🇬🇧UK area codes

UK area codes explained

01 and 02 are geographic landlines, with 020 for London and 0161 for Manchester. 03 is non geographic, 07 is mobile and 08 covers special numbers like 0800. Dial any UK number from your browser.

What you get

  • 020 London, 0121 Birmingham, 0161 Manchester
  • 07 means mobile, 08 covers 0800 freephone
  • Call any UK number from the browser, no app
How it works
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🇬🇧

How it works

1

Open StartACall

Open it in your browser and create an account in under a minute.

2

Type +44 and the number

Use +44, then the number without its leading zero, whatever the prefix.

3

Press call

The call connects in a few seconds, in HD voice. Your first call is free.

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Instant setup

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Pay as you go

Per minute pricing, no monthly plan, and your credit never expires.

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UK area codes explained

In short

UK numbers start with a prefix that tells you the type of line. 01 and 02 are geographic landlines, with 020 for London, 0121 Birmingham, 0161 Manchester, 0113 Leeds, 0131 Edinburgh and 029 Cardiff. 03 is non geographic, 07 is mobile and 08 covers special numbers like 0800 and 0845.

Geographic codes: 01 and 02

The first digits of a UK phone number tell you a lot before you even dial. Codes starting with 01 and 02 are geographic, meaning they are tied to a place. London uses 020, Birmingham uses 0121, Manchester uses 0161, Leeds uses 0113, Edinburgh uses 0131 and Cardiff uses 029. The leading zero is part of the national format and you drop it when calling from abroad.

Longer area codes go with shorter local numbers and shorter area codes go with longer local numbers. A London number is 020 followed by eight digits, while a smaller town might use a four or five digit area code followed by six digits. The total length usually comes to ten or eleven digits including the leading zero, which is why London numbers can look shorter at the front but carry a longer tail.

Non geographic and mobile: 03 and 07

Numbers that begin with 03 are non geographic, so they are not linked to any city. They are charged at the same rate as a standard 01 or 02 call and are often used by charities, banks and public bodies that want one national number rather than a local one. Numbers that begin with 07 are mobiles, and these are charged differently because the call terminates on a mobile network.

Knowing whether a number is 07 mobile or 01 landline matters for cost. A mobile costs more to reach than a landline almost everywhere in the world, and the UK is no exception. With StartACall you can dial any of them straight from your browser, so the prefix simply tells you the per minute rate rather than changing how you place the call.

Special numbers: the 08 range

The 08 range is for special services. Numbers starting 0800 and 0808 are freephone, free to call from UK landlines and mobiles. Numbers starting 0845 and 0844 are service numbers that can carry an access charge plus a service charge, so they are not free, and they are the ones people most often confuse with freephone.

If you are calling a UK 08 number from abroad it may not connect at all, since many freephone and service numbers only work within the UK. In those cases it helps to find the geographic 01 or 02 alternative, which you can then dial through the browser without surprise charges.

Using the codes to call from anywhere

Once you can read the prefix you can place the call from any device. With StartACall there is no app to install and no SIM to manage, because the call goes from your browser straight to the UK number over the internet. You type the plus sign, the country code 44 and the rest of the number with its leading zero removed.

A UK landline costs about $0.0514 per minute and a UK mobile about $0.0955 per minute, billed per minute with a small connection fee of $0.004 and no monthly plan. The credit you add never expires, and your first call is free with no card, so you can dial a London 020 or a Manchester 0161 number and hear the quality for yourself before you spend anything.

Frequently asked questions

What does the 020 code mean?+

020 is the area code for London. It is followed by an eight digit local number. From abroad you drop the leading zero and dial +44 20 and the number.

Is an 07 number a mobile?+

Yes. UK numbers that begin with 07 are mobiles. They are charged at the mobile rate, which is higher than a landline because the call ends on a mobile network.

What is the difference between 01 and 02 codes?+

Both are geographic landline codes. 02 codes cover a handful of large areas like London on 020 and Cardiff on 029, while 01 codes cover most other towns and cities.

Are 0800 numbers part of the area code system?+

No. 0800 sits in the 08 special services range, not the geographic 01 and 02 ranges. It is a freephone number with no link to any city.

Do I keep the leading zero when calling from abroad?+

No. The leading zero is only used inside the UK. From abroad you dial +44 and then the number without that first zero.

Last reviewed June 2026Reviewed by the StartACall calling teamDialing rules cross checked against ITU international dialing procedures
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