The 029 area code: Cardiff

029 is the UK dialling code for Cardiff, in Cardiff (council area, historically South Glamorgan). 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.

029 at a glance

Area
Cardiff, Cardiff (council area, historically South Glamorgan), Wales
Number format
(029) XXXX XXXX, 8-digit local numbers
Calling from abroad
+44 29 then the local number, dropping the first 0
Call cost
Standard UK landline rate, usually included in call allowances

Where 029 reaches

The 029 code serves Cardiff, Penarth, Caerphilly, Dinas Powys and the surrounding area.

Cardiff has a population of around 362,000 (2021 census).

Cardiff was 01222 until the Big Number Change on 22 April 2000, when the code became 029 and 6-digit local numbers became 8-digit numbers beginning 20. New-format numbers ran in parallel with the old ones from June 1999.

Getting calls from a 029 number?

029 is a legitimate geographic code, so most calls from it are ordinary: local businesses, surgeries, schools, councils and households in the Cardiff 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 029 number on your screen is not proof the call came from Cardiff. 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.

Often misquoted as 02920; the code is 029 with 8-digit local numbers, and the 20 belongs to the local number, not the 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 029 numbers?

Ofcom allocates 029 numbers to communications providers in blocks. These providers currently hold the most number blocks in the Cardiff area:

  • BT - 61 number blocks
  • Virgin Media Limited - 18 number blocks
  • Vodafone Ltd (C&W) - 14 number blocks
  • Gamma Telecom Holdings Limited - 12 number blocks
  • GCI Network Solutions Limited - 6 number blocks

267 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 029 number for your business

A Cardiff number makes your business local to the people searching for it, wherever you actually answer the phone. ONSIM supplies 029 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 029 number, with call recording available for regulated trades.

Already have a 029 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 → Cardiff 029 numbers →

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

029 area code questions

Where is the 029 area code?

029 is the dialling code for Cardiff, in Cardiff (council area, historically South Glamorgan), Wales. It serves Cardiff, Penarth, Caerphilly, Dinas Powys 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 029 number?

029 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 29 followed by the local number, charged at your provider's international rate to the UK.

Why am I getting calls from a 029 number?

Most calls from 029 numbers are exactly what they look like: a business, GP surgery, school or household in the Cardiff area. But caller display can be faked, a practice called spoofing, so an unexpected call showing 029 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 029 number for my business?

Yes. You do not need an office in Cardiff or a phone line from the dominant local provider. ONSIM can supply a 029 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 029 number. Existing 029 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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