14 Jan 2025
The United Kingdom (UK) is one of the most favorite places for tourists, students, expats who can send money online back home, and business travelers. No matter why you’re calling the UK, knowing its calling codes will ensure smooth communication. Knowing the right country code for the United Kingdom helps you make international calls to the UK without confusion and ensures you dial the right phone code.
Whether connecting with friends, family, or business contacts, having the right country code for the UK is essential for hassle-free conversations. Knowing all British phone codes, such as those for major cities like London or Manchester, is also helpful.
By familiarizing yourself with these codes, especially telephone codes in the UK, you can save time and avoid the frustration of failed call attempts.
The international dialing code for the UK is +44, often referred to as the United Kingdom international code.
This country code for England is crucial whether you're calling a landline or a mobile number. If you want to dial a mobile number in the UK from the US, you should dial +44 7700 900 123. When making an international call, always use the appropriate country code to ensure your call connects to the right destination in the UK.
Knowing the England code, calling code of London, or the UK dialing code ensures that your calls reach their intended destination within UK.
Unlike countries with standard area code systems, the UK runs a geographic numbering plan. This means the area code for UK phone numbers reflects where the number is registered.
However, the area code system has lost some rigidity with the increasing use of mobile phones. Mobile codes in the UK are not bound to geography and can be assigned to mobile service providers instead of traditional city-based numbers.
Knowing the right dialing codes in the UK is essential. In the proper format, the country code (+44) is first, followed by the mobile or area code, and finally, the local number itself. Be sure to use this format to ensure all your calls for the UK phone code connect appropriately.
Let’s say, for instance, that if you wanted to call a landline in London from your personal phone or mobile, you’d use 44 international code, followed by 20 along with the local number. The same goes for dialing a UK mobile number: you'd use the 07 prefix and then the unique code of the mobile provider.
It’s important to note that while the UK area and phone code systems were historically geographic, mobile phones have created a more flexible structure.
When calling a UK’s landline number, you’ll need the whole 11-digit number. The first part of the number indicates the UK telephone code or area code of the location you're dialing into.
So, if you dial a London-based landline number such as 0207946 0000, you would dial +44 20 7946 0000. The format can be tricky when you start dialing Britain telephone code, but it becomes much more manageable once you know how to do it.
Also, remember that when calling a landline in the UK from abroad, the code in the UK replaces the initial 0 used when calling within the country.
You don’t have to have significant information, but the code number of UK mobile is just as easy to call as its landline’s counterpart; they’re just concerned with a 07 rather than with 01 or 02 numbers.
For example, if you dial a UK mobile number (e.g., 07700 900 123) outside the UK, you should dial +44 7700 900 123. Additionally, it’s worth mentioning that mobile phone codes in the UK differ according to mobile service providers. The UK’s mobile calling code after the 07 prefix helps identify the carrier, while the rest of the digits are unique to each number.
When making international calls to the UK, keep in mind several considerations:
Since the UK has multiple time zones, you must confirm the time difference before dialing a number to check if you are calling at the right time. Also, double-check the international dialing code for the UK beforehand.
If your phone carrier offers international calling plans and rates, check with them. Calling abroad, especially using a mobile to call a mobile can be expensive. There are some plans where you can even get cheaper rates for your home country (the UK, in this case).
When you need to make international calls, you can save money using internet-based services like Skype, WhatsApp, and other VoIP services. This tip is especially beneficial for expats who are responsible for making a money transfer to their loved ones.
These services allow you to place free or low-cost calls in the UK and unblock traditional telecommunication networks. Suppose you have an emergency in the UK; dial 999 from any phone. It is the official emergency number for the UK, and you can use it from a mobile.
In addition, if you're calling the UK from a UK landline, you must know the country code. However, when dialing from a UK landline to another UK number, you only need to dial the area code or mobile code, omitting the international prefix (+44). This considerably simplifies the dialing process within the UK.
Looking ahead, it is highly likely that the UK’s country code and its area codes will remain the same in 2025. The UK’s code system is well-established, and there is no indication that significant changes are expected.
But if telephone codes can change, then phone numbers through which we communicate can, too, as technology moves on and different telephone code systems are rolled out in parts of the UK.
Introducing 4G and 5G networks may require slight UK dial code system adjustments. Still, it’s unlikely that significant changes will soon affect England's phone code or the United Kingdom's international code.
The most affordable way to make calls, send text messages, or use mobile data is to purchase a local SIM card in the UK. It ensures that you don’t need to depend on international roaming charges.
When you get back to the UK after going offshore, call your home carrier to let them know which UK carrier you’re using and ask them if they’ve charged you for using their roaming. Many mobile service providers have international roaming packages to reduce costs.
In many cafes, hotels, or public spaces in the UK, you can make calls via internet-based services or have free Wi-Fi service. This might be a low-cost alternative to traditional cellular roaming and beneficial for migrants who use online money transfer services.
If you have a local SIM card with a phone number in the UK, or a roaming package, you can keep in touch with your family, friends, and colleagues without excessive phone bills.
Understanding the UK dialing code system is essential for staying connected with friends, family, and business associates in the UK. The UK’s phone code system might initially seem complicated, but once you know how to use the international dialing code to dial in the UK, making calls becomes easier.
So, if you’re calling a UK landline or UK mobile number or dialing into particular regions such as London, it’s best to use the right UK phone code number.
These guidelines will help you stay connected in the UK, gain knowledge of the United Kingdom’s international code, and create seamless communication during your visit or business dealings.
Whether making a call or planning to send money to loved ones in the UK, always double-check the international dialing code, the calling code for UK, or any other UK area code before proceeding to ensure everything is clear and accurate.
Dialing a phone code in the UK from abroad might be as cheap or as expensive as your phone plan and the country you are calling from. Ensure you get the right pricing from your mobile carrier or internet service provider.
It’s true. You can use a UK SIM card in your unlocked phone while traveling to the UK. This will allow you to use UK phone codes and mobile data at the local rates.
Yes, the 0044 international code is used for all UK calls from abroad, whether for landlines or mobile phones. Drop the leading zero in the area code or mobile number when dialing internationally.
You can also use the most popular messaging apps, such as WhatsApp, Viber, and Skype, to make free voice and video calls to any mobile code in the UK, so long as you have access to a good internet connection.
