The 01388 area code: Bishop Auckland
01388 is the UK dialling code for Bishop Auckland. 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.
01388 at a glance
- Area
- Bishop Auckland
- Number format
- (01388) XXX XXX, usually 6-digit local numbers
- Calling from abroad
- +44 1388 then the local number, dropping the first 0
- Call cost
- Standard UK landline rate, usually included in call allowances
Ofcom lists this code area under several local names: Stanhope, Bishop Auckland.
Getting calls from a 01388 number?
01388 is a legitimate geographic code, so most calls from it are ordinary: local businesses, surgeries, schools, councils and households in the Bishop Auckland 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 01388 number on your screen is not proof the call came from Bishop Auckland. 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 01388 numbers?
Ofcom allocates 01388 numbers to communications providers in blocks. These providers currently hold the most number blocks in the Bishop Auckland area:
- BT - 21 number blocks
- GCI Network Solutions Limited - 21 number blocks
- Sky UK Limited - 10 number blocks
- TalkTalk Communications Limited - 7 number blocks
- Gamma Telecom Holdings Limited - 7 number blocks
213 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 01388 number for your business
A Bishop Auckland number makes your business local to the people searching for it, wherever you actually answer the phone. ONSIM supplies 01388 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 01388 number, with call recording available for regulated trades.
Already have a 01388 number? You can bring it with you. Porting in is included on Landline SIM plans, or a one-off £20 + VAT on Virtual Landline.
Not sure which number type fits? Two minutes with the business number chooser will tell you.
01388 area code questions
Where is the 01388 area code?
01388 is the dialling code for Bishop Auckland. The code and the areas it serves are set by Ofcom, the UK communications regulator.
How much does it cost to call a 01388 number?
01388 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 1388 followed by the local number, charged at your provider's international rate to the UK.
Why am I getting calls from a 01388 number?
Most calls from 01388 numbers are exactly what they look like: a business, GP surgery, school or household in the Bishop Auckland area. But caller display can be faked, a practice called spoofing, so an unexpected call showing 01388 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 01388 number for my business?
Yes. You do not need an office in Bishop Auckland or a phone line from the dominant local provider. ONSIM can supply a 01388 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 01388 number. Existing 01388 numbers can be ported in: porting is included on Landline SIM plans, or a one-off £20 + VAT on Virtual Landline.