UK Area Code Finder
Quick and easy telephone dialling code information
A Guide to UK Phone Numbers
In the United Kingdom, phone numbers are arranged into a few simple groups. You can tell what type of number you're calling by looking at the first two digits.
Geographic Phone Numbers
Numbers beginning with '01' or '02' are regular landline phone numbers for businesses or individuals. They are issued geographically and each area has its own 'area code'. For example, numbers beginning with 0161 are in Manchester, while London's phone numbers begin with 020.
These numbers can also be used for computer-based VOIP phones and it's also possible for them to be diverted to mobile phones or even overseas destinations - but the cost of calling them remains the same.
Numbers beginning 01481, 01534 and 01624 are for Guernsey, Jersey and Isle of Man. Often these are charged at a higher rate, or aren't included in bundled 'inclusive minutes'.
UK-wide Numbers
These are numbers which aren't linked to any particular geographic area, but are always charged at exactly the same rate as a regular '01' or '02' landline number.
03 numbers are used by various businesses, government bodies and other organisations.
Business and VOIP numbers
These numbers are available for large organisations that need big blocks of numbers not linked to any specific area. Numbers beginning with 055 are for businesses (such as Santander, whose branch numbers begin with 05511), while those beginning with 056 are for VOIP phone services.
There are also still a few 0500 numbers, which are freephone numbers.
Mobiles and personal numbers
Most numbers beginning with '07' are mobile phones or pagers. Most are used by the major UK mobile networks, although Channel Islands and Isle of Man mobiles also begin with '07' and can sometimes be charged at a higher rate.
Numbers beginning with '070' are known as 'personal numbers' and are used by individuals and businesses to forward incoming calls to different phones as required. For example, a company may give out a single 070 number as an emergency contact then set it to forward calls to whichever member of staff is on call.
Special rate numbers
Normally used by businesses, '08' numbers aren't linked to a specific location and are often used by call centres who want a single national number.
Calls to 0800 and 0808 numbers are normally free from landlines.
Calls to numbers beginning 084 and 087 are charged at special rates: typically around 5p or 10p per minute from a landline, but much higher from mobiles.
Premium rate numbers
These are higher-cost numbers, normally charged at up to £1.50 per minute.
Premium rate numbers are usually used by product helplines, competitions, information services, dating services and adult entertainment lines, where the higher cost of the call pays for the service provided.