The 0118 area code: Reading

0118 is the UK dialling code for Reading, in Berkshire. 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.

0118 at a glance

Area
Reading, Berkshire, England
Number format
(0118) XXX XXXX, 7-digit local numbers
Calling from abroad
+44 118 then the local number, dropping the first 0
Call cost
Standard UK landline rate, usually included in call allowances

Where 0118 reaches

The 0118 code serves Reading, Wokingham, Woodley, Earley, Tilehurst, Twyford and the surrounding area.

Reading has a population of around 174,000 (2021 census).

Reading changed code twice in three years - 0734 became 01734 on PhONEday in April 1995, then the new 0118 code with seven digit local numbers was phased in from 1996, with the old code finally withdrawn in January 1998.

Reading originally used 0734, based on the letters RE in REading, which map to 7 and 3 on the old letter dial. The town outgrew that code and moved to 0118 in 1998..

Getting calls from a 0118 number?

0118 is a legitimate geographic code, so most calls from it are ordinary: local businesses, surgeries, schools, councils and households in the Reading 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 0118 number on your screen is not proof the call came from Reading. 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.

0118 numbers are often misquoted as 01189 xxxxxx because most local numbers start with 9 - the code is 0118 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 0118 numbers?

Ofcom allocates 0118 numbers to communications providers in blocks. These providers currently hold the most number blocks in the Reading area:

  • BT - 84 number blocks
  • Vodafone Ltd (C&W) - 17 number blocks
  • Virgin Media Limited - 14 number blocks
  • Gamma Telecom Holdings Limited - 11 number blocks
  • GCI Network Solutions Limited - 9 number blocks

296 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 0118 number for your business

A Reading number makes your business local to the people searching for it, wherever you actually answer the phone. ONSIM supplies 0118 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 0118 number, with call recording available for regulated trades.

Already have a 0118 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.

0118 area code questions

Where is the 0118 area code?

0118 is the dialling code for Reading, in Berkshire, England. It serves Reading, Wokingham, Woodley, Earley, Tilehurst, Twyford 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 0118 number?

0118 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 +44 118 followed by the local number, charged at your provider's international rate to the UK.

Why am I getting calls from a 0118 number?

Most calls from 0118 numbers are exactly what they look like: a business, GP surgery, school or household in the Reading area. But caller display can be faked, a practice called spoofing, so an unexpected call showing 0118 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 0118 number for my business?

Yes. You do not need an office in Reading or a phone line from the dominant local provider. ONSIM can supply a 0118 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 0118 number. Existing 0118 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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