The 01273 area code: Brighton

01273 is the UK dialling code for Brighton, in East Sussex. 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.

01273 at a glance

Area
Brighton, East Sussex, England
Number format
(01273) XXX XXX, 6-digit local numbers; the full code must be dialled even for local calls
Calling from abroad
+44 1273 then the local number, dropping the first 0
Call cost
Standard UK landline rate, usually included in call allowances

Where 01273 reaches

The 01273 code serves Brighton, Hove, Lewes, Newhaven, Shoreham-by-Sea, Peacehaven and the surrounding area.

The city of Brighton and Hove has a population of around 284,000.

From October 2014 the full 01273 code has had to be dialled even for local calls, a change made to free up new local numbers beginning with 0 or 1.

On the old letter dial BR gave 27, following the standard scheme where a town's first two letters set the digits of its code, which is how BRighton came to be 0273, now 01273.

Getting calls from a 01273 number?

01273 is a legitimate geographic code, so most calls from it are ordinary: local businesses, surgeries, schools, councils and households in the Brighton 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 01273 number on your screen is not proof the call came from Brighton. 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 01273 numbers?

Ofcom allocates 01273 numbers to communications providers in blocks. These providers currently hold the most number blocks in the Brighton area:

  • BT - 232 number blocks
  • Gamma Telecom Holdings Limited - 59 number blocks
  • Sky UK Limited - 30 number blocks
  • TalkTalk Communications Limited - 20 number blocks
  • Vodafone Ltd (C&W) - 20 number blocks

532 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 01273 number for your business

A Brighton number makes your business local to the people searching for it, wherever you actually answer the phone. ONSIM supplies 01273 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 01273 number, with call recording available for regulated trades.

Already have a 01273 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.

01273 area code questions

Where is the 01273 area code?

01273 is the dialling code for Brighton, in East Sussex, England. It serves Brighton, Hove, Lewes, Newhaven, Shoreham-by-Sea, Peacehaven 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 01273 number?

01273 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 1273 followed by the local number, charged at your provider's international rate to the UK.

Why am I getting calls from a 01273 number?

Most calls from 01273 numbers are exactly what they look like: a business, GP surgery, school or household in the Brighton area. But caller display can be faked, a practice called spoofing, so an unexpected call showing 01273 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 01273 number for my business?

Yes. You do not need an office in Brighton or a phone line from the dominant local provider. ONSIM can supply a 01273 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 01273 number. Existing 01273 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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