UK Country Code
UK country code: +44 (also written 0044). This is what you add when dialling from abroad. Always drop the leading 0 of the UK number when using +44.
Within the UK
- Mobile to mobile (UK): Just dial 07XXX XXX XXX
- Calling London landline: 020 XXXX XXXX
- Calling Manchester landline: 0161 XXX XXXX
- Other cities: Each has 3-4 digit area code starting with 01
- From within same area: Some still drop the area code; safest to always include
From Abroad
- Dial your country's international access prefix (US: 011, EU: 00)
- Then 44 (UK country code)
- Then UK number, dropping the leading 0
- Example from US: 011-44-20-7946-0958 (a London number)
- Example from EU: 0044-20-7946-0958
- WhatsApp/Signal: Use +44 prefix in contact
Number Types
| Starts with | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 07 | Mobile | Same cost from any UK location |
| 020 | London landline | 8-digit local number |
| 0121 | Birmingham | 7-digit local |
| 0131 | Edinburgh | 7-digit local |
| 0141 | Glasgow | 7-digit local |
| 0161 | Manchester | 7-digit local |
| 0151 | Liverpool | 7-digit local |
| 01865 | Oxford | 6-digit local |
| 01225 | Bath | 6-digit local |
| 01904 | York | 6-digit local |
Free Numbers
- 0800 / 0808 — Freephone (free from landline and mobile in UK)
- 0500 — Free (legacy, becoming rare)
- 0300 / 0345 / 0344 — Standard rate (cost = standard call)
- 0844 / 0871 / 09 — Premium rate (5p-£2.50/min)
- 118 — Directory enquiries (premium)
- From abroad: Free numbers are NOT free — many won't connect at all
📱 Save on calls: Use WhatsApp, Signal or FaceTime over WiFi to avoid roaming. Get a UK eSIM ($5/week) for cheap UK calls. See our eSIM guide.