The 023 area code: Southampton and Portsmouth

023 is the UK dialling code for Southampton and Portsmouth, in Hampshire. 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.

023 at a glance

Area
Southampton and Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
Number format
(023) XXXX XXXX, 8-digit local numbers
Calling from abroad
+44 23 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: Southampton, Portsmouth.

Where 023 reaches

The 023 code serves Southampton, Portsmouth, Eastleigh, Gosport, Havant and the surrounding area.

Southampton has a population of around 249,000 and Portsmouth around 208,000 (2021 census).

Created in the Big Number Change on 22 April 2000, merging Southampton (01703) and Portsmouth (01705) into a single 023 code with eight digit local numbers - Southampton numbers begin with 8 and Portsmouth numbers with 9.

Getting calls from a 023 number?

023 is a legitimate geographic code, so most calls from it are ordinary: local businesses, surgeries, schools, councils and households in the Southampton and Portsmouth 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 023 number on your screen is not proof the call came from Southampton and Portsmouth. 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.

Numbers are very commonly written as 02380 xxxxxx or 02392 xxxxxx, but 02380 and 02392 are not area codes - the code is 023 followed by an 8-digit local number, correctly written 023 xxxx xxxx.

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 023 numbers?

Ofcom allocates 023 numbers to communications providers in blocks. These providers currently hold the most number blocks in the Southampton and Portsmouth area:

  • BT - 114 number blocks
  • Virgin Media Limited - 28 number blocks
  • Vodafone Ltd (C&W) - 18 number blocks
  • Gamma Telecom Holdings Limited - 17 number blocks
  • Sky UK Limited - 5 number blocks

458 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 023 number for your business

A Southampton and Portsmouth number makes your business local to the people searching for it, wherever you actually answer the phone. ONSIM supplies 023 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 023 number, with call recording available for regulated trades.

Already have a 023 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.

023 area code questions

Where is the 023 area code?

023 is the dialling code for Southampton and Portsmouth, in Hampshire, England. It serves Southampton, Portsmouth, Eastleigh, Gosport, Havant 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 023 number?

023 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 23 followed by the local number, charged at your provider's international rate to the UK.

Why am I getting calls from a 023 number?

Most calls from 023 numbers are exactly what they look like: a business, GP surgery, school or household in the Southampton and Portsmouth area. But caller display can be faked, a practice called spoofing, so an unexpected call showing 023 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 023 number for my business?

Yes. You do not need an office in Southampton and Portsmouth or a phone line from the dominant local provider. ONSIM can supply a 023 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 023 number. Existing 023 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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