About England
England is a country which is rich in traditions, historical significance, and of paramount influence in the world today. Essentially, it is part of the United Kingdom and has a long held culture shaped over centuries of ruling the different continents of the world. It is a perfect synthesis of old and new due to the advancement in science and technology while at the same time keeping the ancient architectural wonders like cathedrals, castles, and vibrant native life in villages. The famous cities like London are at the heart of the world finance center and it has a top notch education sector with top universities like University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, and a lot more. Every year millions visit the country for its breathtaking beauty of countryside and vibrant culture of cities. If you are looking to connect with friends living there or family connections and even looking to establish business or trade links, knowledge about country code is an essential ingredient for communication purposes.
What is England’s Country Code?
The country code for England is +44. It is the basis of the international calling system as each country is assigned the unique country code to make international communications across borders of various countries smooth and easy. Whenever you want to call somebody in England you have to use this country code of +44. The country code is used by all countries under the framework of International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to ease the process of calling internationally.
It works as the bridge between England and the remaining world as millions connect with it for educational, business, and familia connection throughout the United Kingdom. When you intend to call some friend in England you will dial the country code for the UK, area code of the specific locality, and then the local number of an individual or business entity. Following this format you can call any one in England whichever city it may be from Manchster to London.
Area Codes of England
The notion of area codes entered the UK with the widespread adoption of telephones and ith that the building and development of telecommunication networks in the middle of 20th century. These area codes are also called dialling codes which are the backbone of the telephone numbering system developed in England.
In the United Kingdom you will find the complex area codes system as various regions, cities are assigned different area codes with different digits. For example, the area code for London is 020 while area code for Brimingham is 0121. Every area code signifies the specific location on the geographic map throughout the country. You begin with country code then area code, and then number of the individual or business entity. For instance, the number in Manchester will look like this 0161 234 5678.
List of Area Codes in England
You can see the list of Area codes in England of different cities below.
|
City/Region
| Area Code |
| London | 20 |
| Manchester | 161 |
| Bristol | 117 |
| Sheffield | 114 |
| Leeds | 113 |
| Birmingham | 121 |
| Bolton | 1204 |
| Crawley | 1293 |
| Kingston upon Hull | 1482 |
| Hexham | 1434 |
| Exeter | 1392 |
| Blackburn | 1254 |
| Blackpool | 1253 |
| Bradford | 1274 |
| Goole | 1482 |
| Grimsby | 1482 |
| Middlesbrough | 1642 |
| Newcastle upon Tyne | 191 |
| Stockton-on-Tees | 1642 |
| Woking | 1372 |
| Worthing | 1903 |
England Phone Number Format
The phone numbers in England consist of 3 parts:
- Country code: The country code you need to enter for the UK is +44. You also have the option to put 0044.
- Area code: As provided in the list above, you need the area code to which you are calling. For London you would use 20.
- Local number: This is the number you would use after the area code which is the number of the subscriber you are intended to call. It consists of 7-9 digits.
Different Types of Calls Formats in England With Examples
A. Calling in the Same City on Landline
You are calling a friend in Manchester who is living in the same area code as you do. You do not need to put an area code while dialling the number on the landline.
Your number would look like this. 2345678
B. When You are Living in the Same Area Code on Mobile
When you are making a call while residing in the same area code geographic location you just dial the subscriber number. For example if you are living in Leeds having an area code of 113 you do need to put this before the subscriber number.
Your number would look like this. 0113 1234567
C.When You are Calling Someone in Another City
You are calling someone in Birmingham while living outside the city. then that would be a national call.
When you dial the number line in Birmingham , you must use the area code of Birmingham with it. For example, Your number would look like this. 0121 5469087
D. When you call in UK from Abroad
Suppose you are living in New York and want to call a friend in London. You would dial +44 UK country code, along with 020 area code of London, and then the subscriber number of the recipient.
However, here you drop the leading zero of the area code of London and just dial 20 with the local number.
Your dialed number will look like this +44 20 79670958
Remember, you need to follow the similar pattern with area codes of the UK having more than 2 digits as well. For example, the area code of Birmingham is 0121. When you are calling from overseas, you would drop the zero of this area code.
Your dialed number would look like this: +44 121 098 1234
Just keep in mind this format when you are calling from abroad: +44 [area code minus zero] [local number].
Special Phone Numbers in the United Kingdom
In the UK, various specialized phone numbers are used for specific services and functions beyond standard telephone numbers:
101 – Non-Emergency Police Number: This number is used for non-emergency situations requiring police assistance, such as reporting a crime that does not need immediate intervention.
111 – NHS Non-Emergency Helpline: This is the National Health Service’s non-emergency number for medical advice and information. It is available 24/7 for health concerns that are not life-threatening.
999 – Emergency Services: The primary emergency number in the UK, used for police, fire, medical, and other urgent services. It is free to call from any landline or mobile phone.
112 – European Emergency Number: This number works similarly to 999 and is recognized across Europe. It connects you to emergency services throughout the EU.
116XXX – Harmonized Service Numbers: These numbers are standardized across the EU for specific services. In the UK, examples include:
- 116111: Childline, a helpline for children in distress.
- 116123: Samaritans, offering emotional support for those in distress or contemplating suicide.
0800 and 0808 – Toll-Free Numbers: These numbers are free to call from within the UK, with the cost of the call covered by the receiving party, often used by businesses for customer support.
084 and 087 – Business Rate Numbers: These numbers are typically used by businesses for customer service lines. Calls to these numbers are charged at a higher rate, and some of the revenue is shared with the service provider.
090 and 091 – Premium Rate Numbers: Used for services like competitions, voting, or adult content, these numbers incur higher charges, often significantly more than regular calls, with the revenue shared between the provider and the telephone company.
03 – Geographic Rate Numbers: These numbers are charged at the same rate as local landline calls and are often used by government agencies, charities, and businesses that want to offer a national number without high costs to the caller.
Understanding the cost implications and purposes of these special numbers is essential, as charges can vary widely depending on the type of number you are calling. Always check the rates before dialing these numbers in the UK.
| Number Prefix | Service Type | Description | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 101 | Non-Emergency Police Number | Police assistance for non-urgent matters | Standard local call rates |
| 111 | NHS Non-Emergency Helpline | Medical advice for non-emergencies | Free for callers |
| 999 | Emergency Services | Police, fire, and medical emergencies | Free for callers |
| 112 | European Emergency Number | Emergency services across the EU | Free for callers |
| 116XXX | Harmonized Service Numbers | EU-wide services (e.g., child helpline, emotional support) | Free for callers |
| 0800/0808 | Toll-Free Numbers | Free calls for customers, costs covered by receiver | Free for callers |
| 084/087 | Business Rate Numbers | Business-related customer service and support | Higher than standard rates |
| 090/091 | Premium Rate Numbers | Premium services like contests and entertainment | High charges, revenue to provider |
| 03 | Geographic Rate Numbers | National numbers charged at local call rates | Standard local call rates |
Special Prefixes for UK Phone Numbers
In the UK, phone numbers have specific prefixes that indicate the type of service or network associated with the number. These prefixes are key to understanding how to dial correctly and what to expect in terms of call costs:
- 01 and 02: These prefixes are used for standard geographic landline numbers within the UK.
- 03: These are non-geographic numbers that are charged at the same rate as local landline calls, commonly used by organizations that want a national presence.
- 07: Mobile phone numbers in the UK start with this prefix.
- 0800/0808: Reserved for toll-free numbers, allowing callers to make free calls with the cost covered by the receiver.
- 084/087: Used for business rate numbers, typically associated with higher charges.
- 090/091: Designated for premium rate services with significantly higher call charges.
| Prefix | Service/Network Type |
|---|---|
| 01/02 | Geographic Landline Numbers |
| 03 | Non-Geographic Numbers |
| 07 | Mobile Phone Numbers |
| 0800/0808 | Toll-Free Numbers |
| 084/087 | Business Rate Numbers |
| 090/091 | Premium Rate Numbers |
Familiarizing yourself with these prefixes and their associated costs ensures you dial correctly and understand the type of service or network you are reaching.
E. When You Want to Call Emergency Numbers in UK
If you happen to be in a situation when you feel the need to call emergency services in the UK. You only need to dial the 3-digit number 999 from whichever device you are holding whether phone, landline or even paid phones. You can also use 112 as an emergency number; it is the alternative of 999. It will connect you to the same operator who knows your location automatically.
F. Calling Free Phone numbers Seeking Information
There are also numbers in the UK which you can dial to seek information about different services, helplines, and utility companies.
You need to dial the code 0800 or 0808 for this purpose. Your dialled number will look like this 0800 1234567
There is no charge on calling these numbers and they are free whether you are calling from landline or mobile phone.
G. When You call Premium rate services
These numbers cost you a little when you dial these numbers. The code for the premium rate services begin with 09.
Most common examples are competitions on TV asking for votes or weather information phone lines. Therefore, calling a premium rate services number you will be charged extra as agreed between your telecom operator and the premium rate company. You will be notified of this in advance.
Things To Keep in Mind When Calling In England
Keep these points in mind when you are intending to make a call in England.
1. Mind The Time Zone Always
Before making an international call in England , check the time zone difference beforehand. In England there is GMT or BST depending upon the season. Pacific Standard Time PST is about 8 hours behind the GMT zone of England. It is essential to know the time zone of the country you are calling as office hours and meetings can happen only when you have the correct knowledge of the time zone.
2. Having The Correct Format of Numbers
It is also an essential point to keep in mind when you are calling in England. Typically, phone numbers consist of 10 digits while landline numbers 11 digits. Having less than these digits would make an incomplete number which may cause you stress. So always double check the number along with digits for a smooth calling experience. Most famous mobile telecom companies are vodafone, O2, and Three.
3. Ensure You Have International Roaming Turned On
When you are planning to travel to England it is important to have your international roaming turned by the service provider. Plus, you also need to be aware of the costs you will incur as a result of calling in England. Also keep in mind that there are data roaming limitations and some restrictions also check these with your service provider.
4. Not All Area Codes Are of Similar Length
The number of digits you will find in area codes of different cities and regions of England are of different digits. You also mindful of this fact as well. Having the correct area code is basic ingredient to making the successful call to your intended audience. For example, the area code of Cardiff is 029 while cambridge has area code of 01223 and Dundee has area code 01382.
5. Beware and Educate Yourself About Voicemail Service
There is a widespread use of voicemail in England. If you happen to call someone in England and receive voicemail be ready to record a clear and short message for the recipient. This is important as you will most probably receive a callback and keeping your tone polite is always the need of the hour.
6. Not Just Language But Also Accent
In the UK there are various accents of English spoken and you need to be aware of the accent as well as language to grasp what the local person is saying. This gets more difficult on phones as people in Scotland have different accents then the ones living in London.
Conclusion
England is the land of fascinating castles, and historical places which mesmerises the visitor as the centuries old architecture is still preserved there. You can visit the hustle bustle of London to the quiet life in the villages of England. From big castles in Scotland to the beauty of simple life in villages.
To connect with someone in England you need to know the country code of England which is +44. After that the second important thing is area codes of the specific location where the subscriber of the number lives. You can make international calls to business and individuals there just be mindful of the time zone and different accent spoken there. Plus, remember there are different codes for premium and free calls in England. Also be mindful of the international roaming and costs you have to bear with the calls in the United Kingdom.
