The 01242 area code: Cheltenham

01242 is the UK dialling code for Cheltenham, in Gloucestershire. 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.

01242 at a glance

Area
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England
Number format
(01242) XXX XXX, 6-digit local numbers
Calling from abroad
+44 1242 then the local number, dropping the first 0
Call cost
Standard UK landline rate, usually included in call allowances

Where 01242 reaches

The 01242 code serves Cheltenham, Bishop's Cleeve, Winchcombe, Prestbury, Charlton Kings and the surrounding area.

Cheltenham had a population of around 118,800 at the 2021 census.

On the old letter dial CH gave 24, following the standard scheme where a town's first two letters set the digits of its code, which is how CHeltenham came to be 0242, now 01242.

Getting calls from a 01242 number?

01242 is a legitimate geographic code, so most calls from it are ordinary: local businesses, surgeries, schools, councils and households in the Cheltenham 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 01242 number on your screen is not proof the call came from Cheltenham. 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.

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 01242 numbers?

Ofcom allocates 01242 numbers to communications providers in blocks. These providers currently hold the most number blocks in the Cheltenham area:

  • BT - 39 number blocks
  • Gamma Telecom Holdings Limited - 15 number blocks
  • Virgin Media Limited - 8 number blocks
  • Vodafone Ltd (C&W) - 7 number blocks
  • TalkTalk Communications Limited - 7 number blocks

209 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 01242 number for your business

A Cheltenham number makes your business local to the people searching for it, wherever you actually answer the phone. ONSIM supplies 01242 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 01242 number, with call recording available for regulated trades.

Already have a 01242 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.

01242 area code questions

Where is the 01242 area code?

01242 is the dialling code for Cheltenham, in Gloucestershire, England. It serves Cheltenham, Bishop's Cleeve, Winchcombe, Prestbury, Charlton Kings 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 01242 number?

01242 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 1242 followed by the local number, charged at your provider's international rate to the UK.

Why am I getting calls from a 01242 number?

Most calls from 01242 numbers are exactly what they look like: a business, GP surgery, school or household in the Cheltenham area. But caller display can be faked, a practice called spoofing, so an unexpected call showing 01242 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 01242 number for my business?

Yes. You do not need an office in Cheltenham or a phone line from the dominant local provider. ONSIM can supply a 01242 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 01242 number. Existing 01242 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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