Location of United Kingdom (dark green) |
|
| Location | |
|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Continent | Europe |
| Access codes | |
| Country calling | +44 |
| International prefix | 00 |
| Trunk prefix | 0 |
| Dial plan | |
| Regulator | Ofcom |
| Type | Open |
| NSN length | 10 mostly; 9 in some 01xxx areas, 9 in one 01xxxx area, 9 for all 0500 numbers, 9 for some 0800 numbers; 7 for two special 08xx numbers. |
| Typical format | NSN = 10: (01xxxx) xxxxx (01xxx) xxxxxx (01x1) xxx xxxx (011x) xxx xxxx (02x) xxxx xxxx 03xx xxx xxxx 055 xxxx xxxx 056 xxxx xxxx 070 xxxx xxxx 07624 xxxxxx 076 xxxx xxxx 07xxx xxxxxx 0800 xxx xxxx 08xx xxx xxxx 09xx xxx xxxx NSN = 9: (016977) xxxx (01xxx) xxxxx 0500 xxxxxx 0800 xxxxxx NSN = 7: 0800 1111 0845 46 4x Notes: 01 ranges can have NSN as 10 or 9. 0800 range can have NSN as 10, 9 or 7. 0845 range can have NSN as 10 or 7. 0500 range has NSN as 9 only. |
| List of United Kingdom codes | |
The UK telephone numbering plan, also known as the National Telephone Numbering Plan, is the system used for assigning telephone numbers in the United Kingdom and the Crown Dependencies. It is regulated by the UK government's Office of Communications (Ofcom), which holds responsibility for telecommunications.
Since 28 April 2001, almost all geographic numbers and most non-geographic numbers have 9 or 10 national (significant) numbers after the "0" trunk code. All mobile telephone numbers have 10 national (significant) numbers after the "0" trunk code. The overall structure of the UK's National Numbering Plan is:
| Prefix | Service type |
|---|---|
| 01 | Geographic area codes. |
| 02 | Geographic area codes (introduced in 2000). |
| 03 | Nationwide non-geographic code, charged to caller at geographic area code rates (introduced 2007). These calls are included free in plans with "inclusive minutes", unlike 08 numbers, most of which can incur extra charges, depending on the operator. |
| 04 | Reserved. |
| 05 | Corporate numbering and VoIP services (note: some VoIP services use 08 or geographic numbers). Freephone (toll free) on 0500. |
| 06 | Was reserved for possible use by Personal Numbering instead of 070 following consumer confusion with mobile phones. |
| 07 | Mostly for mobile (cell) phones on 074xx, 075xx, 07624, 077xx, 078xx, and 079xx. WiFi numbers on 079112 and 079118. Personal Numbering on 070. Pagers on 076xx. |
| 08 | Freephone (toll free) on 080, and Special Services (formerly known as local and national rate) on 084 and 087. |
| 09 | Premium Rate services. |
A short sample of geographic numbers, set out in the officially approved (Ofcom) number groups:
| Number | Location |
|---|---|
| (020) xxxx xxxx | London |
| (029) xxxx xxxx | Cardiff |
| (0113) xxx xxxx | Leeds |
| (0116) xxx xxxx | Leicester |
| (0131) xxx xxxx | Edinburgh |
| (0151) xxx xxxx | Liverpool |
| (01382) xxxxxx | Dundee |
| (01386) xxxxxx | Evesham |
| (01865) xxxxxx | Oxford |
| (01792) xxxxxx | Swansea |
| (01204) xxxxx | Bolton |
| (015396) xxxxx | Sedbergh |
| (016977) xxxx | Brampton |
In the United Kingdom, area codes are two, three, four, or, rarely, five digits long (after the initial zero). Regions with shorter area codes, typically large cities, permit the allocation of more telephone numbers as the local number portion has more digits. Local customer numbers are four to eight figures long. The total number of digits is ten, but in a very few areas the total may be nine digits (after the initial zero). The "area code" is also referred to as an "STD (code)" (subscriber trunk dialling) or a "dialling code" in the UK.
The code allocated to the largest population is (020) for London. The code allocated to the largest area is (028) for all of Northern Ireland. The UK Numbering Plan also applies to three British Crown dependencies—Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man—even though they are not part of the UK itself.
For dialling the United Kingdom from overseas, Ofcom and ITU-T recommendation E.123 states that numbers be written in the form:
| Number | Location |
|---|---|
| +44 20 xxxx xxxx | London |
| +44 29 xxxx xxxx | Cardiff |
| +44 113 xxx xxxx | Leeds |
| +44 116 xxx xxxx | Leicester |
| +44 131 xxx xxxx | Edinburgh |
| +44 151 xxx xxxx | Liverpool |
| +44 1382 xxxxxx | Dundee |
| +44 1386 xxxxxx | Evesham |
| +44 1865 xxxxxx | Oxford |
| +44 1792 xxxxxx | Swansea |
| +44 1204 xxxxx | Bolton |
| +44 15396 xxxxx | Sedbergh |
| +44 16977 xxxx | Brampton |
It is common to see the form +44 (0)xxx xxx xxxx used instead (with an additional zero in brackets). This form is not recommended by Ofcom[1] because it might confuse the reader. Callers within the United Kingdom substitute the +44 with the number zero (0). Calling +44 0xxx xxx xxxx will not work from most operators. It is therefore recommended to show the number in either the national or the international format, but not a mixture of both formats. The international format shows only those digits that overseas callers must dial.
Storing any UK telephone number in a mobile phone, or directly dialling it from the keypad, in the correct +44 <area code> <local number> international format (without the leading zero) allows the number to work when the mobile is calling out from any country of the world, including whilst still located within the UK. The "plus" sets the number type to international and so no International Access Code is required.
This is the format used by most areas. It has a four-digit area code (after the initial zero) and a six digit subscriber number, and is known as 4+6 format. These area codes were changed by adding a "1" directly after the initial zero as a part of PhONEday in 1995. Just short of 581 areas use this format, and the area codes range from 01200 to 01998 (except those that match the pattern 1x1 after the initial zero). A small number of these areas also have a few subscriber numbers that have only five digits. That is, almost all (01xxx) area codes now have only six digit local numbers. e.g.
| 01204 | Bolton | 20 = BO |
|---|---|---|
| 01224 | Aberdeen | 22 = AB |
| 01244 | Chester | 24 = CH |
| 01382 | Dundee | 38 = DU |
| 01429 | Hartlepool | 42 = HA |
| 01482 | Hull | 48 = HU |
| 01527 | Redditch | |
| 01582 | Luton | 58 = LU |
| 01670 | Morpeth | 67 = MP |
| 01730 | Petersfield | 73 = PE |
| 01736 | Penzance | 73 = PE |
| 01750 | Selkirk | 75 = SK |
| 01772 | Preston | 77 = PR |
| 01853 | Ullapool | 85 = UL |
| 01900 | Workington | 90 = WO |
| 01946 | Whitehaven | 94 = WH |
| 01947 | Whitby | 94 = WH |
This is used for forty smaller towns where some subscriber numbers within the area code have only five digits[2] and is known as 4+5 format. The numbers therefore have only nine digits after the initial zero trunk code. These area codes were changed by adding a "1" directly after the initial zero as a part of PhONEday in 1995. These towns always have a mixture of six and five digit local numbers, each type allocated in specific DE blocks; e.g. in the 01647 area code numbers beginning 24xxx and 61xxx have five digits whereas all other DE blocks within that area code are allocated as six digit numbers. The number of places with five digit subscriber numbers and an 01xxx area code has declined rapidly in recent decades. There were 511 ranges allocated across 56 different area codes in January 1998. The Big Number Change removed many, especially in Northern Ireland, and by July 2005 there were only 329 ranges in 42 codes. By April 2010 this had reduced to 324 ranges in 40 codes, with the same number still in use in January 2012. e.g.
| 01204 | Bolton | 20 = BO |
|---|---|---|
| 01527 | Redditch | |
| 01750 | Selkirk | 75 = SK |
| 01900 | Workington | 90 = WO |
| 01946 | Whitehaven | 94 = WH |
This is the geographical number format for the first round of five large cities moved to all figure dialling in the 1960s, and subsequently also used in the former metropolitan county of Tyne and Wear, eastern County Durham and south-eastern Northumberland from the 1980s onwards. These six areas have a three-digit area code matching the pattern 1x1 (after the initial zero) and a seven digit subscriber number, and this is known as 3+7 format. These area codes were changed by adding a "1" directly after the initial zero as a part of PhONEday in 1995. The first three digits of the local number identifies a small area within the city.
| 0121 | Birmingham | formerly 021 (2 = B) |
|---|---|---|
| 0131 | Edinburgh | formerly 031 (3 = E) |
| 0141 | Glasgow | formerly 041 (4 = G) |
| 0151 | Liverpool | formerly 051 (5 = L) |
| 0161 | Manchester | formerly 061 (6 = M) |
| 0171 | Used for inner London until 2000 | |
| 0181 | Used for outer London until 2000 | |
| 0191 | Former county of Tyne and Wear, eastern County Durham, south-eastern Northumberland |
formerly 091 |
This is the geographical number format for the second round of large cities and towns moved to brand-new three-digit area codes. Five of these were moved in 1995 as a part of PhONEday. Reading followed a year later. At the time of the change, an extra digit was added to the subscriber number. These six areas have a three-digit area code matching the pattern 11x, with a seven-digit subscriber number, and this is known as 3+7 format. The first three digits of the local number identifies a small area within the town or city. Note that the former Reading area code had already been changed once, by adding a "1" directly after the initial zero as a part of PhONEday in 1995.
| 0113 | Leeds | formerly 0532 (53 = LE) |
|---|---|---|
| 0114 | Sheffield | formerly 0742 (74 = SH) |
| 0115 | Nottingham | formerly 0602 (60 = NO) |
| 0116 | Leicester | formerly 0533 (53 = LE) |
| 0117 | Bristol | formerly 0272 (27 = BR) |
| 0118 | Reading | formerly 01734 (73 = RE) |
This is the newest geographical number format. It is used for the third tier of large cities and for Northern Ireland, and was formed as a part of the Big Number Change in 2000. The new area code is much shorter than the old one, and begins 02 unlike the previous 01 area codes. Numbers in these five areas are commonly misquoted, e.g. London as 0207 or Cardiff as 02920. The numbers consist of a two-digit area code matching the pattern 02x, and an eight-digit subscriber number, and this is known as 2+8 format.
The first four digits of the local number identifies a small area within the town or city. At the time of the change, the subscriber part of the number gained an extra digit in London, those in Northern Ireland gained two or three digits, and the subscriber part of the number in the other areas gained two digits. All of these areas were also subject to a previous code change, one that added a "1" directly after the initial zero, as a part of PhONEday in 1995. The short area code is also known as a wide area code.
| 020 | London | formerly 0171 and 0181 (1995–2000), 071 and 081 (1990–1995), 01 (1960s-1990) |
|---|---|---|
| 023 | Southampton | (023) 8xxx xxxx formerly 01703 (70 = SO) |
| Portsmouth | (023) 9xxx xxxx formerly 01705 (70 = PO) | |
| 024 | Coventry | formerly 01203 (20 = CO) |
| 028 | Northern Ireland | (028) 25xx xxxx Ballymena formerly (01266) xxxxxx |
| (028) 28xx xxxx Larne formerly (01574) xxxxxx | ||
| (028) 37xx xxxx Armagh formerly (01861) xxxxxx | ||
| (028) 71xx xxxx Derry formerly (01504) xxxxxx | ||
| (028) 82xx xxxx Omagh formerly (01662) xxxxxx | ||
| (028) 90xx xxxx Belfast formerly (01232) xxxxxx | ||
| (028) 92xx xxxx Lisburn formerly (01846) xxxxxx | ||
| (028) 95xx xxxx Belfast new number range | ||
| 029 | Cardiff | formerly 01222 (22 = CA) |
This is the oldest geographical number format and is used for twelve smaller towns and villages where the subscriber number is either five or (in one area code) four digits long. These are known as 5+5 and 5+4 format. Note that therefore the STD code and the subscriber number does not always total ten digits after the initial zero trunk code. These area codes were changed by adding a "1" directly after the initial zero as a part of PhONEday in 1995. The number of places using these two formats has declined rapidly in recent decades and Brampton is the last place in the UK with four-digit local numbers.
| 013873 | Langholm |
|---|---|
| 015242 | Hornby |
| 015394 | Hawkshead |
| 015395 | Grange-over-Sands |
| 015396 | Sedbergh |
| 016973 | Wigton |
| 016974 | Raughton Head |
| 016977 | Brampton[3][4] |
| 017683 | Appleby |
| 017684 | Pooley Bridge |
| 017687 | Keswick |
| 019467 | Gosforth |
The above twelve area codes and their six 'parent' area codes (01387, 01524, 01539, 01697, 01768 and 01946) are known as 'Mixed' areas due to multiple area codes sharing the same SABC digits.
These ranges have subscriber numbers beginning with the digits "0" or "1", e.g.:
| 01332 050xxx | Derby |
|---|---|
| 01382 006xxx | Dundee |
| 0141 005 xxxx | Glasgow |
| 0117 101 xxxx | Bristol |
| 0118 00x xxxx | Reading |
| 020 0003 xxxx | London |
Currently, these numbers are mostly used as the termination points for non-geographic numbers, and by some automated systems such as alarms. As such they are not usually meant to be directly dialled. These numbers have been problematic as some mobile phone operators in the UK do not allow access to these ranges, and there may also be difficulty accessing these numbers from outside the UK. Regulator Ofcom proposes that in future these numbers be released for wider, general-purpose use in up to 70 area codes facing number shortage.[5] In order to avoid confusion with codes beginning with these digits, the area code must always be dialled, even from within the same geographic exchange. Accordingly, if these numbers are eventually released for general use, Ofcom proposes completely removing the ability to dial locally without the area code in areas affected.
On 27 July 2006, Ofcom announced that companies will soon be able to use an "03" non-geographic number, in place of other non-geographic numbers (such as 0870 or 0845 numbers). Callers would be charged at the same rate as if they were calling a geographic number (01 or 02).[6] This means that customers who are benefiting from "free" minutes on mobile phones or landlines would also be able to call these numbers using their inclusive minutes.[7] On 13 February 2007, Ofcom released more details on their plans for the 03 range and announced that allocations of 03 numbers to providers would begin in March 2007. Whilst 01, 02 and 07 numbers can receive text messages, currently the majority of cellular network providers do not support the sending of text messages to 03 numbers. Three different ranges of numbers were announced; those beginning 0300/0303 are reserved for qualifying public bodies and non-profit organisations, those beginning 0330/0333, which are available for allocation to anyone, and those beginning 034x/037x which will be used for migration from the 084x and 087x number ranges respectively. Ofcom itself began using 03 numbers on 13 November 2007 for public use.[8]
| 030x xxx xxxx | For qualifying public bodies and non-profit organisations as defined by Ofcom |
|---|---|
| 033x xxx xxxx | For any end user |
| 034x xxx xxxx | Migration range for operators who have 084x numbers |
| 037x xxx xxxx | Migration range for operators who have 087x numbers |
Unlike 03 numbers there is no uniform pricing for 05 numbers; BT charge a number of different rates depending on the number dialled.[9] Some are charged at geographic rate, others not, and unlike 03 numbers, other operators are not required to charge the same rates as BT for calling 05 numbers.
| 055 xxxx xxxx | Corporate Numbering (but also used by BT for its Broadband Voice service) |
|---|---|
| 056 xxxx xxxx | Allocated by Ofcom for LIECS (Location Independent Electronic Communications Services), such as VoIP services |
The 0500 range is used for some freephone services which were originally provided by Mercury Communications Ltd (now Cable & Wireless Worldwide). These numbers are different from the rest of the 05 range in that they are only 10 digits in length, e.g. 0500 2 88 2 91 (BBC Radio 2, 88 to 91 FM), as they were allocated before the 05 range was assigned to corporate numbering.
| 0500 xxxxxx[10] | "Freephone" (free to call from landline, up to 40p per minute from mobile). | |
|---|---|---|
Individual mobile phone companies are allocated different ranges within the 074xx, 075xx, 07624, 077xx, 078xx and 079xx area codes. Changes to mobile phone numbers were mostly straight replacements, such as Vodafone customers on the 0378 block became 07778.
| 070 xxxx xxxx | Personal Numbering |
|---|---|
| 074xx xxxxxx | Mobile phones (in use since November 2009) |
| 075xx xxxxxx | Mobile phones (in use since May 2007) |
| 076xx xxxxxx | Pagers (excluding 07624, used for mobile phones on the Isle of Man) |
| 077xx xxxxxx | Mobile phones (former 03xx and 04xx—mostly Vodafone and O2 (formerly Cellnet) |
| 078xx xxxxxx | Mobile phones (former 05xx, 06xx and 08xx—mostly Vodafone and O2 (formerly Cellnet) |
| 079xx xxxxxx | Mobile phones (former 09xx—mostly Orange and T-Mobile (formerly one2one) |
| 07911 2xxxxx 07911 8xxxxx |
WiFi numbers (used by companies such as Tovo and Mobiboo) |
Since the advent of Mobile number portability, mobile phone number prefixes can no longer be relied on to determine the current operator of a particular mobile phone – only the original operator.
With the exception of 080x freephone numbers, these are charged above geographic rates, with the extra going to the terminating telco. This additional revenue may be shared with the subscriber, but is often used instead to subsidise additional network services, such as fax to email, virtual office applications, call queuing, voicemail and easy number redirection. There is widespread confusion about the cost of calling 084/087 numbers, with many major companies persisting in misdescribing them as "Local Rate", "Lo Call" or "National Rate". They often do not qualify for discounts and bundled minutes, and can be prohibitively expensive when called from mobiles and payphones. None of these services are exclusive to 08xx numbers, and could be provided on any number range. More affordable equivalent numbers can often be found via www.saynoto0870.com.
| 0800 xxxxxx[11] 0800 xxx xxxx 0808 xxx xxxx |
"Freephone" (free to call from landline, up to 40p per minute from mobile. Calls to certain charity and similar services are free from mobile). | |
|---|---|---|
| 0820 xxx xxxx | Internet for Schools | |
| 0845 xxx xxxx | Up to 5p a minute, varies daytime/evening/weekend | |
| 0844 2xx xxxx | Up to 6p a minute, varies daytime/evening/weekend | |
| 0844 3xx xxxx | Up to 6p a minute, varies daytime/evening/weekend | |
| 0844 4xx xxxx | Up to 6p a minute, varies daytime/evening/weekend | |
| 0844 5xx xxxx | Up to 6p a minute, varies daytime/evening/weekend | |
| 0844 6xx xxxx | Up to 6.2p a minute, varies daytime/evening/weekend | |
| 0844 7xx xxxx | Up to 6p a minute, varies daytime/evening/weekend | |
| 0844 8xx xxxx | Up to 6p a minute, varies daytime/evening/weekend | |
| 0844 9xx xxxx | Up to 6p a minute, varies daytime/evening/weekend | |
| 0843 xxx xxxx | Up to 5p a minute but fixed (e.g. always 4p/minute or always 5p/minute) | |
| 0842 xxx xxxx | Up to 5p a minute but fixed (e.g. always 4p/minute or always 5p/minute) | |
| 0870 xxx xxxx | Up to 8p a minute, varies daytime/evening/weekend | |
| 0871 2xx xxxx to 0871 9xx xxxx |
Up to 10p a minute but fixed (e.g. always 8p/minute or always 10p/minute) | |
| 0872 xxx xxxx | Up to 10p a minute but fixed (e.g. always 8p/minute or always 10p/minute) | |
| 0873 xxx xxxx | Up to 10p a minute but fixed (e.g. always 8p/minute or always 10p/minute) | |
There are also several very short "special" numbers in these ranges, notably 0800 1111 for Childline and 0845 46 47 for NHS Direct.
Numbers in the 09xx range are charged at the highest rates of any calls within the United Kingdom, and are controlled by various regulations regarding their use. The regulator is PhonepayPlus, formerly known as ICSTIS. There are a large number of charge bands, some with high pence-per-minute rates, others with a high fixed-price for the entire call.
| 090x xxx xxxx | Premium rate content services | |
|---|---|---|
| 0908 xxx xxxx 0909 xxx xxxx 0982 xxx xxxx |
Sexual entertainment services | |
| 091x xxx xxxx | Premium rate non-content services | |
| 092x xxx xxxx to 099x xxx xxxx |
Broadband services | |
| (01481) xxxxxx | Fixed line | 48 = GU |
|---|---|---|
| (01481) 832xxx (01481) 833xxx |
Fixed line (Sark) | |
| 07781 xxxxxx | Sure mobile phones and pagers | |
| 07839 xxxxxx | Airtel Vodafone mobile phones | |
| 07911 xxxxxx | Wave Telecom mobile phones Not for uk |
| (01534) xxxxxx | Fixed line | 53 = JE |
|---|---|---|
| 07509 xxxxxx 07797 xxxxxx 07937 xxxxxx |
Jersey Telecom mobile phones and pagers | |
| 07700 xxxxxx | Sure mobile network | |
| 07829 xxxxxx | Airtel Vodafone mobile network |
| (01624) xxxxxx | Fixed line | 62 = MA |
|---|---|---|
| 07624 xxxxxx | Mobile phones and paging services | |
| 07524 xxxxxx 07924 xxxxxx |
Mobile phones additional capacity |
On the Isle of Man, both fixed and mobile phone numbers can be dialled locally in the six-digit format.
Although calls from UK landlines to landlines in the islands are charged at the same rate as those to other UK landlines (i.e. they are not treated as international calls), calls may be excluded from calling plans offering unlimited UK fixed line calls, and some mobile operators may also charge more. Calls and SMS messages sent to island mobile phone numbers are not charged at the same rate as calls to UK mobile phone numbers.
Ofcom has also reserved certain number ranges for use in television dramas and films, so as to avoid the risk of people having their telephone numbers displayed, and receiving unwanted calls. This is similar to the use of fictitious telephone numbers in the United States and Canada with the digits 555.
In most of the large cities with three-digit area codes a range of numbers is reserved, usually all the numbers starting with the digits 496. For fictitious numbers in other areas the area code 01632 is reserved; this code is not in use, although 0632 was used for Newcastle upon Tyne until the late 1980s (63 = NE). There are also reserved ranges for fictitious mobile, freephone, and premium rate numbers.[13][14]
The Post Office even produced dial centre labels for use in advertisements and film/TV with a mythical exchange called VINcent plus four digits. The numerical equivalent of VIN was 846 and all the caller got was the speaking clock in the big city "Director" areas.
At around the same time as the other Big Number Change changes, Ofcom revised their recommendations to update the prefixes, add additional areas, and increase the size of the allocation from 10 to 1000 numbers per block. Those changes are listed in the Big Number Change article.
In Coronation Street, the fictional Manchester suburb of Weatherfield uses the unallocated range (0161) 715 xxxx.[15]
Short codes beginning with 1 are reserved for telecom service providers' own functionality; some of the most well-known are codes for use with Caller Display:
| 141 | Withhold number | when normally released |
|---|---|---|
| 1470 | Release number | when normally withheld |
| 1471 | Call return | caller may press 3 to return call on most networks |
| 1475 | 1471 erasure | removes details of last call from 1471 service |
| 1571 | Voicemail service commonly provided by providers for people who do not have answering machines. If there is a new message, the dial tone will be stuttered. |
The UK has two free emergency numbers—the traditional 999, which is still widely used, and the EU standard 112, which can be used in all member states of the European Union. Both 999 and 112 are used to contact all emergency services: Police, Fire Service, Ambulance Service, Mountain Rescue, Coastguard and Cave Rescue.
Both numbers can be called from mobile phones with the keylock on, or without entering the PIN where that would otherwise be required. Although some mobile phones allow emergency calls to be attempted without a SIM card, at present the UK networks reject such calls. Since November 2009, an emergency call can be made through any UK mobile network as long as there is a SIM for *any* valid UK network in the handset. More information about the 112 emergency number can be found at the 112 : The European emergency number web site.
The chargeable number 101 (10p per call) was introduced for non-urgent crime and community safety calls on a trial basis in 2006. In Wales, the scheme has been taken forward by all four police forces, who adopted the number for non-emergency calls on a permanent basis in early 2009. In England the scheme remains on trial, withdrawn from some original pilot areas but since further trialled in other locations.[16]
The operator is obtained via 100, while directory enquiries, formerly 192, is now provided in the 118xxx range, e.g. 118 212, 118 800, 118 500, 118 118, by different companies. International Operator assistance is reached through "155".
From early 2010, the pan-European 116 number range comes into use for social helplines. The first three numbers likely to be issued are for Missing People who will use 116 000 for a missing children helpline, the NSPCC ChildLine on 116 111, and Samaritans who will use 116 123 for an emotional support helpline.
Fixed line telephone subscribers for BT,[17]Virgin Media[18] and TalkTalk have the opportunity to use an automated messaging service which takes messages when the called number is either engaged ("busy") or not answered within a given time. This can be accessed by calling 1571.
Since the mid 1990s speaking clock services have been available throughout Britain using the number 123. Before this, exchanges in "Director" areas (Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, London and Manchester) dialled 846 (TIM) (later changing to 123) and main exchanges in "Non-Director" areas originally used "952", later changing to "80" with the introduction of STD and eventually to "8081" as other recorded services were introduced on 80X1 codes. Some mobile operators allocate other services to 123—such as customer services or voicemail etc.
Two telephone helplines within the regular code space have only eight digits, namely 0800 1111 for ChildLine and 0845 4647 for NHS Direct in England and Wales.
The telephone service in the United Kingdom was originally provided by private companies and local councils. But by 1912–13[19] all except the telephone service of Kingston upon Hull and Guernsey had been bought out by the Post Office. The Post Office also operated telephone services in Jersey until 1923 and the Isle of Man until 1969 when the islands took over responsibility for their own postal and telephone services – although the Isle of Man system remained part of British Telecom until 1987.
Post Office Telecommunications was reorganised in 1980–81[20] as British Telecommunications (British Telecom, or BT), and was the first major nationalised industry to be privatised by the Conservative government. The Hull Telephone Department was itself reconstituted as Kingston Communications, in 1987; it was sold by Hull City Council in the late 1990s and celebrated its centenary in 2004.
In November 1922 the General Post Office decided to adopt the Strowger system from the various systems it had tried and it was to include "Directors" in the exchanges in London. Demonstration models of the "Director" exchange were shown by manufacturer ATM of Liverpool as part of the Post Office exhibits at the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley in 1924 and 1925. However, it was not until 1927 that the first "Director" telephone exchange was brought into service in Holborn, London and rolled out progressively across Greater London. A 3 digit code, represented by letters, identified the local exchange. Director schemes were gradually introduced in the other major cities of the UK — Birmingham, Edinburgh (although a relatively small city, it obtained seven-figure dialling for political reasons), Glasgow, Liverpool and Manchester.
Subscriber Trunk Dialling (STD) was introduced in 1958[21] to allow a caller to call another telephone directly instead of via a manual telephone exchange operator. Uniform exchange codes, usually called STD codes, were allocated for every exchange in the country, progressively as STD was rolled out. This process was not completed until 1979.[22]
The original concept was for STD to be a nationwide Director system, and in common with the Director system, the exchange codes were originally assigned based on two letters of the respective place's name and the corresponding numbers on a telephone dial. For example Aylesbury was given the STD code 0AY6, where the letter A can be found on the number 2 and the letter Y on the number 9. The letter O became a zero, such as for Bournemouth: 0BO2 where BO = 20. Originally, where a place's name began with the letter "O" the code would begin with two zeros, such as Oxford: 0OX2 where OX = 09. These codes starting with "00" were later reallocated, freeing the prefix 00 for use by calls to the Republic of Ireland, to radiophones and to premium rate numbers.
Within a single code group area there would usually be multiple exchange buildings in various locations. The smaller exchanges might have only a few hundred lines with three-digit subscriber numbers, e.g. 200–499. Larger exchanges might have a few thousand lines with four-digit subscriber numbers, e.g. 2000–5999. The main exchange in the group would usually have five-digit subscriber numbers e.g. 20000–49999.
Population growth over the next few decades meant there was a need for more lines. This would see an exchange with existing three-digit numbers open one or more new ranges with four-digit local numbers (e.g. 5000-6999), and exchanges with existing four-digit numbers open one or more new ranges with five-digit local numbers (e.g. 60000–69999).
Since number ranges were being reused in each local exchange within a group, a series of short codes was devised to allow dialling from one local exchange to another without the need to dial the full STD code. These short codes usually began with a 7, 8 or 9. The code was often only two or three digits, but might be up to five digits long.[23]
The last digit of this short code would usually also feature as extra digits on the end of the main STD code in order to differentiate each satellite exchange within a group when dialling from another STD code area. In written form these area codes were split after the third digit to highlight this satellite exchange numbering.[24]
e.g. for 0799, Saffron Walden (SW)
| (0799) xxxxx | Saffron Walden |
|---|---|
| (079 982) xxx and xxxx |
Newport |
| (079 983) xxx and xxxx |
Great Chesterford |
| (079 984) xxx | Ashdon |
| (079 985) xxx and xxxx |
Clavering |
| (079 986) xxx | Great Sampford |
| (079 987) xxx | Radwinter |
| (079 988) xxx | Rickling |
As time wore on and number shortages became more acute, local numbers were gradually converted to five-figure or six-figure numbers, and the STD code changed to the (0xxx) format. In many cases the initial digits of the new local number would be formed from digits previously at the end of the old STD code. The local number would be padded with extra fixed digits (if needed) to make up the new total length. In some cases the initial digits were changed e.g. Radwinter (079 987) 456 became Saffron Walden (0799) 500456, nowadays (01799) 500456.
Post 2000, only a dozen places have long STD codes with five-digit local numbers. One area with a long STD code retains four-digit local numbering. Long STD codes are rare. Many people are not familiar with the (0xx xx), nowadays (01xx xx) format; or the now discontinued (0xx xxx) format, and often omit the space in written form.
For the Director areas a 2 or 3 digit code was used for the city. These were:
| Area code | City | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | London | Until 1990—See 01 for London below |
| 021 | Birmingham | (2 = B) |
| 031 | Edinburgh | (3 = E) |
| 041 | Glasgow | (4 = G) |
| 051 | Liverpool | (5 = L) |
| 061 | Manchester | (6 = M) |
The codes 071, 081, and 091 were reserved for later expansion, with the former two eventually being temporarily allocated to London (see below).
The use of names was intended to provide a mnemonic for the exchange in the same way as for the Director system, but as more and more places were given STD codes the mnemonic link became more and more obscure, and this system became unworkable. Also, international direct dialling was being introduced and as other countries (such as the USA) had different assignments of letters to digits the opportunity for confusion existed.
An earlier modification to get round this problem for European dialling was the addition of the letter Q to the digit 0, which previously represented only the letter O. This was because some French exchanges had alphabetic codes including Q, but in the event France moved to all-digit codes before direct dialling from the UK was introduced.
The use of alphabetic exchange (area) codes was abandoned in the UK in 1966 in favour of all figure numbering. As such about 60% of current area codes are still based on the original alphabetic STD.
Around 1982, the 091 code was also brought into use:
| Area code | City | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 091 | Tyne and Wear and Durham | See article 0191 for migration details. |
In certain areas of the country, it was sometimes decided that one area code would cover multiple charge groups. These are the so-called ELNS areas (Extended Linked Numbering Scheme) where the leading digit of the local number indicates which charge group the number belongs to. A diagram showing the principle is shown on page 9 of Oftel's telephone numbering guide[25] and these areas are shown in the table below.[26]
| Area code | Initial digits | Location name | Initial digits | Location name | Initial digits | Location name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0191 | 2,4,6,8 | Tyneside | 3,9 | Durham | 5,7 | Sunderland |
| 01229 | 2,4,5,6,8 | Barrow-in-Furness | 3,7,9 | Millom | ||
| 01339 | 2,3,5,8 | Aboyne | 4,6,7,9 | Ballater | ||
| 01388 | 3,4,6,7,8,9 | Bishop Auckland | 2,5 | Stanhope | ||
| 01423 | 3,4,9 | Boroughbridge | 2,5,6,7,8 | Harrogate | ||
| 01430 | 6,7,8,9 | Market Weighton | 2,3,4,5 | North Cave | ||
| 01434 | 2,4,9 | Bellingham | 3,5 | Haltwhistle | 6,7,8 | Hexham |
| 01437 | 2,3,4,5 | Clynderwen | 6,7,8,9 | Haverfordwest | ||
| 01507 | 4,8,9 | Alford (Lincs) | 3,6,7 | Louth | 2,5 | Spilsby |
| 01686 | 2,3,4,7 | Llanidloes | 5,6,8,9 | Newtown | ||
| 01847 | 2,3,4,5,8 | Thurso | 6,7,9 | Tongue | ||
| 01851 | 4,6,9 | Great Bernera | 2,3,5,7,8 | Stornoway | ||
| 01890 | 5,6,7,9 | Ayton | 2,3,4,8 | Coldstream | ||
| 01964 | 2,5,8,9 | Hornsea | 3,4,6,7 | Patrington | ||
| 01975 | 2,4,5,9 | Alford (Aberdeen) | 3,6,7,8 | Strathdon | ||
| 023 | 8 | Southampton | 9 | Portsmouth |
Until the late 1980s, calls to major towns and cities in the Republic of Ireland could also be made using short codes starting with 000:
This was discontinued in the late 1980s, so that all calls to the Republic of Ireland from the UK had to be dialled in the normal international format using the international access code (initially 010 until 1995, and then 00) and country code (353).
Calls could also be made using the full international dialling code since the introduction of International Direct Dialling.
While most of the Republic of Ireland could be direct dialled, a small number of rural areas did not have an automated telephone service until the 1980s. As a result, calls from the UK to these areas had to be made through the BT operator who connected the calls to their Irish counterpart for completion. Unlike other international calls, these were handled by the BT national operator, in the same way as UK operator calls. This service was withdrawn at noon on 28 May 1987 when the last manual exchange in Ireland, at Mountshannon, County Clare, was switched over to an Alcatel E10 digital exchange. This completed Telecom Eireann's rural digitalisation project.
Although full international dialling is now used, calls from Northern Ireland landlines to landlines in the Republic are charged at UK national or local rates, and calls from Great Britain to the Republic are charged at a special "Republic of Ireland" rate, higher than inland rates, but lower than those for elsewhere in Western Europe. Additionally, calls to Northern Ireland from the Republic of Ireland can be made without an international access code, but instead replacing the British 028 prefix not with the conventional international prefix 00 44 28 but with a shorter Irish 048 area code which specifically covers Northern Ireland. For example, calling Belfast from London would be 028 90xx xxxx while calling Belfast from Dublin would be 048 90xx xxxx.
With growth in second phone lines, direct dial-in (DDI) lines, fax machines and multiple telecoms operators during the 1980s the demand for telephone numbers exceeded the available number ranges. A number of changes were to be made to the UK numbering plan. All these stages were planned out in one exercise in the early 1980s, though the exact dates for each stage was decided later.
The first major change was in May 1990, when the London 01 area code was replaced with 071 and 081. Local numbers remained seven digits long. Exchanges in central London used the 071 code. The remaining exchanges now used the 081 code and formed a ring around the 071 area.[27] Although this effectively doubled the available numbers from eight to sixteen million, it was not to be the last change for the capital.
| Area | New numbering | Old numbering |
|---|---|---|
| Inner London | 071-xxx xxxx | 01-xxx xxxx |
| Outer London | 081-xxx xxxx | 01-xxx xxxx |
This change freed up the entire 01 code range for the next step of the plan: converting all geographic area codes to 01. That operation would then free up the whole of the 02 to 09 range for a future re-organisation of some geographic and all mobile and non-geographic numbers. Most areas would see two code changes over the next decade, whilst London would have a total of three. It would be a decade before this inner/outer London split was eventually nullified.
Consumers were already becoming confused as to what they would be charged for any particular call, with for example (0404) xxxxx being a call to Honiton in Devon and (0403) xxxxxx being a much more expensive call to a mobile phone. The situation in the early 1990s was as follows:
| Number prefix | Example of geographic use | Non-geographic services using other prefixes in same 0x range |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Not used | Freephone, local and premium rate services[28] |
| 02 | Aberdeen (0224) | Not used |
| 03 | Dover (0304) | Freephone; mobile; local, national and premium rate services |
| 04 | Gloucester (0452) | Mobile; national rate |
| 05 | Kinross (0577) | Freephone; mobile; national rate |
| 06 | Newbury (0635) | Local and premium rate services |
| 07 | Romford (0708) | Personal numbers |
| 08 | Tamworth (0827) | Freephone; mobile; local, national and premium rate services |
| 09 | York (0904) | Freephone; mobile; local, national and premium rate services |
The next few changes would fix these problems.
On "PhONEday", 16 April 1995, the digit "1" was inserted into all UK geographic area codes. Promotion of this day included special Easter eggs. Under the new changes, for example, Inner London's 071 became 0171; Outer London's 081 became 0181. A small selection of the codes that changed are shown in the table below:
| Area | New numbering | Old numbering |
|---|---|---|
| Ashford | (01233) xxxxxx | (0233) xxxxxx |
| Coventry | (01203) xxxxxx | (0203) xxxxxx |
| Birmingham | (0121) xxx xxxx | 021-xxx xxxx |
| Cardiff | (01222) xxxxxx | (0222) xxxxxx |
| Edinburgh | (0131) xxx xxxx | 031-xxx xxxx |
| Derby | (01332) xxxxxx | (0332) xxxxxx |
| Dundee | (01382) xxxxxx | (0382) xxxxxx |
| Evesham | (01386) xxxxxx | (0386) xxxxxx |
| Glasgow | (0141) xxx xxxx | 041-xxx xxxx |
| Hull | (01482) xxxxxx | (0482) xxxxxx |
| Liverpool | (0151) xxx xxxx | 051-xxx xxxx |
| Jersey | (01534) xxxxxx | (0534) xxxxxx |
| Luton | (01582) xxxxxx | (0582) xxxxxx |
| Manchester | (0161) xxx xxxx | 061-xxx xxxx |
| Southampton | (01703) xxxxxx | (0703) xxxxxx |
| Inner London | (0171) xxx xxxx | 071-xxx xxxx |
| Reading | (01734) xxxxxx | (0734) xxxxxx |
| Outer London | (0181) xxx xxxx | 081-xxx xxxx |
| Tyne and Wear/County Durham | (0191) xxx xxxx | 091-xxx xxxx |
This was done with a view to reorganising the numbering plan at a later date, so that the first two digits would indicate the type of service called:
| Area code prefix | Service type |
|---|---|
| 00 | International call prefix |
| 0 | Trunk prefix |
| 01 | Geographic area codes |
| 02 | New geographic area codes |
| 03 | Originally reserved for new geographic area codes, but later used for non-geographic number ranges, charged at geographic rates. |
| 04 | Reserved |
| 05 | Corporate numbering |
| 06 | Formerly reserved for future personal numbering |
| 07 | Mobile phones, pagers and personal numbering |
| 08 | Freephone and shared cost / special rates |
| 09 | Premium rate |
The international access code also changed on "PhONEday", from 010 to 00 thus meeting the international call prefix standard set by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).
Five new area codes were introduced for cities that were running low on phone numbers—and a digit was prepended to each existing local number.
| City | New numbering | Old numbering | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leeds | (0113) 2xx xxxx | (0532) xxxxxx | 53 = LE |
| (0113) 3xx xxxx | New phase of numbers, issued from 1997. | ||
| (0113) 8xx xxxx | New phase of numbers, issued from 2006. | ||
| (0113) 4xx xxxx | New phase of numbers, issued from 2010. | ||
| Sheffield | (0114) 2xx xxxx | (0742) xxxxxx | 74 = SH |
| (0114) 3xx xxxx | New phase of numbers, issued from 2004. | ||
| (0114) 4xx xxxx | New phase of numbers, issued from 2009. | ||
| Nottingham | (0115) 9xx xxxx | (0602) xxxxxx | 60 = NO |
| (0115) 8xx xxxx | New phase of numbers, issued from 1997. | ||
| (0115) 7xx xxxx | New phase of numbers, issued from 2006. | ||
| (0115) 2xx xxxx | Small quantity issued late 2009 and early 2010. | ||
| Leicester | (0116) 2xx xxxx | (0533) xxxxxx | 53 = LE |
| (0116) 3xx xxxx | New phase of numbers, issued from 2004. | ||
| (0116) 4xx xxxx | New phase of numbers, issued from 2009. | ||
| Bristol | (0117) 9xx xxxx | (0272) xxxxxx | 27 = BR |
| (0117) 2xx xxxx | New phase of numbers, issued from 2007. | ||
| (0117) 3xx xxxx | New phase of numbers, issued from 1997. |
Most of the initial local number ranges created by PhONEday were exhausted within just a few years. New local numbers then began to be allocated with a different initial digit. For example, in Sheffield (0114) when the 2xx xxxx numbers were exhausted, new numbers (other than old recycled ones) then began to be issued from the 3xx xxxx range. Similarly, newly allocated numbers in Leeds (0113), Leicester (0116) and Bristol (0117) also came from the 3xx xxxx range, but in Nottingham (0115), the new numbers instead came from the 8xx xxxx range.
Less than a decade later, further new ranges were opened in most of these areas, but this time new Reading and Leicester numbers are in the 4xx xxxx range, new Bristol numbers are in the 2xx xxxx range, new Nottingham numbers are in the 7xx xxxx range and new Leeds numbers are in the 4xx xxxx and 8xx xxxx ranges.[29]
| City | New numbering | Old numbering | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leeds | 0113 0ax xxxx | 0532 0xxxxx | 53 = LE |
| 0113 1ax xxxx | 0532 1xxxxx | ||
| Sheffield | 0114 0ax xxxx | 0742 0xxxxx | 74 = SH |
| 0114 1ax xxxx | 0742 1xxxxx | ||
| Nottingham | 0115 0ax xxxx | 0602 0xxxxx | 60 = NO |
| 0115 1ax xxxx | 0602 1xxxxx | ||
| Leicester | 0116 0ax xxxx | 0533 0xxxxx | 53 = LE |
| 0116 1ax xxxx | 0533 1xxxxx | ||
| Bristol | 0117 0ax xxxx | 0272 0xxxxx | 27 = BR |
| 0117 1ax xxxx | 0272 1xxxxx |
| Area | New numbering | Old numbering[30] | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | (0118) 9xx xxxx | (0734) xxxxxx → (01734) xxxxxx |
73 = RE; changed between 1996 and 1998, not on PhONEday[31] |
| (0118) 3xx xxxx | New phase of numbers, issued from 1998. | ||
| (0118) 4xx xxxx | New phase of numbers, issued from 2009. |
Reading numbers endured two changes in a very short time. PhONEday, on 16 April 1995, changed the area code from 0734 to 01734, and then almost a year later, on 8 April 1996, it changed again to (0118). At that time, local numbers were changed from six to seven digits by inserting a 9 in front of the old local number. Parallel running of the old numbering was withdrawn on 9 January 1998.
Around this time, some new number ranges were already being allocated and used for mobile phone numbers. These new ranges already fitted into the new numbering scheme of 07xxx xxxxxx. The rest of the older mobile phone numbers, those already in use for many years (and at that time, both one-digit shorter, and having codes scattered throughout the 03 to 09 range) would be brought into this 07x numbering scheme a few years later, both by changing the code to the 07x range, and by adding an additional digit.
| Area | New numbering | Old numbering[30] | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 0118 0ax xxxx | 01734 0xxxxx | 73 = RE; changed between 1996 and 1998, not on PhONEday[31] |
| 0118 1ax xxxx | 01734 1xxxxx |
On 22 April 2000 the second phase of the plan came into operation, dubbed the "Big Number Change". With 02x area codes freed up by the previous reorganisation, they could be re-used. These areas had already had a code change (to insert a "1") five years earlier as a part of PhONEday. The Big Number Change altered the area codes again, as well as making the local number two digits longer (London: one digit longer).
| Area | New numbering | Old numbering[30] | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| London | (020) 7xxx xxxx | 0171-xxx xxxx | Used for existing inner London numbers and new numbers London-wide. |
| (020) 8xxx xxxx | 0181-xxx xxxx | Used for existing outer London numbers and new numbers London-wide. | |
| (020) 3xxx xxxx | New phase of numbers, released London-wide from June 2005. | ||
| Southampton | (023) 80xx xxxx | (01703) xxxxxx | 70 = SO |
| (023) 81xx xxxx | New phase of numbers, released from 2005. | ||
| Portsmouth | (023) 92xx xxxx | (01705) xxxxxx | 70 = PO |
| (023) 93xx xxxx | New phase of numbers, released from 2005. | ||
| Coventry | (024) 76xx xxxx | (01203) xxxxxx | 20 = CO |
| (024) 77xx xxxx | New phase of numbers, released from 2005. | ||
| Cardiff | (029) 20xx xxxx | (01222) xxxxxx | 22 = CA |
| (029) 21xx xxxx | New phase of numbers released from June 2005. | ||
| (029) 22xx xxxx | New phase of numbers released from August 2010. | ||
| Northern Ireland Example given is Belfast—see below |
(028) 90xx xxxx | (01232) xxxxxx | 23 = BE |
| (028) 95xx xxxx | New phase of numbers released from 2005. |
Note that although Southampton and Portsmouth are one code from a code structure and local dialling point of view, as of January 2006 calls between them are not local calls and the "codes" (023) 8xxx and (023) 9xxx are treated as separate by the BT site for determining local call area.
It is planned that the new codes will eventually cover a larger area than at present. For example, although (029) currently covers just the Cardiff area, it may in the future cover all of Wales.[32]
The code for Northern Ireland is (028). The transition codes for Northern Ireland are shown below. These can be accessed from the Republic of Ireland using either the domestic code 048, or the international prefix 00 44 28.
The prefixes for existing numbers in Northern Ireland are split up into seven groups, roughly based upon the county in which the main exchange is based. The initial digit of each phone number is based on the designated county—for example, the first county alphabetically is County Antrim so numbers in this county start with 2. The next county is County Armagh so numbers here start with 3. One exception to this is the Greater Belfast area, initial digit 9, which is extended to include each adjacent former STD code area, including the towns of Bangor, (County Down) (91), Lisburn (92), Carrickfergus (93), Antrim (94) and Saintfield (97). The encompassed former STD codes at some points extend to over 20 miles from Belfast itself. There is a much more complete list in the Big Number Change article.
| Town/city | Region | New numbering | Old numbering[30] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Larne | County Antrim | (028) 28xx xxxx | (01574) xxxxxx |
| Armagh | County Armagh | (028) 37xx xxxx | (01861) xxxxxx |
| Newcastle | County Down | (028) 437x xxxx | (013967) xxxxx |
| Enniskillen | County Fermanagh | (028) 66xx xxxx | (01365) xxxxxx |
| Limavady | County Londonderry | (028) 777x xxxx | (015047) xxxxx |
| Omagh | County Tyrone | (028) 82xx xxxx | (01662) xxxxxx |
| Belfast | Greater Belfast | (028) 90xx xxxx | (01232) xxxxxx |
| Lisburn | Greater Belfast | (028) 92xx xxxx | (01846) xxxxxx |
| Area | New numbering | Old numbering[30] | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| London | 020 01xx xxxx | 0171-0xx xxxx | A non-trivial relationship maps the old blocks of numbers to the new number blocks.[33] |
| 020 11xx xxxx | 0171-1xx xxxx | ||
| 020 00xx xxxx | 0181-0xx xxxx | ||
| 020 10xx xxxx | 0181-1xx xxxx | ||
| Southampton | 023 110x xxxx | 01703 0xxxxx | 70 = SO |
| 023 111x xxxx | 01703 1xxxxx | ||
| Portsmouth | 023 100x xxxx | 01705 0xxxxx | 70 = PO |
| 023 101x xxxx | 01705 1xxxxx | ||
| Coventry | 024 100x xxxx | 01203 0xxxxx | 20 = CO |
| 024 101x xxxx | 01203 1xxxxx | ||
| Cardiff | 029 100x xxxx | 01222 0xxxxx | 22 = CA |
| 029 101x xxxx | 01222 1xxxxx |
In addition, mobile and pager numbers were all moved into the 07xxx range. Pagers moved into 076xx, while personal numbers moved to 070. Mobile phone numbers moved into the 077xx, 078xx and 079xx ranges (and more recently, 075xx and 074xx have also been brought into use).
The exception to this was Manx Telecom mobile phone numbers, where the code became 07624 in order to match the 01624 used for landlines.
In addition, lower and higher rate non-geographic numbers (previously called lo-call or local-rate and national-rate numbers, though these terms are no longer recommended to be used as they can be misleading [1] [2]) migrated to 08xx and premium rate numbers migrated to 09xx.
A summary of the migration path for the existing mobile and pager codes, as they were at the time, is shown below:
| Mobile phone numbers | Pager numbers | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Code before migration | Code after migration | Code before migration | Code after migration |
| 03ABC | 077AB | 01ABC | 076BC |
| 04ABC | 077AB | 04ABC | 076BC |
| 05ABC | 078AB | 09AB | 076AB |
| 08ABC | 078AB | ||
| 09ABC | 079AB | ||
The number change meant that London returned to a single area code again (as in the old 01 days), with no "inner/outer" split. Existing London numbers acquired the prefixes 7 or 8, but from that point on (020) 7xxx xxxx and (020) 8xxx xxxx numbers were assigned or reused anywhere in the London area covered by the single (city-wide) 020 code.
From June 2005 the regulator, Ofcom, ceased to allocate new number blocks to suppliers in the 7xxx xxxx and 8xxx xxxx ranges. From this date onwards all number allocations were in the 3xxx xxxx range and can be used anywhere in the London 020 area. Although new blocks of 7xxx xxxx and 8xxx xxxx range numbers are no longer being allocated to suppliers, those that have not yet exhausted their existing blocks are able to continue to issue and re-issue them to their customers.
Numbers in the 020 0xxx xxxx and 020 1xxx xxxx number ranges have also been made available. However, these numbers cannot be dialled without the 020 code and are called "national dialling only" numbers. A small number of these blocks are used by numbers migrated from old 0171-0xx xxxx, 0171-1xx xxxx, 0181-0xx xxxx, and 0181-1xx xxxx "national dialling only" numbers. They are mainly used as termination points for non-geographic numbers, and for various alarm and other automated systems where the actual telephone number itself is never called.
It is a common misconception that London still has more than one area code (i.e. "0207" and "0208").[34] This is incorrect in the sense that omitting the "0207" or "0208" (area) code will give a local number that cannot be connected as it is missing the first digit. Therefore, writing a London number as 020x xxx xxxx is incorrect and can lead to confusion when attempting to dial it.[35]
The misconception of area code and number separation is also seen in other areas of the country where the area code length was reduced in the Big Number Change such as Coventry being written as 02476 xxxxxx, whereas the correct number sequence is (024) 76xx xxxx (Coventry now has some (024) 77xx xxxx numbers) and Cardiff being written as 02920 xxxxxx whereas the correct number sequence is (029) 20xx xxxx (Cardiff now has some (029) 21xx xxxx numbers).
Likewise in Portsmouth, numbers are being incorrectly written as 02392 xxxxxx, whereas the correct number sequence is (023) 92xx xxxx (Portsmouth now has some (023) 93xx xxxx numbers).[36]
This also occurs in some areas of Northern Ireland, that previously had 5-digit and 6-digit local numbers like in Banbridge (previously (018206) xxxxx), where numbers are still erroneously written as 028406 xxxxx instead of (028) 406x xxxx. Locals still misquote the area code as 028406, seven years after the change. The same occurs in formerly six-digit code areas, such as Lisburn (previous (01846) xxxxxx) continues to frequently appear as 02892 xxxxxx instead of the correct form (028) 92xx xxxx.
This is also seen in the earlier PhONEday areas, such as in Sheffield, for (0114) 2xx xxxx numbers, where these are often seen written as 01142 xxxxxx or are missing the leading digit 2 when abbreviated (751234 instead of 275 1234 for example).[37] This is a particular problem now that (0114) 3xx xxxx local numbers are being issued.[38]
It also affects Reading numbers where these are still being written as 01189 xxxxxx, whereas the correct number sequence is (0118) 9xx xxxx. Now that Reading has some (0118) 3xx xxxx and (0118) 4xx xxxx numbers mis-dialling also occurs when people prefix 3xx xxxx and 4xx xxxx numbers with 01189 instead of just 0118.[39]
In all of these areas, the result of the confusion is that callers are adding an incorrect area code to numbers allocated within the new local number ranges, and that then results in a mis-dialled call.
In 2003, Oftel published a proposal[40] to create a National Telephone Numbering Plan. This draft plan proposed changing the names of many areas from whatever name BT had previously used. Following responses from BT,[41] C&W[42] and others, the final plan was published with a number of amendments incorporated,[43] followed by a minor revision a few weeks later.[44] A few months later, the data and the responsibility for maintaining it was passed to Ofcom.
Ofcom's data is contained in two files: the NTNP PDF file[45] (updated several times per year) and the SABC CSV file[46] for electronic download (published weekly). Although the data in these files should be identical, there have been and still are very many differences between them.
In one background document[47] from 2004, Ofcom states that In order to conform to the National Telephone Numbering Plan (NTNP), the names of the following Geographic Area Codes have changed - 1248, 1268, 1275, 1276, 1291, 1293, 1306, 1322, 1327, 1334, 1344, 1354, 1356, 1375, 1384, 1394, 1425, 1438, 1442, 1451, 1454, 1461, 1470, 1471, 1477, 1478, 1485, 1488, 1489, 1491, 1543, 1561, 1562, 1582, 1588, 1598, 1661, 1668, 1675, 1680, 1681, 1684, 1688, 1689, 1695, 1707, 1720, 1727, 1737, 1744, 1753, 1770, 1784, 1806, 1821, 1856, 1870, 1877, 1883, 1885, 1889, 1895, 1908, 1920, 1922, 1926, 1928, 1932, 1952, 1953, 1963, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1992.
However, several of the above area codes did not see any name change. It had been proposed to change some names but in the end either the original BT name continued to be used or a completely new name suggested by either BT or C&W, or by both, was adopted. The Ofcom proposal[40] also contained a large number of spelling mistakes in the proposed area code names. Some of those errors were rectified within weeks or months, while others have still not been fixed eight years later. Additionally, several other areas changed their name after suggestions by BT and/or C&W, although Ofcom originally had no plans to change them. There are also several areas which changed name but are not listed above. Additionally some names were changed in one Ofcom document but were not updated in the other Ofcom document until several years later. Some have still not been updated or corrected.
Nine more place names were fixed in a reissued NTNP PDF document in mid-December 2011.[48]
The proposed and actual changes, along with the list of implementation errors, are detailed below.
| Code | SABC March 2003[49] | Oftel 2003 Proposal[40] | BT 2003 comments[41] | C&W 2003 comments[42] | NTNP edits 2003 onwards[45] | SABC edits 2003 onwards[46] | Status 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 117 | Bristol (Inner - See also 1275) |
Bristol | No comment. | No comment. | Bristol | Bristol | OK |
| 1229 0,1 | Barrow-in-Furness / Millom | Barrow-in-Furness / Millom | No comment. | No comment. | Barrow-in-Furness / Millom (7) then changed to Barrow-in-Furness (2,4,5,6,8) / Millom (3,7,9) in 2005. | Barrow-in-Furness National Dialling (2003- ). Should be Barrow-in-Furness/Millom National Dialling. | NTNP OK. Error in SABC. Should be Barrow-in-Furness/Millom National Dialling. |
| 1233 | Ashford | Ashford | No comment. | Could cause confusion. Suggest Ashford (Kent). | Ashford (Kent) | Ashford (2003- ). Should be Ashford (Kent). | NTNP OK. Error in SABC. Should be Ashford (Kent). |
| 1248 | Bangor (N Wales) | Bangor | Suggest using Bangor (Wales). | Clashes with 28 91. Suggest Bangor (Wales). | Bangor (Gwynedd) | Bangor (Gwynedd) | OK |
| 1260 | Congleton (See also 1477) |
Congleton | No comment. | No comment. | Congleton | Congleton | OK |
| 1268 | Stanford-le-Hope [See also 1375] |
Canvey Island | Suggest using Basildon. | Consider using Basildon. | Basildon | Basildon | OK (using BT and C&W suggested name). |
| 1271 | Barnstable[sic] | Barnstable[sic] | No comment. | No comment. | Barnstable (2003-2011) then corrected to Barnstaple in late 2011. | Barnstable (2003–2010) then corrected to Barnstaple in 2010. | NTNP now OK. SABC now OK. (Error persists in TACT.[50]) |
| 1275 | Bristol (Outer - See also 117) |
Clevedon | Clevedon. No comment. |
Clevedon. Agree. | Clevedon | Clevedon | OK |
| 1276 | Ascot (See also 1344) |
Camberley | Camberley. No comment. |
Camberley. Agree. | Camberley | Camberley | OK |
| 1284 | Bury-St-Edmunds[sic] | Bury-St-Edmunds[sic] | No comment. | No comment. | Bury-St-Edmunds (2003-2011) then corrected to Bury St Edmunds in late 2011. | Bury-St-Edmunds (2003–2010) then corrected to Bury St Edmunds in 2010. | NTNP now OK. SABC now OK. (Error persists in TACT.[50]) |
| 1286 | Caernarvon[sic] | Caernarvon[sic] | No comment. | No comment. | Caernarvon (2003–2011) then corrected to Caernarfon in late 2011. | Caernarvon (2003–2010) then corrected to Caernarfon in 2010. | NTNP now OK. SABC now OK. (Error persists in TACT.[50]) |
| 1289 | Berwick-on-Tweed[sic] | Berwick-on-Tweed[sic] | No comment. | No comment. | Berwick-on-Tweed (2003–2011) then corrected to Berwick-upon-Tweed in late 2011. | Berwick-on-Tweed (2003–2010) then corrected to Berwick-upon-Tweed in 2010. | NTNP now OK. SABC now OK. (Error persists in TACT.[50]) |
| 1291 | Shirenewton | Chepstow | Chepstow. No comment. |
Chepstow. Agree. | Chepstow | Chepstow | OK |
| 1293 | Newdigate (See also 1306) |
Crawley | Crawley. No comment. |
Crawley. Agree. | Crawley | Crawley | OK |
| 1294 | Ardrossan | Ardrossan | Ardrossan. No comment. |
Consider using Irvine. | Ardrossan | Ardrossan | OK |
| 1306 | Newdigate (See also 1293) |
Dorking | Dorking. No comment. |
Dorking. Agree. | Dorking | Dorking | OK |
| 1322 | Swanley (See also 1959 & 1689) |
Dartford | Dartford. No comment. |
Dartford. Agree. | Dartford | Dartford | OK |
| 1327 | Weedon | Daventry | Daventry. No comment. |
Daventry. Agree. | Daventry | Daventry | OK |
| 1329 | Fareham (See also 1489) |
Fareham | No comment. | No comment. | Fareham | Fareham | OK |
| 1333 | Peat Inn (See also 1334) |
Peat Inn | Peat Inn. No comment. |
Peat Inn. Agree. | Peat Inn (2003- ) | Peat Inn (2003- ) | Leven (Fife) would be a better name for 1333. Peat Inn is in 1334. |
| 1334 | Peat Inn [See also 1333] |
St Andrews | St Andrews. No comment. |
St Andrews. Agree. | St Andrews (2003- ) | St Andrews (2003- ) | In renaming 1334 Ofcom renamed the wrong area. |
| 1340 | Craigellachie | Craigellachie | No comment. | No comment. | Craigellachie | Craigellachie | OK (Aberlour may be a better name, no exchange in Craigellachie). |
| 1344 | Ascot (See also 1276) |
Bracknell | Bracknell. No comment. |
Bracknell. Agree. | Bracknell | Bracknell | OK |
| 1354 | Doddington | Chatteris | Chatteris. No comment. |
Chatteris. Agree. | Chatteris | Chatteris | OK |
| 1355 | East Kilbride (See also 1357) |
Kilbride | Consider East Kilbride for both. | Suggest using East Kilbride. | East Kilbride | East Kilbride | OK |
| 1356 | Brechin | Brechin | No comment. | No comment. | Brechin | Brechin | OK (Listed by Ofcom as changing name in 2003 but name not actually changed). |
| 1357 | East Kilbride (See also 1355) |
East Kilbride | Consider East Kilbride for both. | Suggest using Strathaven. | Strathaven | Strathaven | OK (using C&W suggested name). |
| 1375 | Stanford-le-Hope [See also 1268] |
Stanford-le-Hope | Suggest using Grays Thurrock instead of Stanford Le Hope[sic]. | Suggest using Grays Thurrock. | Grays Thurrock | Grays Thurrock | OK (using BT and C&W suggested name). |
| 1384 | Stourbridge (See also 1562) |
Dudley | Dudley. No comment. |
Dudley. Agree. | Dudley | Stourbridge (2003–2007) then corrected to Dudley in 2007. | NTNP OK. SABC now OK. |
| 1388 5 | Stanhope (5) and Bishop Auckland | Stanhope (4) and Bishop Auckland | 01388 contains two separate charge groups: 01388 and 01388 5. Stanhope sub-reference needs correcting: (5) not (4). | No comment. | Stanhope (5) | 1388 5 Stanhope | OK (The Stanhope exchange is located in Eastgate). |
| 1394 | Shottisham | Felixstowe | Felixstowe. No comment. |
Felixstowe. Agree. | Felixstowe | Felixstowe | OK |
| 1425 | Burley | Ringwood | Ringwood. No comment. |
Ringwood. Agree. | Ringwood | Ringwood | OK |
| 1437 2,3,4,5 | Clynderwen | Clynderwen | No comment. | No comment. | Clynderwen | Clynderwen | OK (The correct Welsh spelling is Clunderwen). |
| 1438 | Knebworth (See also 1920) |
Knebworth | Suggest using Stevenage. | Suggest using Stevenage. | Stevenage | Stevenage | OK (using BT and C&W suggested name). |
| 1442 | Markyate (See also 1582) |
Hemel Hempstead | Hemel Hempstead. No comment. |
Hemel Hempstead. Agree. | Hemel Hempstead | Hemel Hempstead | OK |
| 1451 | Bourton-on-the-Water | Stow-on-the-Wold | Stow-on-the-Wold. No comment. |
Stow-on-the-Wold. Agree. | Stow-on-the-Wold | Stow-on-the-Wold | OK |
| 1454 | Rangeworthy | Chipping Sodbury | Chipping Sodbury. No comment. |
Chipping Sodbury. Agree. | Chipping Sodbury | Chipping Sodbury | OK |
| 1461 | Annan | Gretna | Gretna. No comment. |
Gretna. Agree. | Gretna | Gretna | OK |
| 1470 | Edinbane | Isle of Skye - Edinbane | Isle of Skye - Edinbane. No comment. |
Isle of Skye - Edinbane. Agree. | Isle of Skye - Edinbane | Isle of Skye - Edinbane | OK |
| 1471 | Broadford | Isle of Skye - Broadford | Isle of Skye - Broadford. No comment. |
Isle of Skye - Broadford. Agree. | Isle of Skye - Broadford | Isle of Skye - Broadford | OK |
| 1477 | Congleton (See also 1260) |
Holmes Chapel | Holmes Chapel. No comment. |
Holmes Chapel. Agree. | Holmes Chapel | Holmes Chappel (2003–2007) then corrected to Holmes Chapel in 2007. | NTNP OK. SABC now OK. |
| 1478 | Portree | Isle of Skye - Portree | Isle of Skye - Portree. No comment. |
Isle of Skye - Portree. Agree. | Isle of Skye - Portree | Isle of Skye - Portree | OK |
| 1482 | Hull | Hull | No comment. | No comment. | Hull | Hull | Kingston-upon-Hull would be a better name. |
| 1485 | Docking | Hunstanton | Hunstanton. No comment. |
Hunstanton. Agree. | Hunstanton | Hunstanton | OK |
| 1488 | Great Shefford | Hungerford | Hungerford. No comment. |
Hungerford. Agree. | Hungerford | Hungerford | OK |
| 1489 | Fareham (See also 1329) |
Bishops Waltham | Bishops Waltham. No comment. |
Bishops Waltham. Agree. | Bishops Waltham | Bishops Waltham | OK |
| 1491 | Nettlebed | Henley-on-Thames | Henley-on-Thames. No comment. |
Henley-on-Thames. Agree. | Henley-on-Thames | Henley on Thames (2003–2010) then corrected to Henley-on-Thames in 2010. | NTNP OK. SABC now OK. |
| 1507 4 | Alford (Lincs) | Alford | No comment. | Clashes with 1975. Suggest Alford (Lincs). | Alford (Lincolnshire) (2003) then corrected to Alford (Lincs) later in 2003. | Alford (Lincs) | NTNP now OK. SABC OK. |
| 1507 5 | Spilsby | Spilsby | 01507 - contains two rather than three charge groups. 01507 5, like the rest of the range bar Alford, is Louth, and not Spilsby - Spilsby is 01790. The reference to Spilsby should be deleted. | No comment. | Spilsby removed (2003–2005) then added again in 2005. | Spilsby (2003- ) | Horncastle would be a better name for 1507 2 and 1507 5. Spilsby is 1790. |
| 15395 | Grange over Sands[sic] | Grange-Over-Sands[sic] | No comment. | Grange-over-sands. No comment. |
Grange-Over-Sands (2003–2011) then corrected to Grange-over-Sands in late 2011. | Grange over Sands (2003–2010) then corrected to Grange-over-Sands in 2010. | NTNP now OK. SABC now OK. (Error persists in TACT.[50]) |
| 1543 | Burntwood | Cannock | Cannock. No comment. |
Cannock. Agree. | Cannock | Cannock | OK |
| 1559 | Llandyssul[sic] | Llandyssul[sic] | No comment. | No comment. | Llandyssul (2003–2011) then corrected to Llandysul in late 2011. | Llandyssul (2003–2010) then corrected to Llandysul in 2010. | NTNP now OK. SABC now OK. (Error persists in TACT.[50]) |
| 1561 | Fordoun | Laurencekirk | Laurencekirk. No comment. |
Laurencekirk. Agree. | Laurencekirk | Laurencekirk | OK |
| 1562 | Stourbridge (See also 1384) |
Stourbridge | Stourbridge. No comment. |
Consider using Kidderminster. | Kidderminster | Kidderminster | OK (using C&W suggested name). |
| 1582 | Markyate (See also 1442) |
Luton | Luton. No comment. |
Luton. Agree. | Luton | Luton | OK |
| 1588 | Craven Arms | Bishops Castle | Bishops Castle. No comment. |
Bishops Castle. Agree. | Bishops Castle | Bishops Castle | OK |
| 1594 | Lydney | Lydney | Lydney. No comment. |
Consider using Dean. | Lydney | Lydney | OK |
| 1598 | Brayford | Lynton | Lynton. No comment. |
Consider using Barnstable[sic] [Bad idea]. | Lynton | Lynton | OK |
| 1603 | Norwich_ | Norwich | No comment. | No comment. | Norwich | Norwich_ (2000- ). Should be Norwich. | NTNP OK. Trailing space in SABC still not removed after more than a decade! |
| 1636 | Newark | Newark | No comment. | No comment. | Newark | Newark | Newark-on-Trent would be a better name. |
| 1637 | Newquay [See also 1841] |
Newquay | No comment. | No comment. | Newquay | Newquay | OK |
| 1661 | Wylam | Prudhoe | Prudhoe. No comment. |
Prudhoe. Agree. | Prudhoe | Prudhoe | OK |
| 1668 | Belford | Bamburgh | Bamburgh. No comment. |
Consider using Wooler. | Bamburgh | Bamburgh | OK |
| 1675 | Meriden (See also 1676) |
Coleshill | Coleshill. No comment. |
Coleshill. Agree. | Coleshill | Coleshill | OK |
| 1676 | Meriden (See also 1675) |
Meriden | Meriden. No comment. |
Meriden. Agree. | Meriden | Meriden | OK |
| 1680 | Craignure | Isle of Mull - Craignure | Isle of Mull - Craignure. No comment. |
Isle of Mull - Craignure. Agree. | Isle of Mull - Craignure | Isle of Mull - Craignure | OK |
| 1681 | Fionnphort | Isle of Mull - Fionnphort | Isle of Mull - Fionnphort. No comment. |
Isle of Mull - Fionnphort. Agree. | Isle of Mull - Fionnphort | Isle of Mull - Fionnphort | OK |
| 1684 | Hanley Swan | Hanley Swan | Suggest using Tewkesbury. | Suggest using Malvern. | Malvern | Malvern | OK (using C&W suggested name). |
| 1686 4 | Llanidloes | Llandiloes[sic] | No comment. | Spelling error. Use Llanidloes. | Llanidloes | Llanidloes | OK. Spelling error fixed in 2003. |
| 1688 | Tobermory | Isle of Mull - Tobermory | Isle of Mull - Tobermory. No comment. |
Isle of Mull - Tobermory. Agree. | Isle of Mull - Tobermory | Isle of Mull - Tobermory | OK |
| 1689 | Swanley (See also 1322 & 1959) |
Orpington | Orpington. No comment. |
Orpington. Agree. | Orpington | Orpington | OK |
| 1695 | Skelmersdale (Rainford) [See also 1744] |
Skelmersdale | Skelmersdale. No comment. |
Skelmersdale. Agree. | Skelmersdale | Skelmersdale | OK |
| 1697 | Brampton | Brampton | Brampton should be 016977, not 01697. | No comment. | Correctly listed as 016977 (2003–2004) then incorrect 01697 (2005- ). | Correctly listed as 16977 (2001–2002) then incorrect 1697 (2003- ). | 16977 is a five-digit area code. |
| 1707 | Colney Heath (See also 1727) |
Welwyn Garden City | Suggest using Potters Bar. | Consider using Potters Bar. | Welwyn Garden City | Welwyn Garden City | OK (BT and C&W suggested Potters Bar). |
| 1720 | Scillonia | Isles of Scilly | Isles of Scilly. No comment. |
Isles of Scilly. Agree. | Isles of Scilly | Isles of Scilly | OK |
| 1727 | Colney Heath (See also 1707) |
St Albans | St Albans. No comment. |
St Albans. Agree. | St Albans | St Albans | OK |
| 1737 | Merstham (See also 1883) |
Redhill | Redhill. No comment. |
Redhill. Agree. | Redhill | Redhill | OK |
| 1744 | Rainford (See also 1695) |
St Helens | St Helens. No comment. |
St Helens. Agree. | St Helens | St Helens | OK |
| 1753 | Iver (See also 1895 & 1784) |
Slough | Slough. No comment. |
Slough. Agree. | Slough | Slough | OK |
| 1770 | Brodick | Isle of Arran | Isle of Arran. No comment. |
Isle of Arran. Agree. | Isle of Arran | Isle of Arran | OK |
| 1784 | Iver (See also 1895 & 1753) |
Staines | Staines. No comment. |
Staines. Agree. | Staines | Staines | OK |
| 1790 | Spilsby (See also 1507) |
Spilsby | Spilsby. No comment. |
Spilsby. Agree. | Spilsby | Spilsby | OK |
| 1806 | Voe | Shetland | Shetland. No comment. |
Shetland. Agree. | Shetland | Shetland | OK |
| 1807 | Ballindalloch | Ballindalloch | No comment. | No comment. | Ballindalloch | Ballindalloch | OK |
| 1821 | Coupar Angus (See also 1828) |
Kinross | Consider using Kinrossie or Errol. Kinross is 01577 and many miles away. | Kinross[sic]. Agree [See BT comments]. |
Kinrossie | Kinrossie | OK (using BT suggested name). |
| 1828 | Coupar Angus (See also 1821) |
Coupar Angus | Coupar Angus. No comment. |
Coupar Angus. Agree. | Coupar Angus | Coupar Angus | OK |
| 1832 | Clopton | Clopton | Clopton. No comment. |
Suggest using Oundle. | Clopton | Clopton | OK |
| 1841 | Newquay [See also 1637] |
Newquay | No comment. | Consider using Padstow. | Newquay (2003- ) | Newquay (2003- ) | Clashes with 1637. C&W suggested Padstow in 2003. |
| 1843 | Thanet | Thanet | No comment. | No comment. | Thanet | Thanet | OK (Thanet is a region not a town). |
| 1847 | Thurso / Tongue | Thurso / Tongue | 01847 would be better shown in the same way as 01339. Use 01847 Thurso (8) and Tongue (6) as these are non-adjacent charge groups. | No comment. | Thurso [5,8] / Tongue (6) (2003–2005) then changed to Thurso (2,3,4,5,8) / Tongue (6,7,9) in 2005. | Thurso (8) / Tongue (6) (2002) then Thurso (5,8) / Tongue (6) (2003) then Thurso (2,3,4,5,8) / Tongue (6,7,9) 2004 onwards. | OK |
| 1851 7,8 | Stornoway | Stornaway[sic] | No comment. | Spelling error. Use Stornoway. | Stornoway | Stornoway | OK. Spelling error fixed in 2003. |
| 1856 | Kirkwall | Orkney | Orkney. No comment. |
Orkney. Agree. | Orkney | Orkney | OK |
| 1864 | Abington | Abington | No comment. | No comment. | Abington | Abington | OK (The Abington exchange is located in Crawford). |
| 1870 | Benbecula | Isle of Benbecula | Isle of Benbecula. No comment. |
Isle of Benbecula. Agree. | Isle of Benbecula | Isle of Benbecula | OK |
| 1877 | Trossachs | Callandar[sic] | No comment. | Callandar[sic]. Agree. | Callandar (2003-2011) then corrected to Callander in late 2011. | Callander | NTNP now OK. SABC OK. (Error persists in TACT.[50]) |
| 1878 | Lohboisdale[sic] | Lochboisdale | Lochboisdale. No comment. |
Lochboisdale. Agree. | Lochboisdale | Lohboisdale (2003–2005) then corrected to Lochboisdale in 2005. | NTNP OK. SABC now OK. |
| 1883 | Merstham (See also 1737) |
Caterham | Caterham. No comment. |
Caterham. Agree. | Caterham | Caterham | OK |
| 1885 | Bromyard (See also 1886) |
Pencombe | No comment. | Suggest using Bromyard. | Pencombe (2003- ) | Pencombe (2003- ) | In renaming 1885 Ofcom renamed the wrong area. |
| 1886 | Bromyard (See also 1885) |
Bromyard | No comment. | Suggest using Leigh Sinton. | Bromyard (2003- ) | Bromyard (2003- ) | Knightwick or Leigh Sinton would be a better name for 1886. Bromyard businesses use 1885. |
| 1889 | Dapple Heath | Rugely[sic] | No comment. | Rugely[sic]. Agree. | Rugely (2003-2011) then corrected to Rugeley in late 2011. | Rugeley | NTNP now OK. SABC OK. (Error persists in TACT.[50]) |
| 1890 6 | n/a | n/a | No comment. | No comment. | Ayton (7) (2003–2004) then changed to Ayton (5,6,7,9) in 2005. | Coldstream (2003–2005) then corrected to Ayton in 2005. | NTNP OK. SABC now OK. |
| 1895 | Iver (See also 1753 & 1784) |
Uxbridge | Uxbridge. No comment. |
Uxbridge Agree. | Uxbridge | Uxbridge | OK |
| 1902 | Wolverhampton (See also 1922) |
Wolverhampton | No comment. | No comment. | Wolverhampton | Wolverhampton | OK |
| 1908 | Wolverton | Milton Keynes | Milton Keynes. No comment. |
Milton Keynes. Agree. | Milton Keynes | Milton Keynes | OK |
| 191 2,4,6,8 | Tyneside | Tyneside | No comment. | No comment. | Tyneside | Tyneside | Newcastle-upon-Tyne would be a better name. |
| 191 5 | Wearside | Sunderland | Sunderland. No comment. |
Sunderland. Agree. | Sunderland | Wearside (2003–2007) then corrected to Sunderland in 2007. | NTNP OK. SABC now OK. |
| 1920 | Knebworth (See also 1438) |
Ware | Ware. No comment. |
Ware. No comment. |
Ware | Ware | OK |
| 1922 | Wolverhampton (See also 1902) |
Walsall | Walsall. No comment. |
Walsall. No comment. |
Walsall | Walsall | OK |
| 1926 | Leamington Spa | Warwick | Warwick. No comment. |
Suggest Leamington Spa. | Warwick | Warwick | OK |
| 1928 | Frodsham | Runcorn | No comment. | Runcorn. Agree. | Runcorn | Runcorn | OK |
| 1931 | Shap | Bampton | Suggest continuing to use Shap. | Suggest Shap. | Shap | Shap | OK (using BT and C&W suggested name). |
| 1932 | Esher (See also 1372) |
Esher | No comment. | Clashes with 1372. Suggest Weybridge. | Weybridge | Weybridge | OK (using C&W suggested name). |
| 1934 | Weston-Super-Mare[sic] | Weston-Super-Mare[sic] | No comment. | No comment. | Weston-Super-Mare (2003-2011) then corrected to Weston-super-Mare in late 2011. | Weston-Super-Mare (2003- ). Should be Weston-super-Mare. | NTNP now OK. Error in SABC. Should be Weston-super-Mare. (Error persists in TACT.[50]) |
| 19467 | Gosforth (Mixed) | Gosforth | No comment. | Gosforth. Agree. | Gosforth | Gosforth (Mixed) (2003- ). Should be Gosforth. | NTNP OK. Error in SABC. Should be Gosforth. |
| 1952 | Wellington | Telford | Telford. No comment. |
Telford. No comment. |
Telford | Telford | OK |
| 1953 | Attleborough | Wymondham | Wymondham. No comment. |
Wymondham. No comment. |
Wymondham | Wymondham | OK |
| 1959 | Swanley (See also 1322 & 1689) |
Westerham | Westerham. No comment. |
Consider Swanley or Biggin Hill. | Westerham | Swanley (2003–2007) then corrected to Westerham in 2007. | NTNP OK. SABC now OK. |
| 1963 | Templecombe | Wincanton | Wincanton. No comment. |
Wincanton. Agree. | Wincanton | Wincanton | OK |
| 1975 5 | Alford (Aberdeen) | Alford | No comment. | Clashes with 1507. Suggest Alford (Scotland). | Alford (Aberdeenshire) (2003–2005) then corrected to Alford (Aberdeen) in 2005. | Alford (Aberdeen) | NTNP now OK. SABC OK. |
| 1980 | Bulford Camp | Amesbury | Amesbury. No comment. |
Amesbury. Agree. | Amesbury | Amesbury | OK |
| 1983 | Ryde | Isle of Wight | Isle of Wight. No comment. |
Isle of Wight. Agree. | Isle of Wight | Isle of Wight | OK |
| 1984 | Stogumber | Watchet | Watchet. No comment. |
Watchet. Agree. | Watchet | Watchet | OK (The Watchet exchange is located in Williton). |
| 1992 | Hoddesdon | Lea Valley | Suggest continuing to use Hoddesden. | Consider Waltham Cross. | Lea Valley | Lea Valley | OK (BT and C&W each suggested a different name). |
| 1994 | St Clears | Whitland | Suggest continuing to use St Clears. | Suggest using St Clears. | St Clears | St Clears | OK (using BT and C&W suggested name). |
| 28 10,11 | Nothern[sic] Ireland National Dialling | n/a | No comment. | No comment. | n/a | Nothern Ireland National Dialling (2003–2010) then corrected to Northern Ireland National Dialling in 2010. | SABC now OK. |
| 28 40 | Banbridge | Bambridge[sic] | Spelling error. Use Banbridge. | Spelling error. Use Banbridge. | Banbridge | Banbridge | OK. Spelling error fixed in 2003. |
| 28 43 | Newcastle | Newcastle | No comment. | Could cause confusion. Suggest Newcastle (Co Down). | Newcastle (Co. Down) | Newcastle (2003–2010) then corrected to Newcastle (Co. Down) in 2010. | NTNP OK. SABC now OK (using BT suggested name). |
| 28 66 | Enniskillen | Enniskilen[sic] | Spelling error. Use Enniskillen. | Spelling error. Use Enniskillen. | Enniskillen | Enniskillen | OK. Spelling error fixed in 2003. |
| 28 81 | Newtownstewart | Newtonstewart[sic] | Spelling error. Use Newtownstewart. | Spelling error. Use Newtownstewart. | Newtownstewart | Newtownstewart | OK. Spelling error fixed in 2003. |
| 28 90 | Belfast City | Belfast | Belfast. No comment. |
Belfast. Agree. | Belfast | Belfast City (2003- ). Should be Belfast. | NTNP OK. Error in SABC. Should be Belfast. |
| 28 91 | Bangor | Bangor | No comment. | Clashes with 1248. Suggest Bangor (Co Down). | Bangor (Co. Down) | Bangor (2003–2010) then corrected to Bangor (Co. Down) in 2010. | NTNP OK. SABC now OK. |
In 2008 a new area code was created for Ebbsfleet. Adjacent area codes no longer had enough projected spare capacity for the new development to use, so 01987 was allocated.[51]
Under plans, rates charged to people calling an 08 telephone number would be made clearer by linking the cost of the call to the third digit. Numbers starting 080 would be free (except from mobile phones), while 082 would be cheaper than 089.
Ofcom had considered that personal numbers should migrate to 06, to replace the 070 prefix that is sometimes confused with mobile phone numbers. There is no cap on retail caller charges. Ofcom wanted 070 and 06 numbers to have a price cap, and 07 numbers to be used exclusively for mobile phones. Companies such as Hospedia (formerly Patientline) use 070 personal numbers. After an in-depth study to better understand the market, Ofcom has changed its mind and is now proposing to drop the 060 migration concept and decided that the forced migration to 060 is no longer seen to be objectively justifiable.[52][53]
As the number of lines in use continues to grow some areas are close to full capacity. In the late-1990s, Ofcom signalled a number of areas of concern, of which only Coventry has been addressed.
| By 2005 | By 2012 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 01202 | Bournemouth | 01204 | Bolton |
| 01203 | Coventry | 01344 | Ascot |
| 01223 | Cambridge | 01582 | Markyate |
| 01224 | Aberdeen | 01604 | Northampton |
| 01273 | Brighton | 01706 | Rochdale |
| 01274 | Bradford | 01733 | Peterborough |
| 01332 | Derby | 01753 | Iver |
| 01483 | Guildford | ||
| 01642 | Middlesbrough | ||
| 01772 | Preston | ||
| 01782 | Stoke-on-Trent | ||
| 01865 | Oxford | ||
| 01902 | Wolverhampton | ||
| 01942 | Wigan | ||
In November 2010, Ofcom proposed to abandon renumbering and instead provide capacity by a combination of:
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