All You Need to Know About 0131 Area Code UK | Location, Cost, How to Call, and More

Telephone numbers are assigned by the Office of Communications (Ofcom) in the United Kingdom. Ofcom regulates many numbers, including 0131 area code.

As a regulator, Ofcom is responsible for ensuring that consumers receive good communications services and that the services they need are regulated.

In addition to providing communications services, the organisation also oversees the universal postal service, broadband, home phone, television, and mobile services.

If you are wondering what 0131 numbers are, you have come to the right place to learn facts about 0131.

This article provides answers to the most commonly asked questions about calling 0131 numbers in the UK.

From how to call 0131 numbers to the costs associated with calls, you will fully understand 0131 numbers after reading this article.

Here are the questions this article tackles:

• What Area Code Is 0131?
• What Is the 0131 Number Cost?
• Is 0131 Free on EE?
• Are 0131 Numbers Free on Sky Mobile?
• Are 0131 Numbers Included in Vodafone Minutes?
• How Do I Call 0131 Numbers?
• Are Calls to 0131 Numbers Cheaper Than Other UK Numbers?
• Which 0131 Numbers Are Used By Service Providers?

What Area Code Is 0131?

Usually used by companies and homes, 01 numbers in the UK are geographical, meaning they are assigned to a specific location such as a city or town.

01 numbers include the 0131 area code. Numbers starting with 0131 are assigned to telephones in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland.

It is a three-digit area code, excluding the first number zero, that is followed by a seven-digit subscriber number.

Thus, numbers in Edinburgh usually use the number format: 0131 xxx xxxx.

In the past, the area code was only 31, without the number 1 before it.

After PhONEday was implemented in 1995, area code 31 changed to 131.

Edinburgh was among the five cities that transitioned to ‘all figure dialling’ between 1966 and 1970.

For a better understanding, the five cities and their area code are as follows:

• 0121 – Birmingham
• 0131 – Edinburgh
• 0141 – Glasgow
• 0151 – Liverpool
• 0161 – Manchester

What Is the 0131 Number Cost?

In accordance with Ofcom’s call cost guide, calls to 01 numbers generally cost 16p per minute from a landline and 3p to 65p per minute from a mobile phone.

Your service provider’s call package determines the exact cost of calls to 01 numbers, such as 0131 numbers.

It is also important to note that most communication providers usually provide free call minutes to 01 numbers.

Furthermore, it depends on where you are calling from and when the call takes place.

The bottom line is, calls to 01 numbers usually charge the basic rate or local rate.

Is 0131 Free on EE?

Calls to 01 numbers like 0131 numbers are included in your inclusive minutes, according to the guide from EE on charges for numbers starting with 03, 02, and 01.

This allowance is for calls or texts made from the UK to landlines and mobiles starting with 01 in the UK, except for Jersey, Guernsey, and the Isle of Man.

You will be charged for access and service charges if you call outside of those inclusive minutes.

Refer to the list below of access charges per minute inclusive of VAT:

• EE pay monthly mobile customers – 73p per minute
• EE SIM only mobile customers – 73p per minute
• EE pay as you go and Flex customers – 44p per minute
• EE Broadband and Phone customers – 12p per minute
• EE Small Business Customers – Business Access Charges page

Are 0131 Numbers Free on Sky Mobile?

The Unlimited Calls and Texts package includes a plan allowance for calls to UK landlines starting with 01, such as 0131.

Sky Mobile’s Tariff Guide notes that calls to 01 numbers are included in your plan allowance.

The cost of calling any UK landline starting with 01, 02, or 03 will be £0.10 per minute when you go over your plan allowance.

Are 0131 Numbers Included in Vodafone Minutes?

A Vodafone plan includes a monthly allowance for calls within the UK and for standard UK landlines that start with 01.

If you exceed your plan allowance, charges will apply. Purchasing additional allowances is an option.

Calling standard UK landlines starting with 01 costs 55p a minute. The cost per minute is the same as calling other UK mobile networks, video calling, and voicemails.

How Do I Call 0131 Numbers?

 International Calls:

When calling 0131 numbers from another country, you must include the UK Dialing Code +44.

In this case, the number should begin with +44, followed by 131 without the zero and by the subscriber number. Thus, it should be dialled as +44 131 xxx xxxx.

National Calls:

To call a 0131 area code number in Edinburgh within the UK, dial the starting number 0131 and the remaining subscriber number.

In this case, you should dial 0131 xxx xxxx.

Are Calls to 0131 Numbers Cheaper Than Other UK Numbers?

You cannot actually say that calling 0131 numbers is cheaper than calling other UK numbers since it depends on several factors, including the time of your call, location, and device used.

However, if you base it on the basic rates provided by Ofcom as stated in the table below, calls to 01 numbers are a bit more expensive than others.

For instance, calls to 30 numbers cost up to 10p per minute only, whereas calls to 01 numbers cost up to 16p per minute.

In addition, there are also some UK numbers that are free to call, such as 0800, 0808, 101, 105, 111, 112, 116, and 999.

The table below shows you the complete list of UK numbers’ cost per minute.

Table of Cost Per Minute for UK Numbers

Number	Cost Via Landline	Cost Via Mobile
01 02	up to 16p per minute	3p to 65p per minute
03 0345	up to 16p per minute	3p to 65p per minute
30	up to 10p per minute	3p to 40p per minute
7	10p to 20p per minute	3p to 65p per minute
70	50p per minute	86p per minute
0800 0808	No Charge	No Charge
0843 0844 0845	up to 7p per minute + phone company’s access charge	up to 7p per minute + phone company’s access charge
0870 0871 0872 0873	up to 13p per minute + phone company’s access charge	up to 13p per minute + phone company’s access charge
9	up to £3.60 per minute, access charge, and additional 5p to £6 per call	up to £3.60 per minute, access charge, and additional 5p to £6 per call
101	No Charge	No Charge
105	No Charge	No Charge
111	No Charge	No Charge
112	No Charge	No Charge
116	No Charge	No Charge
118	up to £3.65 per 90 seconds and the phone company access charge	up to £3.65 per 90 seconds and the phone company access charge
999	No Charge	No Charge

Which 0131 Numbers Are Used By Service Providers?

The numbering data available on Ofcom’s website can be downloaded if you’d like to know which Edinburgh businesses are assigned a specific 0131 number.

Additionally, the company name, the date of allocation, and the length of the geographic number are listed.

You can also know which numbers are categorised as protected, allocated, quarantined, and free.

The following are some examples of 0131 numbers that have already been assigned:

Table of 0131 Numbers Used by Service Providers

NMS Number Block: Number Block	Allocation Status	Company
0131 000	Allocated	Virgin Media Limited
0131 154	Allocated	Vodafone Ltd (C&W)
0131 201	Allocated	Inclarity Communications Ltd
0131 202	Allocated	Gamma Telecom Holdings Ltd
0131 204	Allocated	TG Support Limited
0131 205	Allocated	TalkTalk Communications Limited
0131 206	Allocated	Danemere Street Creative

Final Thoughts on 0131 Area Code UK

To summarise, 0131 numbers are part of Edinburgh and are under the 01 number system in the UK that charges the local rate for calls to and from that city.

You don’t have to worry about being charged for calls to 0131 numbers as long as you have inclusive minutes or plan allowance in your call plan.

Keep in mind you will only be charged according to the service provider’s call rates once you exceed your inclusive minutes.

Are there any new insights you would like to share about 0131 numbers or other UK numbers? Add a comment below by writing your name, email, and feedback.

Aside from the 0131 area code, Winterville also has several other guides on UK numbers, including:

• Are 0345 Numbers Free in the UK?
• Introduction to 0203 Area Code UK
• What Is 01482 Area Code UK
• A Guide to 0141 Area Code UK