Calling a phone or mobile number abroad is not as simple as dialling the local number.
You need to know the international dialling code of the country you are calling, as well as the specific geographic number of the city or town.
These codes are the prefix to dial before calling the main number.
Luckily, this article teaches you how to call UK numbers using dialling codes.
It entails the list of dialling codes per UK area and the steps to take when calling UK mobile from abroad. Continue reading to learn more!
Contents
What Is the Dialing Code for UK?
For each country, you need to dial a specific dialling code or prefix before the number you want to call. The international country calling code is an identifier for a specific country.
After the country code comes the geographic area code, which leads your call to a more specific city or town.
The last part of the number is the telephone line number of the specific person or business that you intend to call.
An international dialling code starts with a + character, followed by two or more digits. In the United Kingdom, the international dialling code is +44.
Here are some examples of international dialling codes for other countries:
- Afghanistan +93
- Singapore +65
- Spain +34
- United Arab Emirates +971
- United States of America +1
What Are the Geographic Area Codes in the UK?
The Office of Communications (Ofcom) is responsible for the National Telephone Numbering Plan of the United Kingdom.
It is the appointed organisation that handles and regulates the geographic numbering of areas in the country. After the international dialling code +44, it is the geographic area code assigned per area.
Check the complete list below as stated under Appendix A: Geographic Numbering – Geographic Area Codes and applicable geographic area by Ofcom.
Table of Geographic Area Codes by Ofcom
| Geographic Area Codes by Ofcom | |
| 0113 Leeds | 01678 Bala |
| 0114 Sheffield | 01680 Isle of Mull – Craignure |
| 0115 Nottingham | 01681 Isle of Mull – Fionnphort |
| 0116 Leicester | 01683 Moffat |
| 0117 Bristol | 01684 Malvern |
| 0118 Reading | 01685 Merthyr Tydfil |
| 01200 Clitheroe | 01686 Llanidloes / Newtown |
| 01202 Bournemouth | 01687 Mallaig |
| 01204 Bolton | 01688 Isle of Mull – Tobermory |
| 01205 Boston | 01689 Orpington |
| 01206 Colchester | 01690 Betws-y-Coed |
| 01207 Consett | 01691 Oswestry |
| 01208 Bodmin | 01692 North Walsham |
| 01209 Redruth | 01694 Church Stretton |
| 0121 Birmingham | 01695 Skelmersdale |
| 01223 Cambridge | 01697 Brampton |
| 01224 Aberdeen | 016973 Wigton |
| 01225 Bath | 016974 Raughton Head |
| 01226 Barnsley | 016977 Brampton |
| 01227 Canterbury | 01698 Motherwell |
| 01228 Carlisle | 01700 Rothesay |
| 01229 Barrow-in Furness / Millom | 01702 Southend-on-Sea |
| 01233 Ashford (Kent) | 01704 Southport |
| 01234 Bedford | 01706 Rochdale |
| 01235 Abingdon | 01707 Welwyn Garden City |
| 01236 Coatbridge | 01708 Romford |
| 01237 Bideford | 01709 Rotherham |
| 01239 Cardigan | 01720 Isles of Scilly |
| 01241 Arbroath | 01721 Peebles |
| 01242 Cheltenham | 01722 Salisbury |
| 01243 Chichester | 01723 Scarborough |
| 01244 Chester | 01724 Scunthorpe |
| 01245 Chelmsford | 01725 Rockbourne |
| 01246 Chesterfield | 01726 St Austell |
| 01248 Bangor (Gwynedd) | 01727 St Albans |
| 01249 Chippenham | 01728 Saxmundham |
| 01250 Blairgowrie | 01729 Settle |
| 01252 Aldershot | 01730 Petersfield |
| 01253 Blackpool | 01732 Sevenoaks |
| 01254 Blackburn | 01733 Peterborough |
| 01255 Clacton-on-Sea | 01736 Penzance |
| 01256 Basingstoke | 01737 Redhill |
| 01257 Coppull | 01738 Perth |
| 01258 Blandford | 01740 Sedgefield |
| 01259 Alloa | 01743 Shrewsbury |
| 01260 Congleton | 01744 St Helens |
| 01261 Banff | 01745 Rhyl |
| 01262 Bridlington | 01746 Bridgnorth |
| 01263 Cromer | 01747 Shaftesbury |
| 01264 Andover | 01748 Richmond |
| 01267 Carmarthen | 01749 Shepton Mallet |
| 01268 Basildon | 01750 Selkirk |
| 01269 Ammanford | 01751 Pickering |
| 01270 Crewe | 01752 Plymouth |
| 01271 Barnstaple | 01753 Slough |
| 01273 Brighton | 01754 Skegness |
| 01274 Bradford | 01756 Skipton |
| 01275 Clevedon | 01757 Selby |
| 01276 Camberley | 01758 Pwllheli |
| 01277 Brentwood | 01759 Pocklington |
| 01278 Bridgwater | 01760 Swaffham |
| 01279 Bishops Stortford | 01761 Temple Cloud |
| 01280 Buckingham | 01763 Royston |
| 01282 Burnley | 01764 Crieff |
| 01283 Burton-on-Trent | 01765 Ripon |
| 01284 Bury-St-Edmunds | 01766 Porthmadog |
| 01285 Cirencester | 01767 Sandy |
| 01286 Caernarvon | 01768 Penrith |
| 01287 Guisborough | 017683 Appleby |
| 01288 Bude | 017684 Pooley Bridge |
| 01289 Berwick-on-Tweed | 017687 Keswick |
| 01290 Cumnock | 01769 South Molton |
| 01291 Chepstow | 01770 Isle of Arran |
| 01292 Ayr | 01771 Maud |
| 01293 Crawley | 01772 Preston |
| 01294 Ardrossan | 01773 Ripley |
| 01295 Banbury | 01775 Spalding |
| 01296 Aylesbury | 01776 Stranraer |
| 01297 Axminster | 01777 Retford |
| 01298 Buxton | 01778 Bourne |
| 01299 Bewdley | 01779 Peterhead |
| 01300 Cerne Abbas | 01780 Stamford |
| 01301 Arrochar | 01782 Stoke-on-Trent |
| 01302 Doncaster | 01784 Staines |
| 01303 Folkestone | 01785 Stafford |
| 01304 Dover | 01786 Stirling |
| 01305 Dorchester | 01787 Sudbury |
| 01306 Dorking | 01788 Rugby |
| 01307 Forfar | 01789 Stratford-upon-Avon |
| 01308 Bridport | 01790 Spilsby |
| 01309 Forres | 01792 Swansea |
| 0131 Edinburgh | 01793 Swindon |
| 01320 Fort Augustus | 01794 Romsey |
| 01322 Dartford | 01795 Sittingbourne |
| 01323 Eastbourne | 01796 Pitlochry |
| 01324 Falkirk | 01797 Rye |
| 01325 Darlington | 01798 Pulborough |
| 01326 Falmouth | 01799 Saffron Walden |
| 01327 Daventry | 01803 Torquay |
| 01328 Fakenham | 01805 Torrington |
| 01329 Fareham | 01806 Shetland |
| 01330 Banchory | 01807 Ballindalloch |
| 01332 Derby | 01808 Tomatin |
| 01333 Peat Inn | 01809 Tomdoun |
| 01334 St Andrews | 01821 Kinrossie |
| 01335 Ashbourne | 01822 Tavistock |
| 01337 Ladybank | 01823 Taunton |
| 01339 Aboyne / Ballater | 01824 Ruthin |
| 01340 Craigellachie | 01825 Uckfield |
| 01341 Barmouth | 01827 Tamworth |
| 01342 East Grinstead | 01828 Coupar Angus |
| 01343 Elgin | 01829 Tarporley |
| 01344 Bracknell | 01830 Kirkwhelpington |
| 01346 Fraserburgh | 01832 Clopton |
| 01347 Easingwold | 01833 Barnard Castle |
| 01348 Fishguard | 01834 Narberth |
| 01349 Dingwall | 01835 St Boswells |
| 01350 Dunkeld | 01837 Okehampton |
| 01352 Mold | 01838 Dalmally |
| 01353 Ely | 01840 Camelford |
| 01354 Chatteris | 01841 Newquay |
| 01355 East Kilbride | 01842 Thetford |
| 01356 Brechin | 01843 Thanet |
| 01357 Strathaven | 01844 Thame |
| 01358 Ellon | 01845 Thirsk |
| 01359 Pakenham | 01847 Thurso / Tongue |
| 01360 Killearn | 01848 Thornhill |
| 01361 Duns | 01851 Great Bernera / Stornoway |
| 01362 Dereham | 01852 Kilmelford |
| 01363 Crediton | 01854 Ullapool |
| 01364 Ashburton | 01855 Ballachulish |
| 01366 Downham Market | 01856 Orkney |
| 01367 Faringdon | 01857 Sanday |
| 01368 Dunbar | 01858 Market Harborough |
| 01369 Dunoon | 01859 Harris |
| 01371 Great Dunmow | 01862 Tain |
| 01372 Esher | 01863 Ardgay |
| 01373 Frome | 01864 Abington |
| 01375 Grays Thurrock | 01865 Oxford |
| 01376 Braintree | 01866 Kilchrenan |
| 01377 Driffield | 01869 Bicester |
| 01379 Diss | 01870 Isle of Benbecula |
| 01380 Devizes | 01871 Castlebay |
| 01381 Fortrose | 01872 Truro |
| 01382 Dundee | 01873 Abergavenny |
| 01383 Dunfermline | 01874 Brecon |
| 01384 Dudley | 01875 Tranent |
| 01386 Evesham | 01876 Lochmaddy |
| 01387 Dumfries | 01877 Callander |
| 013873 Langholm | 01878 Lochboisdale |
| 01388 Bishop Auckland / Stanhope | 01879 Scarinish |
| 01389 Dumbarton | 01880 Tarbert |
| 01392 Exeter | 01882 Kinloch Rannoch |
| 01394 Felixstowe | 01883 Caterham |
| 01395 Budleigh Salterton | 01884 Tiverton |
| 01397 Fort William | 01885 Pencombe |
| 01398 Dulverton | 01886 Bromyard |
| 01400 Honington | 01887 Aberfeldy |
| 01403 Horsham | 01888 Turriff |
| 01404 Honiton | 01889 Rugeley |
| 01405 Goole | 01890 Ayton / Coldstream |
| 01406 Holbeach | 01892 Tunbridge Wells |
| 01407 Holyhead | 01895 Uxbridge |
| 01408 Golspie | 01896 Galashiels |
| 01409 Holsworthy | 01899 Biggar |
| 0141 Glasgow | 01900 Workington |
| 01420 Alton | 01902 Wolverhampton |
| 01422 Halifax | 01903 Worthing |
| 01423 Boroughbridge / Harrogate | 01904 York |
| 01424 Hastings | 01905 Worcester |
| 01425 Ringwood | 01908 Milton Keynes |
| 01427 Gainsborough | 01909 Worksop |
| 01428 Haslemere | 0191 Tyneside / Durham / Sunderland |
| 01429 Hartlepool | 01920 Ware |
| 01430 Market Weighton / North Cave | 01922 Walsall |
| 01431 Helmsdale | 01923 Watford |
| 01432 Hereford | 01924 Wakefield |
| 01433 Hathersage | 01925 Warrington |
| 01434 Bellingham / Haltwhistle / Hexham | 01926 Warwick |
| 01435 Heathfield | 01928 Runcorn |
| 01436 Helensburgh | 01929 Wareham |
| 01437 Clynderwen / Haverfordwest | 01931 Shap |
| 01438 Stevenage | 01932 Weybridge |
| 01439 Helmsley | 01933 Wellingborough |
| 01440 Haverhill | 01934 Weston-Super-Mare |
| 01442 Hemel Hempstead | 01935 Yeovil |
| 01443 Pontypridd | 01937 Wetherby |
| 01444 Haywards Heath | 01938 Welshpool |
| 01445 Gairloch | 01939 Wem |
| 01446 Barry | 01942 Wigan |
| 01449 Stowmarket | 01943 Guiseley |
| 01450 Hawick | 01944 West Heslerton |
| 01451 Stow-on-the-Wold | 01945 Wisbech |
| 01452 Gloucester | 01946 Whitehaven |
| 01453 Dursley | 019467 Gosforth |
| 01454 Chipping Sodbury | 01947 Whitby |
| 01455 Hinckley | 01948 Whitchurch |
| 01456 Glenurquhart | 01949 Whatton |
| 01457 Glossop | 01950 Sandwick |
| 01458 Glastonbury | 01951 Colonsay |
| 01460 Chard | 01952 Telford |
| 01461 Gretna | 01953 Wymondham |
| 01462 Hitchin | 01954 Madingley |
| 01463 Inverness | 01955 Wick |
| 01464 Insch | 01957 Mid Yell |
| 01465 Girvan | 01959 Westerham |
| 01466 Huntly | 01962 Winchester |
| 01467 Inverurie | 01963 Wincanton |
| 01469 Killingholme | 01964 Hornsea / Patrington |
| 01470 Isle of Skye – Edinbane | 01967 Strontian |
| 01471 Isle of Skye – Broadford | 01968 Penicuik |
| 01472 Grimsby | 01969 Leyburn |
| 01473 Ipswich | 01970 Aberystwyth |
| 01474 Gravesend | 01971 Scourie |
| 01475 Greenock | 01972 Glenborrodale |
| 01476 Grantham | 01974 Llanon |
| 01477 Holmes Chapel | 01975 Alford (Aberdeen) / Strathdon |
| 01478 Isle of Skye – Portree | 01977 Pontefract |
| 01479 Grantown-on-Spey | 01978 Wrexham |
| 01480 Huntingdon | 01980 Amesbury |
| 01481 Guernsey | 01981 Wormbridge |
| 01482 Hull | 01982 Builth Wells |
| 01483 Guildford | 01983 Isle of Wight |
| 01484 Huddersfield | 01984 Watchet |
| 01485 Hunstanton | 01985 Warminster |
| 01487 Warboys | 01986 Bungay |
| 01488 Hungerford | 01987 Ebbsfleet |
| 01489 Bishops Waltham | 01988 Wigtown |
| 01490 Corwen | 01989 Ross-on-Wye |
| 01491 Henley-on-Thames | 01992 Lea Valley |
| 01492 Colwyn Bay | 01993 Witney |
| 01493 Great Yarmouth | 01994 St Clears |
| 01494 High Wycombe | 01995 Garstang |
| 01495 Pontypool | 01997 Strathpeffer |
| 01496 Port Ellen | 01807 Ballindalloch |
| 01497 Hay-on-Wye | 01808 Tomatin |
| 01499 Inveraray | 01809 Tomdoun |
| 01501 Harthill | 01821 Kinrossie |
| 01502 Lowestoft | 01822 Tavistock |
| 01503 Looe | 01823 Taunton |
| 01505 Johnstone | 01824 Ruthin |
| 01506 Bathgate | 01825 Uckfield |
| 01507 Alford (Lincs) / Louth / Spilsby | 01827 Tamworth |
| 01508 Brooke | 01828 Coupar Angus |
| 01509 Loughborough | 01829 Tarporley |
| 0151 Liverpool | 01830 Kirkwhelpington |
| 01520 Lochcarron | 01832 Clopton |
| 01522 Lincoln | 01833 Barnard Castle |
| 01524 Lancaster | 01834 Narberth |
| 015242 Hornby | 01835 St Boswells |
| 01525 Leighton Buzzard | 01837 Okehampton |
| 01526 Martin | 01838 Dalmally |
| 01527 Redditch | 01840 Camelford |
| 01528 Laggan | 01841 Newquay |
| 01529 Sleaford | 01842 Thetford |
| 01530 Coalville | 01843 Thanet |
| 01531 Ledbury | 01844 Thame |
| 01534 Jersey | 01845 Thirsk |
| 01535 Keighley | 01847 Thurso / Tongue |
| 01536 Kettering | 01848 Thornhill |
| 01538 Ipstones | 01851 Great Bernera / Stornoway |
| 01539 Kendal | 01852 Kilmelford |
| 015394 Hawkshead | 01854 Ullapool |
| 015395 Grange-Over-Sands | 01855 Ballachulish |
| 015396 Sedbergh | 01856 Orkney |
| 01540 Kingussie | 01857 Sanday |
| 01542 Keith | 01858 Market Harborough |
| 01543 Cannock | 01859 Harris |
| 01544 Kington | 01862 Tain |
| 01545 Llanarth | 01863 Ardgay |
| 01546 Lochgilphead | 01864 Abington |
| 01547 Knighton | 01865 Oxford |
| 01548 Kingsbridge | 01866 Kilchrenan |
| 01549 Lairg | 01869 Bicester |
| 01550 Llandovery | 01870 Isle of Benbecula |
| 01553 Kings Lynn | 01871 Castlebay |
| 01554 Llanelli | 01872 Truro |
| 01555 Lanark | 01873 Abergavenny |
| 01556 Castle Douglas | 01874 Brecon |
| 01557 Kirkcudbright | 01875 Tranent |
| 01558 Llandeilo | 01876 Lochmaddy |
| 01559 Llandysul | 01877 Callander |
| 01560 Moscow | 01878 Lochboisdale |
| 01561 Laurencekirk | 01879 Scarinish |
| 01562 Kidderminster | 01880 Tarbert |
| 01563 Kilmarnock | 01882 Kinloch Rannoch |
| 01564 Lapworth | 01883 Caterham |
| 01565 Knutsford | 01884 Tiverton |
| 01566 Launceston | 01885 Pencombe |
| 01567 Killin | 01886 Bromyard |
| 01568 Leominster | 01887 Aberfeldy |
| 01569 Stonehaven | 01888 Turriff |
| 01570 Lampeter | 01889 Rugeley |
| 01571 Lochinver | 01890 Ayton / Coldstream |
| 01572 Oakham | 01892 Tunbridge Wells |
| 01573 Kelso | 01895 Uxbridge |
| 01575 Kirriemuir | 01896 Galashiels |
| 01576 Lockerbie | 01899 Biggar |
| 01577 Kinross | 01900 Workington |
| 01578 Lauder | 01902 Wolverhampton |
| 01579 Liskeard | 01903 Worthing |
| 01580 Cranbrook | 01904 York |
| 01581 New Luce | 01905 Worcester |
| 01582 Luton | 01908 Milton Keynes |
| 01583 Carradale | 01909 Worksop |
| 01584 Ludlow | 0191 Tyneside / Durham / Sunderland |
| 01586 Campbeltown | 01920 Ware |
| 01588 Bishops Castle | 01922 Walsall |
| 01590 Lymington | 01923 Watford |
| 01591 Llanwrtyd Wells | 01924 Wakefield |
| 01592 Kirkcaldy | 01925 Warrington |
| 01593 Lybster | 01926 Warwick |
| 01594 Lydney | 01928 Runcorn |
| 01595 Lerwick / Foula / Fair Isle | 01929 Wareham |
| 01597 Llandrindod Wells | 01931 Shap |
| 01598 Lynton | 01932 Weybridge |
| 01599 Kyle | 01933 Wellingborough |
| 01600 Monmouth | 01934 Weston-Super-Mare |
| 01603 Norwich | 01935 Yeovil |
| 01604 Northampton | 01937 Wetherby |
| 01606 Northwich | 01938 Welshpool |
| 01608 Chipping Norton | 01939 Wem |
| 01609 Northallerton | 01942 Wigan |
| 0161 Manchester | 01943 Guiseley |
| 01620 North Berwick | 01944 West Heslerton |
| 01621 Maldon | 01945 Wisbech |
| 01622 Maidstone | 01946 Whitehaven |
| 01623 Mansfield | 019467 Gosforth |
| 01624 Isle of Man | 01947 Whitby |
| 01625 Macclesfield | 01948 Whitchurch |
| 01626 Newton Abbot | 01949 Whatton |
| 01628 Maidenhead | 01950 Sandwick |
| 01629 Matlock | 01951 Colonsay |
| 01630 Market Drayton | 01952 Telford |
| 01631 Oban | 01953 Wymondham |
| 01633 Newport | 01954 Madingley |
| 01634 Medway | 01955 Wick |
| 01635 Newbury | 01957 Mid Yell |
| 01636 Newark | 01959 Westerham |
| 01637 Newquay | 01962 Winchester |
| 01638 Newmarket | 01963 Wincanton |
| 01639 Neath | 01964 Hornsea / Patrington |
| 01641 Strathy | 01967 Strontian |
| 01642 Middlesbrough | 01968 Penicuik |
| 01643 Minehead | 01969 Leyburn |
| 01644 New Galloway | 01970 Aberystwyth |
| 01646 Milford Haven | 01971 Scourie |
| 01647 Moretonhampstead | 01972 Glenborrodale |
| 01650 Cemmaes Road | 01974 Llanon |
| 01651 Oldmeldrum | 01975 Alford (Aberdeen) / Strathdon |
| 01652 Brigg | 01977 Pontefract |
| 01653 Malton | 01978 Wrexham |
| 01654 Machynlleth | 01980 Amesbury |
| 01655 Maybole | 01981 Wormbridge |
| 01656 Bridgend | 01982 Builth Wells |
| 01659 Sanquhar | 01983 Isle of Wight |
| 01661 Prudhoe | 01984 Watchet |
| 01663 New Mills | 01985 Warminster |
| 01664 Melton Mowbray | 01986 Bungay |
| 01665 Alnwick | 01987 Ebbsfleet |
| 01666 Malmesbury | 01988 Wigtown |
| 01667 Nairn | 01989 Ross-on-Wye |
| 01668 Bamburgh | 01992 Lea Valley |
| 01669 Rothbury | 01993 Witney |
| 01670 Morpeth | 01994 St Clears |
| 01671 Newton Stewart | 01995 Garstang |
| 01672 Marlborough | 01997 Strathpeffer |
| 01673 Market Rasen | 020 London |
| 01674 Montrose | 023 Southampton / Portsmouth |
| 01675 Coleshill | 024 Coventry |
| 01676 Meriden | 028 Northern Ireland |
| 01677 Bedale | 029 Cardiff |
Number Format with a Dialing Code for UK
Now that you know what an international dialling code and geographic code are in the UK, it is easier to understand the parts of a number before dialling.
To give you an idea of what a phone number looks like in the UK, here are some examples of numbers of popular attractions, places, and businesses in the UK.
Table of Number Format Samples
| UK Number | International Dialing Code | Geographic Area Code | User Number |
| London Eye
+44 20 79678021 |
+44
|
20 | 79678021 |
| Tower of London
+44 20 31666000 |
+44
|
20 | 31666000 |
| Thames Rivercruise Reading
+44 118 9481088 |
+44 | 118 | 9481088
|
| KFC Tunbridge Wells
+44 1892 534488 |
+44 | 1892 | 534488 |
| King’s College Chapel
+44 1223 331212 |
+44 | 1223 | 331212 |
How to Call UK Numbers from Abroad
Calling a UK Telephone from Abroad
If you know the dialling code and geographic area code, calling a UK telephone from abroad will be a breeze. Follow the step-by-step instructions below to call:
Step 1 – Dial the international country code +44.
Step 2 – Dial the geographic area code without the 0.
Step 3 – Dial the remaining user number.
Calling a UK Mobile from Abroad
Calling a UK mobile from abroad is slightly different from calling a UK telephone. Keep in mind that most mobile numbers begin with 07.
Instead of dialling the geographic area code, you need to dial the number 7. Here’s how you can call a UK mobile number from your country.
Step 1 – Dial the international country code +44.
Step 2 – Dial the mobile code 7 without the 0.
Step 3 – Dial the remaining user number.
Here’s an example of a UK mobile number:
Mobile number: 07912 234567
Calling in international format: +44 7912 234567
Wrap Up
Did you find this quick guide helpful in dialling a UK number from your country?
Share your thoughts below in the comments section. If you have additional information to share as well, post it in the comments section.
For further reading about the UK, check out our guides on UK Postcode, UK Postcode Format and How to Write a Postcode.
