The 0117 area code: Bristol

0117 is the UK dialling code for Bristol, in Bristol. 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.

0117 at a glance

Area
Bristol, Bristol, England
Number format
(0117) XXX XXXX, 7-digit local numbers
Calling from abroad
+44 117 then the local number, dropping the first 0
Call cost
Standard UK landline rate, usually included in call allowances

Where 0117 reaches

The 0117 code serves Bristol, Kingswood, Filton, Keynsham, Avonmouth and the surrounding area.

Bristol has a population of around 494,000 (2024 estimate).

Bristol used 0272 (BR on the old letter dial) until PhONEday on 16 April 1995, when it became 0117 and local numbers gained a 9 to become seven digits; new ranges starting 3, 2 and 4 followed from 1997, 2007 and 2012.

Getting calls from a 0117 number?

0117 is a legitimate geographic code, so most calls from it are ordinary: local businesses, surgeries, schools, councils and households in the Bristol 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 0117 number on your screen is not proof the call came from Bristol. 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.

Numbers are often written as 01179 xxx xxx; 01179 is not an area code, the code is 0117 and local numbers have seven digits.

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 0117 numbers?

Ofcom allocates 0117 numbers to communications providers in blocks. These providers currently hold the most number blocks in the Bristol area:

  • BT - 83 number blocks
  • Virgin Media Limited - 30 number blocks
  • Vodafone Ltd (C&W) - 20 number blocks
  • Gamma Telecom Holdings Limited - 16 number blocks
  • GCI Network Solutions Limited - 11 number blocks

343 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 0117 number for your business

A Bristol number makes your business local to the people searching for it, wherever you actually answer the phone. ONSIM supplies 0117 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 0117 number, with call recording available for regulated trades.

Already have a 0117 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 → Bristol 0117 numbers →

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

0117 area code questions

Where is the 0117 area code?

0117 is the dialling code for Bristol, in Bristol, England. It serves Bristol, Kingswood, Filton, Keynsham, Avonmouth 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 0117 number?

0117 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 +44 117 followed by the local number, charged at your provider's international rate to the UK.

Why am I getting calls from a 0117 number?

Most calls from 0117 numbers are exactly what they look like: a business, GP surgery, school or household in the Bristol area. But caller display can be faked, a practice called spoofing, so an unexpected call showing 0117 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 0117 number for my business?

Yes. You do not need an office in Bristol or a phone line from the dominant local provider. ONSIM can supply a 0117 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 0117 number. Existing 0117 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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