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How to call the UK from the US: [starter’s guide + area codes]

Jesh
How to call the UK from the US

Wondering how to call the UK from the USA? Worry not, we’ll cover everything you need to call the UK in this blog.

Whether you’re looking to connect with a business partner or just trying to catch up with your old friend in the UK, you might want to make a call to the UK from the US occasionally.

You might have questions such as,

Does the international area code 44 belong to the UK? How to call UK for free? How to call a UK mobile or landline phone number? We’ll cover all of it, and more.

If you’re looking to call someone in the United Kingdom (UK) from a phone in the US, you’ve got a few options.

WhatsApp and Skype are popular online calling apps and are free, as long as you subscribe to the relevant service. You can also use online phone service tools like iTeleCenter, Zoom, or MS Teams.

But when you need to physically call United Kingdom from USA when you’re not connected to the internet, making a call becomes a little tricker.

This beginners’ guide is your one stop shop for all things UK dialing from the US: area codes, country code, examples, and more. We have created this DIY guide to help you get the right codes to call UK from USA without breaking a sweat.

Stick around and we’ll show you how to reach out to your UK gang – family, friends or work buddies – in no time.

What are a few things to consider before calling the UK from the US?

  • Dialing code
  • Exit code
  • UK area codes
  • Time zone differences
  • International calling rates

How to call a mobile UK phone number from the US

If you’re calling a mobile phone that has a UK number, you just need to switch up a couple of things for your calls to get through. Here’s how to make a call in 4 easy steps,

Step 1: Dial the exit code – 011

Use the above exit code or use the (+) symbol if you’re using a cellphone.

Step 2: Dial the country code – 44

Right after you dial the US exit code, dial the UK country code 44

Step 3: Dial the mobile code – 7

You’re calling a UK cellphone so dial in the country’s mobile code 7.

Step 4: Dial the UK cellphone number

Enter the 9-digit number you’re trying to reach.

Now the final code looks like this: 011 (exit code), 44 (country code), 7 (mobile phone code), 123-456-789

Once you’re done it should look something like this,
011-44-7-123-456-789 or +44-7-123-456-789

How to call UK landlines from the US

If you’re looking to call a UK landline number from the US, here’s how to do it,

Step 1: Key in the exit code – 011

Exit code AKA international access code is a signal for making a call outside of the US. Dial the exit code “011” or use the “+” symbol.

Step 2: Key in the country code – 44

Now dial the UK country code “44”

Step 3: Key in the area code

The area code in the UK consists of two to five digits. For example, the country code for Liverpool is “151”.

Step 4: Key in the UK landline number

After dialing the required area code, dial the UK landline number you want (consists of 7 digits)

Now, the code should look like this: 011 (exit code), 44 (country code), 151 (area code), 1234-6789.

Finally it should be – 011-44-151-1234-567

Here are some of the most popular UK area codes. Don’t find the area code you’re looking for? Search for the area codes here.

UK CityArea Code
Aberdeen1224
London20
Birmingham121
Manchester161
Glasgow141
Liverpool151
Edinburgh131
Blackpool1253
Leeds113
Coventry24
Sheffield114
Bristol117
Newcastle upon Tyne191
Nottingham115
Belfast28
Cardiff29
Leicester116
Southampton23
Oxford1865
Cambridge1223
Brighton1273
Portsmouth23
York1904

Time zone differences when calling the UK

When you’re making a call to the UK from the US, don’t forget about the time zone differences!

You wouldn’t want to disturb someone’s beauty sleep or miss out on an important chat because of the time gap.

Here’s what you need to know about the main time zone differences:

Eastern time: The UK is 5 hours ahead of ET. For example, if it’s 12 Noon in New York, it would be 5:00 PM in London.

Central time: The UK is 6 hours ahead of CT zone. So, if it’s 5:00 PM in Chicago, it would be11:00 PM in London.

Mountain time: The UK is 7 hours ahead of MT zone. If it’s noon in Denver, it would be 7:00 PM in London.

Pacific time: The UK is 8 hours ahead of Pacific Time. For example, if it’s 1:00 PM in Los Angeles, it would be 9:00 PM in London.

Also, daylight savings time don’t always sync up perfectly between the US and the UK, and some US states do their own thing and skip it, having a tool like Time and Date would be better.

UK national public holidays

In the UK, there are 8 national holidays celebrated throughout the year. Here’s a list of the national holidays in the UK:

  • New Year’s Day – January 1st
  • Good Friday – Friday before Easter Sunday (the date varies)
  • Easter Monday – Monday following Easter Sunday (the date varies)
  • Early May (Bank holiday) – First Monday in May
  • Spring (Bank holiday) – Last Monday in May
  • Summer (Bank holiday) – Last Monday in August
  • Christmas Day – December 25th
  • Boxing Day – December 26th

How much does it cost to call the UK from the US?

You might be wondering ..

If you want to make calls over the internet to the UK for free, it’s best to opt for a VoIP provider like iTeleCenter.

But if you’re looking to make direct calls then the cost of calling the UK from the US depends on several factors, including whether you’re calling a landline, cell phone, toll-free number or non-geographic number.

Moreover, international calling fees can also vary based on your phone carrier and network service provider. It’s best to double check specific international calling rates for calls to the UK.

To get accurate information about the cost of calling the UK from the US, check with your phone service provider or skim through their website for international calling rates and any applicable fees or charges.

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Hi, I’m Jesh

Jesh is a product marketing specialist and B2B copywriter with a flair for detail and a hint of humor. Outside of the 9 to 5, he likes to attend wine-tasting events and act like a connoisseur.

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