The 020 area code: London

020 is the UK dialling code for London, in Greater London. 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.

020 at a glance

Area
London, Greater London, England
Number format
(020) XXXX XXXX, 8-digit local numbers
Calling from abroad
+44 20 then the local number, dropping the first 0
Call cost
Standard UK landline rate, usually included in call allowances

Where 020 reaches

The 020 code serves London, Loughton, Chigwell, Bushey, Ewell, Thames Ditton and the surrounding area.

Greater London has a population of around 9.1 million (2024 estimate).

London's code has changed three times: the original 01 (assigned in 1959) was split into 071 and 081 in May 1990, these became 0171 and 0181 on PhONEday in 1995, and the Big Number Change reunited the city under 020 on 22 April 2000, when local numbers went from seven to eight digits.

Getting calls from a 020 number?

020 is a legitimate geographic code, so most calls from it are ordinary: local businesses, surgeries, schools, councils and households in the London 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 020 number on your screen is not proof the call came from London. 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.

0207, 0208, 0203 and 0204 are widely believed to be separate London codes, but they are not; the code is 020 and local numbers are eight digits starting 3, 4, 7 or 8. An Ofcom commissioned study found only 13 per cent of people correctly identified 020 as London's code.

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 020 numbers?

Ofcom allocates 020 numbers to communications providers in blocks. These providers currently hold the most number blocks in the London area:

  • BT - 1345 number blocks
  • Vodafone Ltd (C&W) - 335 number blocks
  • Colt Technology Services - 214 number blocks
  • Gamma Telecom Holdings Limited - 213 number blocks
  • Virgin Media Limited - 190 number blocks

3139 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 020 number for your business

A London number makes your business local to the people searching for it, wherever you actually answer the phone. ONSIM supplies 020 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 020 number, with call recording available for regulated trades.

Already have a 020 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 → London 020 numbers →

Not sure which number type fits? Two minutes with the business number chooser will tell you.

020 area code questions

Where is the 020 area code?

020 is the dialling code for London, in Greater London, England. It serves London, Loughton, Chigwell, Bushey, Ewell, Thames Ditton 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 020 number?

020 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 20 followed by the local number, charged at your provider's international rate to the UK.

Why am I getting calls from a 020 number?

Most calls from 020 numbers are exactly what they look like: a business, GP surgery, school or household in the London area. But caller display can be faked, a practice called spoofing, so an unexpected call showing 020 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 020 number for my business?

Yes. You do not need an office in London or a phone line from the dominant local provider. ONSIM can supply a 020 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 020 number. Existing 020 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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