UK phone format: your 2024 guide

Looking to grow your business in the UK and connect with customers across different UK regions? Or maybe you want to call your friends that reside in London ..

Either way, if you want to make a call, you will need to know the right UK phone number format.

The United Kingdom phone number format might seem a bit tricky initially because, unlike some places, UK phone numbers can have a maximum of 15 digits.

In this article, we’re going to cover all things UK phone numbers. By the end of this guide, you’ll have a clear understanding of UK number format, types of UK numbers, area codes, and more.

UK phone number examples

Let’s get a more detailed look at UK phone numbers:

1.UK telephone number example

UK telephone numbers consist of three parts: UK country code, area code, and the contact’s landline phone number.

To better understand, let’s break down a UK telephone number example: +44-161-6107005

Country Code: +44

Manchester Area Code: 0161 (leave the leading 0 when calling internationally)

Phone number: 6107005

2. UK mobile number example

UK mobile phone numbers are broken down into three key parts: the country code, national destination code, and the contact’s mobile phone number.

Let’s break down a UK mobile phone number example to better understand: +44-7783-667788.

Country code: 44

National destination code: 7975, 7783, 7507 (this depends on the mobile network operator)

Contact phone number: 667788

How to call a UK landline?

Follow these simple steps to call a landline number in UK:

Step 1: Begin by entering your home country’s international access code, which could be ’00’, ‘011’, or simply ‘+’.

Step 2: After the international access code, dial the UK country code “44”.

Step 3: Now, type in your contacts specific area code for their location in the UK.

Step 4: Finally, enter your contacts UK landline number in the international format.

UK landline number example:

Let’s say your contact is in Liverpool, UK, and their landline number is 2345678.

You would dial the access code (00, 011, or +), followed by the UK country code (44), and then Liverpool’s area code (0151).

How to call a UK mobile number?

UK mobile numbers are normally 11 digits. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to call a UK mobile number from overseas:

Step 1: Begin by entering the exit code or international access code for the country you are calling from. This could be ’00’, ‘011’, or ‘+’ (depends on your location).

Step 2: After the exit code, dial the UK country code ’44’.

Step 3: Next, omitt the leading ‘0’ from the UK mobile number. Mobile numbers in the UK typically start with ’07’, but omit the ‘0’ when dialing from abroad.

Step 4: Finally, dial the remaining digits of the UK mobile number.

For example, if the UK mobile number you want to dial is 07700 234567, you would:

Dial your country’s exit code (e.g., 00).

Dial the UK country code (44).

Omit the leading ‘0’ from the mobile number (so it becomes 7700 234567).

Dial the remaining digits of the mobile phone number.

More UK phone number format examples

Let’s get a more detailed look at UK phone numbers:

1.UK phone number example

UK telephone numbers consist of three parts: UK country code, area code, and the contact’s landline phone number.

To better understand, let’s break down a UK telephone number example: +44-161-6107005

Country Code: +44

Manchester Area Code: 0161 (leave the leading 0 when calling internationally)

Phone number: 6107005

2. UK mobile phone number example

UK mobile phone numbers are broken down into three key parts: the country code, national destination code, and the contact’s mobile phone number.

Let’s break down a UK mobile phone number example to better understand: +44-7783-667788.

Country code: 44

National destination code: 7975, 7783, 7507 (this depends on the mobile network operator)

Contact phone number: 667788

UK phone number dialing codes

UK phone numbers have different area codes, normally ranging from 3 to 5 digits.

It’s important to use the right area code that matches the location of the person you’re trying to reach. If you’re calling from outside the UK, make sure to leave out the extra zero before dialing the area code.

Let’s break down the area codes based on their length,

3-digit codes

In the UK, 3-digit area codes mostly covers metropolitan areas.

These codes usually begin with ’02’, followed by an 8-digit phone number. Here are some commonly used 3-digit UK area codes:

City	Area Code
London	020
Southampton and Portsmouth	023
Coventry	024
Belfast	028
Cardiff	029

4-digit codes

In the UK, 4-digit area codes are primarily designated for large cities and their surrounding regions. These codes typically start with “011x” or “01×1”, followed by a 7-digit phone number.

Here are some commonly used 4-digit UK dialing (area) codes:

City	Area Code
Leeds	0113
Sheffield	0114
Nottingham	0115
Leicester	0116
Bristol	0117
Edinburgh	0131
Birmingham	0121
Glasgow	0141
Liverpool	0151
Manchester	0161

5-digit codes

Here are some commonly used five digit area codes in the UK:

City	Area Code
Ashbourne	01335
Belper	011773
Burton-on-Trent	01283
Castleford	01977
Chesterfield	01246
Doncaster	01302
Mansfield	01623
Ripon	01765
Wetherby	01937

Types of UK phone numbers

Let’s break down the different types of phone numbers in the UK:

01.Mobile phone numbers

These normally begin with “07”. They’re usually 11 digits long.

02. Freephone numbers

Ever heard of “0800 numbers” or “0808 numbers”? These are free phone numbers and let your customers call you without spending a penny.

03. Geographic numbers

Now, these begin with “01” or “02” and represent specific areas in the UK. The area code pinpoints the place – city, town, or region – followed by the subscriber number.

For instance, if your business is based in London, your number might start with an “020” area code followed by a 7 seven digit phone number.

04. Non-geographic numbers

These start with a variety of prefixes like “0845”, “0871”, etc.

Conclusion

Getting the hang of the UK phone number format is important for smooth communication, whether you’re chatting with your friends or sealing deals in business.

With this guide under your belt, you’re all set to call up your connections. So go ahead and make those calls, no matter the distance.

Looking to call the UK from the USA? Here’s a detailed guide to help you with that as well.

Frequently asked questions