The UK numbering plan is one of the most varied in Europe. Picking the right range affects how much callers pay, how local you look and how people perceive your brand. Here is what each range means.
Geographic numbers: 01 and 02
Geographic numbers begin with 01 or 02 and are tied to an area:
- 020 London
- 0121 Birmingham, 0161 Manchester, 0113 Leeds, 0141 Glasgow, 0131 Edinburgh
- 029 Cardiff, 028 Northern Ireland, 023 Southampton and Portsmouth, 024 Coventry
A Manchester number tells customers in the North West that you’re part of their market. You can see available cities on our United Kingdom local numbers page, including London 020 and Manchester 0161.
National numbers: 03
The 03 range is non-geographic but charged at the same rate as a call to an 01 or 02 number, and it counts towards inclusive minutes on most mobile and landline plans. It is a good choice for national brands, charities and public services that want one number for the whole country without extra cost to callers. See UK national numbers.
Freephone: 0800 and 0808
Calls to 0800 and 0808 numbers have been free from both landlines and mobiles in the UK since 2015. That makes them the strongest “call us” signal for support and sales lines. The trade-off is that you pay for inbound minutes. Browse UK 0800 numbers.
Ranges to think twice about
084 and 087 numbers carry a service charge that the caller pays on top of their provider’s access charge. They still exist, but many businesses have moved away from them because customers dislike paying to call. 09 is premium rate and not suited to general business lines.
How UK numbers are dialled
Inside the UK, callers dial the full number with the leading 0, for example 020 7946 0123. From abroad they dial +44 and drop the 0: +44 20 7946 0123. We explain why in trunk prefixes and international dialling.
Which should you choose?
| Goal | Best UK range |
|---|---|
| Look local in a specific city | 01 / 02 geographic |
| One number for the whole UK at no premium | 03 |
| Remove any cost barrier for callers | 0800 / 0808 |
| Sales teams calling out across regions | A mix of local 01/02 numbers |
Frequently asked questions
Can a non-UK company get a UK number?
In most cases yes. Requirements depend on the range; the number page shows what’s needed before you buy.
Are 03 numbers free to call?
Not free, but charged like a normal geographic call and usually included in call bundles.
Get a UK number routed to your phone system