The 0116 area code: Leicester

0116 is the UK dialling code for Leicester, in Leicestershire. It is a geographic landline code, so calling it costs the same as any other UK landline number and is usually included in call allowances.

Built from Ofcom numbering data, last refreshed 2026-07-24.

0116 at a glance

Area
Leicester, Leicestershire, England
Number format
(0116) XXX XXXX, 7-digit local numbers
Calling from abroad
+44 116 then the local number, dropping the first 0
Call cost
Standard UK landline rate, usually included in call allowances

Where 0116 reaches

The 0116 code serves Leicester, Wigston, Oadby, Blaby, Birstall, Glenfield and the surrounding area.

Leicester has a population of around 368,000 (2021 census).

Leicester swapped 0533 for 0116 on PhONEday, 16 April 1995, one of five cities given new 011x codes, with a 2 added to the front of local numbers to make them seven digits.

Leicester originally used 0533, based on the letters LE in LEicester, which map to 5 and 3 on the old letter dial. The city moved to 0116 at PhONEday in 1995..

Getting calls from a 0116 number?

0116 is a legitimate geographic code, so most calls from it are ordinary: local businesses, surgeries, schools, councils and households in the Leicester area. Two things are worth knowing before you call back.

First, caller display can be faked. Scammers spoof real UK area codes to look local, so a 0116 number on your screen is not proof the call came from Leicester. Second, the safe habit is simple: if a caller you were not expecting asks for personal or payment details, hang up and ring the organisation back on a number you found independently.

Often misquoted as 01162 xxxxxx because local numbers start with 2 - the code is 0116 followed by a 7-digit local number.

Checking a full number rather than just the code? Try our free UK phone number checker, which identifies the area and original provider of any UK number from Ofcom data.

Who issues 0116 numbers?

Ofcom allocates 0116 numbers to communications providers in blocks. These providers currently hold the most number blocks in the Leicester area:

  • BT - 64 number blocks
  • Virgin Media Limited - 19 number blocks
  • Vodafone Ltd (C&W) - 15 number blocks
  • Gamma Telecom Holdings Limited - 14 number blocks
  • GCI Network Solutions Limited - 6 number blocks

270 blocks allocated in total. The provider a number was first issued to is not necessarily who serves it today, because numbers move between providers when ported.

Get a 0116 number for your business

A Leicester number makes your business local to the people searching for it, wherever you actually answer the phone. ONSIM supplies 0116 numbers two ways: a virtual number that diverts to any phone from £5 a month, or on a Landline SIM from £10 a month so your mobile rings and dials as the 0116 number, with call recording available for regulated trades.

Already have a 0116 number? You can bring it with you. Porting in is included on Landline SIM plans, or a one-off £20 + VAT on Virtual Landline.

Get a quote Virtual landline → Landline SIM →

Not sure which number type fits? Two minutes with the business number chooser will tell you.

0116 area code questions

Where is the 0116 area code?

0116 is the dialling code for Leicester, in Leicestershire, England. It serves Leicester, Wigston, Oadby, Blaby, Birstall, Glenfield and the surrounding area. The code and the areas it serves are set by Ofcom, the UK communications regulator.

How much does it cost to call a 0116 number?

0116 numbers are standard UK geographic landline numbers, charged at the same rate as any other 01 or 02 number. Most mobile and landline tariffs include them in inclusive minutes, so the call usually costs nothing extra. From abroad, dial +44 116 followed by the local number, charged at your provider's international rate to the UK.

Why am I getting calls from a 0116 number?

Most calls from 0116 numbers are exactly what they look like: a business, GP surgery, school or household in the Leicester area. But caller display can be faked, a practice called spoofing, so an unexpected call showing 0116 is not proof the caller is really local. If a caller asks for personal or payment details, hang up and call the organisation back on a number you found yourself, for example from its website or a bill.

Can I get a 0116 number for my business?

Yes. You do not need an office in Leicester or a phone line from the dominant local provider. ONSIM can supply a 0116 number that diverts to any phone from £5 a month, or put it on a business SIM so your mobile makes and receives calls as the 0116 number. Existing 0116 numbers can be ported in: porting is included on Landline SIM plans, or a one-off £20 + VAT on Virtual Landline.

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