To dial UK numbers, use +44, drop the leading 0, then the area or mobile code and the rest of the number.
If you’ve landed here to figure out how to dial uk numbers from home or while traveling, you’re in the right place. The rules are simple once you see them laid out. This guide shows the exact formats that work in the UK and from abroad, with plain examples, a quick-reference table, and common mistakes to avoid.
How To Dial UK Numbers: Step-By-Step
UK phone numbers follow the international E.164 format. The country code is +44. Inside the UK, numbers are written with a national prefix 0 before area codes (for landlines) or before the first 7 of mobile numbers. When you call a UK number from outside the UK, add the exit code of the country you’re in, add +44, and remove the leading 0 from the UK number.
Core Rules You’ll Use Every Time
- From abroad: exit code + 44 + (area or mobile code without 0) + local number.
- Inside the UK: 0 + area code + local number for landlines; 07 + the rest for mobiles.
- On mobiles anywhere: type +44 and the phone handles the exit code.
- London format: (020) xxxx xxxx in the UK; from abroad it’s +44 20 xxxx xxxx.
Quick Formats And Examples
Scan this first table before you try a call.
| Scenario | Format | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Call a London landline inside UK | 0 + area + local | 020 7946 0958 |
| Call a UK mobile inside UK | 07 + 9 more digits | 07911 123456 |
| Call a London landline from USA/Canada | 011 + 44 + area (no 0) + local | 011 44 20 7946 0958 |
| Call a UK mobile from USA/Canada | 011 + 44 + 7… (no 0) + rest | 011 44 79 1112 3456 |
| Call from most of Europe | 00 + 44 + number without 0 | 00 44 20 7946 0958 |
| Call from Australia | 0011 + 44 + number without 0 | 0011 44 20 7946 0958 |
| Use a mobile worldwide | +44 + number without 0 | +44 20 7946 0958 |
| Call abroad from the UK | 00 + country code + number | 00 1 212 555 0123 |
Dialing UK Numbers From Overseas: Formats That Work
The safest method is to start with the plus sign, then 44, then the UK number without the first 0. This avoids exit-code mistakes and works on any GSM mobile. If you’re using a landline abroad, use that country’s exit code (like 011 in the US or 00 in many places) before 44.
Landlines: Area Codes Matter
Geographic numbers start with 01 or 02. The area part identifies a town or city, then the local number follows. London uses 20 as the area code; the full format inside the UK is 020 plus eight digits. From outside the UK, drop the 0 after adding +44, so 020 becomes 20.
Mobiles: Start With 07 Domestically, +44 7 From Abroad
UK mobiles begin with 07 when dialled inside the country. From outside the UK, remove the 0 and dial +44 7 followed by the rest. Keep spacing simple for readability, like +44 79 xxxx xxxx.
Non-Geographic And Special Numbers
Some UK numbers aren’t tied to a place. You’ll see 03 for national-rate contacts, 0800 or 0808 for freephone, 084 and 087 for service lines with access and service charges, 09 for premium services, 116 for harmonised helplines, and 118 for directory enquiries. Official ranges and pricing rules live in the Ofcom National Telephone Numbering Plan.
Which Exit Code Do You Use Before +44?
If your phone won’t accept the + symbol or you’re on a desk phone abroad, you’ll need the exit code first. Common ones are 011 in the US and Canada, 00 across much of Europe and the Middle East, and 0011 in Australia. Enter the exit code, then 44, then the UK number without its leading 0.
Why You Drop The 0
That 0 is the UK’s national prefix. It tells the network you’re dialing within the UK. Once you add +44, you’re telling the network you’re outside that system, so the 0 must go. If you leave it in, the call can fail or reach the wrong place.
Formatting UK Numbers So They Always Work
Write UK numbers in international format when you share them: +44 then the rest without the 0. This makes life easy for travelers and roaming phones. Keep spaces for readability: +44 20 xxxx xxxx for landlines, +44 7xxx xxxxxx for mobiles.
Examples You Can Copy
- London office: +44 20 7946 0958
- Manchester landline: +44 161 496 0000
- UK mobile saved in contacts: +44 79 1112 3456
Calling Emergency And Public Service Lines
In the UK, emergencies use 999 and 112 from any phone. Calls are free. For non-emergencies, 101 reaches the police and 111 reaches NHS medical advice. If you’re outside the UK, use local emergency numbers where you are; after you arrive in the UK, 999 and 112 work from mobiles and landlines. Official guidance is here: 999 and 112.
How To Read UK Numbers At A Glance
UK numbers are grouped so they’re easier to scan. Landlines carry the area code after the 0, then the local part. Mobiles show 07 then groups of three or four digits. When you see “(0)” in print, that means you drop the 0 if you’re calling from abroad: write +44 20…, not +44 020…
London’s 020, Not 0207 Or 0208
People often say “0207” or “0208”. Those are just the first digit of the local part after the 020 area code. The correct area code is 020 for all London landlines. Inside the UK you dial 020 then eight digits. From abroad it’s +44 20 then the same eight digits.
Roaming, VoIP, And Texting Tips
Saving contacts in +44 format pays off while roaming. The phone dials the right route without extra codes. Wi-Fi calling and VoIP apps also expect the full international form. Texts follow the same pattern as calls: +44 then the number without the 0. If your business publishes a UK contact page, print numbers in international form so overseas callers connect on the first try.
PBX And Desk Phones
Some office systems need a prefix to get an outside line (like 9). In that case, you’d dial the outside-line code, then the exit code (or + if the handset supports it), then 44, then the rest without the 0. If your handset allows commas or pauses, you can store the whole sequence in one entry.
Common Mistakes When Calling The UK
- Dialling +44 and still keeping the 0 (like +44 020…). Delete the 0.
- Thinking 0207 and 0208 are separate area codes. The code is 020.
- Leaving out the exit code on a landline abroad. Add it before 44.
- Misreading 03 numbers. They charge the same as 01/02 and are often in bundles.
- Assuming all 08 numbers are free. Only 0800 and 0808 are free to call.
UK Prefix Reference For Travelers
Use this table once you’re past the halfway mark of this guide. It lists common UK ranges and what they mean.
| Prefix Or Range | Type/Region | What To Expect |
|---|---|---|
| 01 / 02 | Geographic landlines | Area codes tied to towns and cities. |
| 020 | London area code | Inside UK: 020 + 8 digits; abroad: +44 20 + 8 digits. |
| 03 | Non-geo national rate | Charged like 01/02; usually in call bundles. |
| 07 | Mobiles | Inside UK: 07…; abroad: +44 7… |
| 0800 / 0808 | Freephone | Free from mobiles and landlines in the UK. |
| 084 / 087 | Service numbers | Access charge + service charge applies. |
| 09 | Premium rate | High per-minute charges; check rates first. |
| 101 / 111 | Public services | Police (non-emergency) / NHS advice. |
| 112 / 999 | Emergency | Free from any phone in the UK. |
| 116 | EU-wide helplines | Reserved for harmonised services. |
| 118 | Directory enquiries | Charged; check pricing before calling. |
Saving And Sharing Numbers The Smart Way
Save every UK contact in international form. That way your calls work while roaming or when you hand a contact to someone in another country. Use +44 20 for landlines and +44 7 for mobiles, and never include the 0 after +44.
When Calls Don’t Connect
If a call fails, check three things. First, confirm you removed the 0 after adding +44. Next, confirm you used the right exit code or the + sign. Last, check whether the number is a special range that blocks calls from abroad, like some short codes.
Costs And Free Numbers
0800 and 0808 freephone calls are free from UK mobiles and landlines. Calls to 03 numbers count like 01/02 calls and often fall inside inclusive minutes. 084/087 and 09 ranges add an access charge from your provider plus a service charge set by the company you’re calling.
FAQ-Free Tips You’ll Actually Use
- When you see “(0)” in a printed number, it’s optional only inside the UK.
- International format helps every time: write +44 then the rest.
- Area codes start with 01 or 02. Anything else isn’t a place-based landline.
- Store the country code in your contacts to stop guesswork on trips.
The Bottom Line For Quick Dialing
Here’s the rule you can trust and share: to call the UK from abroad, use your exit code or a plus sign, then 44, drop the UK’s leading 0, and dial the rest. Inside the UK, start with 0 for landlines and 07 for mobiles. Keep your contacts in +44 format and the calls just work. This guide follows ranges and service rules published by Ofcom, and emergency guidance on the UK government site, so you can follow it with confidence.
You’ve now seen how to dial uk numbers in every common situation. If you teach a team or write travel notes, link this page and paste the two tables into a phone policy or onboarding handout. No guesswork next time you need to reach someone in Britain.