All geographic numbers in England are assigned dialing codes, and for Chichester, you need the 01243 area code. Phone codes can help you find out where you are being called from and also make sure you dial correctly when you call someone in another region.
Here is all you need to know about the Chichester area code, the dialing methods and the call costs.
Part 1: What Is 01243 Area Code?
The area code 01243 is the dialling code you need to use when calling someone in the Chichester area. Here are the locations in the region that require the 01243 dialling code:
- Birdham
- Bognor Regis
- Bosham
- Bracklesham Bay
- Eastergate
- Emsworth
- Middleton on Sea
- Pagham
- Selsey
- Sidlesham
- Singleton
- Slindon
- Yapton
The 01243 area code covers the region between West Sussex and Hampshire, in the South-East part of England. Chichester is the main settlement in the area. It’s rather small, but its history goes back to Roman times.
Chichester didn’t always have the 01243 dialing code. Before 1995 the code was 0243, and they used the mnemonic CH3, with the first letters from the town’s name. During PhONEday, they added 1 after the trunk code 0, creating the current 01243 area code.
PhONEday changed the area codes for the entire country because available numbers were running low. Even in small towns like Chichester, the number of landline users was growing.
Local numbers are 6-digit long, so the current format when you call someone in Chichester is (01243) XXX XXX.
Part 2: How to Dial 01243 Area Code in the UK and From Abroad?
The dialing method for 01243 depends on where you are calling from. It’s the same rule as for all the other geographic numbers in the UK. The 01243 dialing code is not necessary for local calls. You only need to dial it when you call from another region in England.
If you want to call from abroad, here are the steps you need to follow:
- Enter the international access code.
- Then, dial the country code, which is 44 for the UK.
- Continue with the 01243 area code, minus the trunk code 0.
- Finish by dialing the local number.
Part 3: What Is the Calling Cost of 01243 Area Code?
The 01243 area code means you are calling a normal geographic number. So, the costs will be those of a standard landline. The charge depends on the type of phone you are using.
For calls from a landline, the standard cost is 10p per minute. But if you check with your provider, you’ll probably see that calls can be cheaper or even free in the evening or on weekends. In general, charges are smaller outside peak hours.
If you are calling from a mobile phone, the cost depends on the contract you have with your mobile provider. It’s usually between 10p and 40p per minute, but you can probably use the free minutes and reduced charges they have included.
To Conclude
The 01243 area code stands for Chichester and the surrounding area. These are geographic numbers and have standard charges and a simple dialing method. But the 01243 dialing code can also be linked to a virtual phone number.
So, you could be getting calls with the Chichester area code from someone from an entirely different region. If you have a business, a virtual line can be extremely helpful, especially when you are expanding to new areas. You could also check more details on WeNumber.
