the 0 trunk code , e.g. 0500 007 007 ( National Savings and Investments ) , 0500 2 88 2 91 ( BBC Radio 2 , 88 to 91 FM ) , 0500 600 600 ( Crimewatch ) , 0500 600 700 ( Watchdog ) , and 0500 909 693 ( BBC Radio 5 Live , 909 and 693 kHz ) . Numerous universities , government departments , airlines , banks and businesses also used these numbers . They were allocated before the general trend of using longer numbers started in 1997 and long before the rest of the 05 range was assigned to corporate and VoIP numbering after 2000 . 0500 xxxxxx Special Services - No charge to Customer a.k.a. `` Freephone '' Free to call from landline , up to 40p per minute from mobile . 0500 xxxxxx Special Services - No charge to Customer a.k.a. `` Freephone '' Free to call from landline , up to 40p per minute from mobile . The range was withdrawn by Ofcom in July 2017 as a result of a series of consultations starting from 2012 0800 xxxxxx , 0800 xxx xxxx and 0808 xxx xxxx -- Freephone services . 0800 xxxxxx , 0800 xxx xxxx and 0808 xxx xxxx -- Freephone services . 0800 xxxxxx Special Services - No charge to Customer a.k.a. `` Freephone '' Free to call from landline , and was up to 40p per minute from mobile , until July 2015 when calls to 080 numbers from mobiles became free . Calls to certain charity and similar services were always free from most mobiles . 0808 9xx xxxx numbers are used by freephone internet services . 0800 xxx xxxx 0808 xxx xxxx 0800 xxxxxx Special Services - No charge to Customer a.k.a. `` Freephone '' Free to call from landline , and was up to 40p per minute from mobile , until July 2015 when calls to 080 numbers from mobiles became free . Calls to certain charity and similar services were always free from most mobiles . 0808 9xx xxxx numbers are used by freephone internet services . 0800 xxx xxxx 0808 xxx xxxx There is one short `` special '' number in this range , 0800 1111 for Childline . Additionally , numbers in the range 0808 80x xxxx are reserved for not - for - profit helplines and as such are usually free to call from most mobile telephones . A number of other numbers can also called for free from mobiles , but this varies by network . 084x xxx xxxx and 087x xxx xxxx -- Non-geographic fixed - rate , or special - rate services . 084x xxx xxxx and 087x xxx xxxx -- Non-geographic fixed - rate , or special - rate services . With the exception of 080x freephone numbers , 08xx numbers are charged above geographic rates , with some of the extra revenue going to the terminating telco . This additional revenue may be shared with the subscriber , but is often used instead to subsidise additional network services , such as fax - to - email , virtual office applications , call queuing , voicemail and easy number redirection . None of these call management services is exclusive to 08xx numbers , and they could be provided on any number range . 0845 xxx xxxx Special Services basic rate Up to 5p a minute , varies daytime / evening / weekend , from BT landline , other providers may charge more ; up to 42p a minute from mobiles . 0844 00x xxxx Special Services basic rate Non-BT Discount Scheme -- Internet Services incorporating unmetered access up to and including 5p for BT customers 0844 01x xxxx to 0844 09x xxxx currently unused 0844 1xx xxxx currently unused 0844 2xx xxxx to 0844 9xx xxxx Up to 4.26 pa minute ( plus VAT ) , varies daytime / evening / weekend , from BT landline , other providers may charge more ; up to 42p a minute from mobiles . 0843 xxx xxxx Up to 4.26 pa minute ( plus VAT ) , but fixed ( e.g. always 3p / minute or always 4p / minute ) from BT landline , other providers may charge more ; up to 42p a minute from mobiles . 0842 xxx xxxx Up to 4.26 pa minute ( plus VAT ) , but fixed ( e.g. always 3p / minute or always 4p / minute ) from BT landline , other providers may charge more ; up to 42p a minute from mobiles . 0845 xxx xxxx Special Services basic rate Up to 5p a minute , varies daytime / evening / weekend , from BT landline , other providers may charge more ; up to 42p a minute from mobiles . 0844 00x xxxx Special Services basic rate Non-BT Discount Scheme -- Internet Services incorporating unmetered access up to and including 5p for BT customers 0844 01x xxxx to 0844 09x xxxx currently unused 0844 1xx xxxx currently unused 0844 2xx xxxx to 0844 9xx xxxx Up to 4.26 pa minute ( plus VAT ) , varies daytime / evening / weekend , from BT landline , other providers may charge more ; up to 42p a minute from mobiles . 0843 xxx xxxx Up to 4.26 pa minute ( plus VAT ) , but fixed ( e.g. always 3p / minute or always 4p / minute ) from BT landline , other providers may charge more ; up to 42p a minute from mobiles . 0842 xxx xxxx Up to 4.26 pa minute ( plus VAT ) , but fixed ( e.g. always 3p / minute or always 4p / minute ) from BT landline , other providers may charge more ; up to 42p a minute from mobiles . There were a few short `` special '' number in this range , such as 0845 46 47 for NHS Direct ; this was closed in 2014 and replaced by NHS 111 except in Wales , where the transition took place in 2015 . 0870 xxx xxxx Non-Geographic Number Up to 8p a minute ( plus VAT ) , varies daytime / evening / weekend ( charged at no more than the caller would pay for a call to a Geographic Number ) from landline ; up to 42p a minute from mobiles . 0871 0xx xxxx Special Services higher rate Internet Services metered access , up to and including 10p / minute for BT customers . 0871 1xx xxxx currently unused 0871 2xx xxxx to 0871 9xx xxxx Up to 8.5 pa minute ( plus VAT ) but fixed ( e.g. always 6p / minute or always 8.5 p / minute ) from BT landline , other providers may charge more ; up to 50p a minute from mobiles . 0872 xxx xxxx Up to 8.5 pa minute ( plus VAT ) but fixed ( e.g. always 6p / minute or always 8.5 p / minute ) from BT landline , other providers may charge more ; up to 50p a minute from mobiles . 0873 xxx xxxx Up to 8.5 pa minute ( plus VAT ) but fixed ( e.g. always 6p / minute or always 8.5 p / minute ) from BT landline , other providers may charge more ; up to 50p a minute from mobiles . 0870 xxx xxxx Non-Geographic Number Up to 8p a minute ( plus VAT ) , varies daytime / evening / weekend ( charged at no more than the caller would pay for a call to a Geographic Number ) from landline ; up to 42p a minute from mobiles . 0871 0xx xxxx Special Services higher rate Internet Services metered access , up to and including 10p / minute for BT customers . 0871 1xx xxxx currently unused 0871 2xx xxxx to 0871 9xx xxxx Up to 8.5 pa minute ( plus VAT ) but fixed ( e.g. always 6p / minute or always 8.5 p / minute ) from BT landline , other providers may charge more ; up to 50p a minute from mobiles . 0872 xxx xxxx Up to 8.5 pa minute ( plus VAT ) but fixed ( e.g. always 6p / minute or always 8.5 p / minute ) from BT landline , other providers may charge more ; up to 50p a minute from mobiles . 0873 xxx xxxx Up to 8.5 pa minute ( plus VAT ) but fixed ( e.g. always 6p / minute or always 8.5 p / minute ) from BT landline , other providers may charge more ; up to 50p a minute from mobiles . The usage of 0871 , 0872 and 0873 numbers is regulated by PhonepayPlus . There is widespread confusion about the cost of calling 084 and 087 numbers . They often do not qualify for discounts and bundled minutes , and can be prohibitively expensive when called from mobiles and payphones . Many major companies persist in misdescribing them as `` Local Rate '' , `` Lo Call '' ( often as ' locall rate ' which can be easily misread as ' local rate ' ) or `` National Rate '' for which the Advertising Standards Authority can take action . In the future , it is likely that users of 084 and 087 numbers will have to declare the service charge element of the call cost when advertising their phone number , whilst telecoms companies will need to inform their customers about their access charge for calling each number range . Additionally , the EU Consumer Rights Directive requires that many entities that held 084 and 087 numbers will no longer be allowed to use them . The directive bans the usage of numbers that cost more than calling a geographic number for customer service and complaints lines , and other such purposes . From 1 July 2015 , the charge for calls to 084 , 087 , 09 and 118 numbers will be split into two parts : An access charge ( payable to the company you make your phone calls with - e.g. BT , EE , Sky , etc . ) and a service charge ( the part of the call that goes to the company offering the service ) . A list of these new access charges can be found here , which is updated regularly with new information when available . Source : ( 1 ) 08xx xxx xxxx -- Internet for schools and Inbound routing codes . 08xx xxx xxxx -- Internet for schools and Inbound routing codes . 0820 xxx xxxx Special Services : Internet for schools 0899 9xx xxxx Inbound routing codes 0820 xxx xxxx Special Services : Internet for schools 0899 9xx xxxx Inbound routing codes 09xx xxx xxxx -- Premium Rate Content Services 09xx xxx xxxx -- Premium Rate Content Services Numbers in the 09xx range are charged at the highest rates of any calls within the United Kingdom , and are controlled by various regulations regarding their use . The regulator is Phone - paid Service Authority formally known as PhonepayPlus , formerly known as ICSTIS ( and they also cover 070 ( PNS ) , 0871 , 0872 , 0873 and 118xxx ( DQ ) services ) . There are a large number of charge bands , some with high pence - per - minute rates , others with a high fixed - price for the entire call . 090x xxx xxxx Premium rate content services ( PRS ) 0908 xxx xxxx 0909 xxx xxxx Sexual entertainment services ( SES ) ( not available for new allocations ) 091x xxx xxxx Premium rate non-content services ( PRS ) 098x xxx xxxx Sexual entertainment services ( SES ) 090x xxx xxxx Premium rate content services ( PRS ) 0908 xxx xxxx 0909 xxx xxxx Sexual entertainment services ( SES ) ( not available for new allocations ) 091x xxx xxxx Premium rate non-content services ( PRS ) 098x xxx xxxx Sexual entertainment services ( SES ) The earlier unused 092x xxx xxxx - 099x xxx xxxx allocation for `` Broadband Internet Services '' no longer exists and was removed from the number plan in 2005 . Although calls from UK landlines to landlines in the islands are charged at the same rate as those to other UK landlines ( i.e. they are not treated as international calls ) , calls may be excluded from calling plans offering unlimited UK fixed line calls . Mobile operators may also charge more for calls to the islands and these calls are usually excluded from calling plans . Calls and SMS messages sent to island mobile phone numbers are not charged at the same rate as calls to UK mobile phone numbers . ( 01481 ) xxxxxx Fixed line 48 = GU ( 01481 ) 832xxx Fixed line ( Sark ) ( 01481 ) 833xxx 07781 xxxxxx Sure mobile phones and pagers 07839 xxxxxx Airtel Vodafone mobile phones 07911 xxxxxx Wave Telecom mobile phones , not for UK ( 01481 ) xxxxxx Fixed line 48 = GU ( 01481 ) 832xxx Fixed line ( Sark ) ( 01481 ) 833xxx 07781 xxxxxx Sure mobile phones and pagers 07839 xxxxxx Airtel Vodafone mobile phones 07911 xxxxxx Wave Telecom mobile phones , not for UK This area code is also used for Alderney and Sark . ( 01534 ) xxxxxx Fixed line 53 = JE 07509 xxxxxx Jersey Telecom mobile phones and pagers 07797 xxxxxx 07937 xxxxxx 07700 xxxxxx Sure mobile network 07829 xxxxxx Airtel Vodafone mobile network ( 01534 ) xxxxxx Fixed line 53 = JE 07509 xxxxxx Jersey Telecom mobile phones and pagers 07797 xxxxxx 07937 xxxxxx 07700 xxxxxx Sure mobile network 07829 xxxxxx Airtel Vodafone mobile network Several Jersey companies also have non-geographic numbers allocated . ( 01624 ) xxxxxx Fixed line 62 = MA 07624 xxxxxx Mobile phones and paging services 07524 xxxxxx Mobile phones additional capacity 07924 xxxxxx ( 01624 ) xxxxxx Fixed line 62 = MA 07624 xxxxxx Mobile phones and paging services 07524 xxxxxx Mobile phones additional capacity 07924 xxxxxx On the Isle of Man , both fixed ( 01624 ) and mobile phone ( 07624 ) numbers can be dialled locally in the six - digit format . Ofcom has also reserved certain number ranges for use in television dramas and films , so as to avoid the risk of people having their telephone numbers displayed , and receiving unwanted calls . This is similar to the use of fictitious telephone numbers in the United States and Canada starting with the digits 555 . In most of the large cities with three - digit area codes a range of numbers is reserved , usually all the numbers starting with the digits 496 . For fictitious numbers in other areas the area code 01632 is reserved ; this code is not in use , although 0632 was used for Newcastle upon Tyne until the late 1980s ( 63 = NE ) and briefly reallocated for use by premium rate services in the 1990s . There are also reserved ranges for fictitious mobile , freephone , and premium rate numbers . The Post Office even produced dial centre labels for use in advertisements and film / TV with a mythical exchange called VINcent plus four digits . The numerical equivalent of VIN was 846 and all the caller got was the speaking clock ( i.e. 846 is also numerical equivalent of TIM ) in the big city `` Director '' areas . At around the same time as the other Big Number Change changes , Ofcom revised their recommendations to update the prefixes , add additional areas , and increase the size of the allocation from 10 to 1000 numbers per block . Those changes are listed in the Big Number Change article . In Coronation Street , the fictional Manchester suburb of Weatherfield uses the unallocated range ( 0161 ) 715 xxxx . The UK has two free emergency numbers -- the traditional 999 , which is still widely used , and the EU standard 112 , which can be used in all member states of the European Union . Both 999 and 112 are used to contact all emergency services : Police , Fire Service , Ambulance Service , and Coastguard . ( Standard advice for Mountain Rescue or Cave Rescue is to ask the emergency operator for the police , who oversee the communication with these two services . ) Both numbers can be called from mobile phones with the keylock on , or without entering the PIN where that would otherwise be required . Although some mobile phones allow emergency calls to be attempted without a SIM card , at present the UK networks reject such calls . Since November 2009 , an emergency call can be made through any UK mobile network as long as there is a SIM for any valid UK network in the handset . Although UK VOIP phone providers are required to offer 999 / 112 service this is subject to a registration for the service and with a verified service address and users need to be aware such service may not work in a power blackout ; However International VOIP providers may not provide this service . The chargeable number 101 was introduced for non-urgent crime and community safety calls on a trial basis in 2006 . In Wales , the scheme was taken forward by all four police forces , who adopted the number for non-emergency calls on a permanent basis in early 2009 . In England the scheme was on trial until 2012 , when it was adopted nationwide and the cost to call changed from 10p per call to 15p per call . In Northern Ireland , the number was introduced by the Police Service of Northern Ireland in March 2014 . The operator is obtained via 100 from landlines , while directory enquiries , formerly 192 , is now provided in the 118xxx range , e.g. 118 212 , 118 800 , 118 500 , 118 118 , by different companies . International Operator assistance is reached through 155 . From early 2010 , the pan-European 116 number range came into use for social helplines . The first three numbers allocated were Missing People using 116 000 for a missing children helpline , the NSPCC ChildLine on 116 111 , and Samaritans using 116 123 for an emotional support helpline . A recent consultation for the numbers 116 106 and 116 117 has yet to see any result . The National Health Service ( NHS ) can be reached on 111 for non-emergency calls ( from landlines and mobiles only ) . In other European countries the number 116 117 is used for a similar purpose . Local electricity network operators can be reached on 105 to report power cuts . Two telephone helplines within the regular code space have only eight digits , namely 0800 1111 for ChildLine and 0845 4647 for NHS Direct in Wales . Since the mid-1990s speaking clock services have been available throughout Britain using the number 123 . Before this , exchanges in `` Director '' areas ( Birmingham , Edinburgh , Glasgow , Liverpool , London and Manchester ) dialled 846 ( TIM ) , later changing to 123 , and main exchanges in `` non-Director '' areas originally used `` 952 '' , later changing to `` 80 '' with the introduction of STD and eventually to `` 8081 '' as other recorded services were introduced on 80X1 codes . Some mobile operators allocate other services to 123 -- such as customer services or voicemail etc . Short codes beginning with 1 are reserved for telecom service providers ' own functionality ; some of the most well - known are codes for use with Caller Display : 141 Withhold number when normally released 1470 Release number when normally withheld 1471 Call return caller may press 3 to return call on most networks 1475 1471 erasure removes details of last call from 1471 service . May need to be prefixed with 1470 if number is normally withheld 1477 Automatic Call Trace Stores number ( even if withheld ) of nuisance caller at terminating exchange for subsequent investigation and enforcement , but service is seldom enabled by default 1571 Voicemail service For people who do not have answering machines . If there is a new message , the dial tone will be stuttered . # 31 # Withhold number 141 equivalent for use on mobile networks 141 Withhold number when normally released 1470 Release number when normally withheld 1471 Call return caller may press 3 to return call on most networks 1475 1471 erasure removes details of last call from 1471 service . May need to be prefixed with 1470 if number is normally withheld 1477 Automatic Call Trace Stores number ( even if withheld ) of nuisance caller at terminating exchange for subsequent investigation and enforcement , but service is seldom enabled by default but service is seldom enabled by default 1571 Voicemail service For people who do not have answering machines . If there is a new message , the dial tone will be stuttered . # 31 # Withhold number 141 equivalent for use on mobile networks Many fixed line telephone subscribers , e.g. BT , Virgin Media , SkyTalk Sky , TalkTalk and PlusNet have the opportunity to use an automated messaging service which takes messages when the called number is either engaged ( `` busy '' ) or not answered within a given time . This can be accessed by calling 1571 . For fixed line users , it is possible to override the carrier pre-selection ( CPS ) on a per - call basis , dialling a special code before the number , e.g. 1280 for BT , 1664 for LowerCall , or 1844 for Daisy . Ofcom defines the range for these as : `` 124 to 140 , 143 to 146 , 148 to 149 , 160 to 169 , and 181 to 189 inclusive . Numbers of up to 5 - digits used to access an Indirect Access Provider ( ' Type B Access Codes ' ) '' . Telephone numbers in British Overseas Territories do not come under the UK telephone numbering plan . These calls are treated as international calls . Below are the access codes for the overseas territories : Anguilla + 1 - 264 Bermuda + 1 - 441 British Virgin Islands + 1 - 284 Cayman Islands + 1 - 345 Montserrat + 1 - 664 Turks and Caicos Islands + 1 - 649 Anguilla + 1 - 264 Bermuda + 1 - 441 British Virgin Islands + 1 - 284 Cayman Islands + 1 - 345 Montserrat + 1 - 664 Turks and Caicos Islands + 1 - 649 British Antarctic Territory + 44 ( Shared with the UK ) British Indian Ocean Territory + 246 Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands + 500 Gibraltar + 350 Saint Helena and Tristan da Cunha + 290 Ascension Island + 247 Akrotiri and Dhekelia + 357 ( Shared with Cyprus ) Pitcairn Islands + 64 ( Shared with New Zealand ) British Antarctic Territory + 44 ( Shared with the UK ) British Indian Ocean Territory + 246 Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands + 500 Gibraltar + 350 Saint Helena and Tristan da Cunha + 290 Ascension Island + 247 Akrotiri and Dhekelia + 357 ( Shared with Cyprus ) Pitcairn Islands + 64 ( Shared with New Zealand )
9 or 10 national (significant) numbers after the "0" trunk code 10 national (significant) numbers after the "0" trunk code 10 national (significant) numbers after the "0" trunk code 10 national (significant) numbers after the "0" trunk code