The 01642 area code: Middlesbrough

01642 is the UK dialling code for Middlesbrough, in North Yorkshire. 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.

01642 at a glance

Area
Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, England
Number format
(01642) XXX XXX, 6-digit local numbers
Calling from abroad
+44 1642 then the local number, dropping the first 0
Call cost
Standard UK landline rate, usually included in call allowances

Where 01642 reaches

The 01642 code serves Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees, Redcar, Billingham, Thornaby, Yarm and the surrounding area.

Middlesbrough has a population of around 144,000 (2021 census).

One code covers almost the whole Teesside conurbation on both banks of the Tees, spanning parts of North Yorkshire and County Durham.

The pre 1995 code 0642 was based on the letters MI in Middlesbrough, which map to 6 and 4 on an old rotary dial.

Getting calls from a 01642 number?

01642 is a legitimate geographic code, so most calls from it are ordinary: local businesses, surgeries, schools, councils and households in the Middlesbrough 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 01642 number on your screen is not proof the call came from Middlesbrough. 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 01642 numbers?

Ofcom allocates 01642 numbers to communications providers in blocks. These providers currently hold the most number blocks in the Middlesbrough area:

  • BT - 208 number blocks
  • Gamma Telecom Holdings Limited - 33 number blocks
  • Sky UK Limited - 31 number blocks
  • Virgin Media Limited - 21 number blocks
  • TalkTalk Communications Limited - 17 number blocks

426 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 01642 number for your business

A Middlesbrough number makes your business local to the people searching for it, wherever you actually answer the phone. ONSIM supplies 01642 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 01642 number, with call recording available for regulated trades.

Already have a 01642 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.

01642 area code questions

Where is the 01642 area code?

01642 is the dialling code for Middlesbrough, in North Yorkshire, England. It serves Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees, Redcar, Billingham, Thornaby, Yarm 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 01642 number?

01642 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 1642 followed by the local number, charged at your provider's international rate to the UK.

Why am I getting calls from a 01642 number?

Most calls from 01642 numbers are exactly what they look like: a business, GP surgery, school or household in the Middlesbrough area. But caller display can be faked, a practice called spoofing, so an unexpected call showing 01642 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 01642 number for my business?

Yes. You do not need an office in Middlesbrough or a phone line from the dominant local provider. ONSIM can supply a 01642 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 01642 number. Existing 01642 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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