The 0203 area code is assigned to London and the surrounding area. When it comes to the London area code, there may be a few things you don’t know yet.
So here is a guide that will give you the most useful facts on the London telephone code, how to properly use it and what the costs are.
Part 1: What Is 0203 Area Code?
The London area code covers the largest city in the UK as well as many locations in the surrounding area. It’s the most frequently used area code in England.
The general code for the region is, in fact, 020, but since many local numbers begin with 3, many believe that 0203 is the correct dialing code.
The great city on the banks of the River Thames is known worldwide as a major cultural, political and economic center. Not to mention, it’s on most travel bucket lists because of its beauty and countless attractions.
Being such a busy area, the London phone code is heavily used. Apart from London, there is a really long list of locations that use the 203 area code. Here are a few of them:
- Addington
- Barnsbury
- Bexley
- Cambridge Heath
- Deptford
- Isleworth
- Norbury
- Notting Hill
- Richmond
- Wimbledon
The area code London used before 1995 was 071 and 081. But the capital was facing the same problem as the rest of the country.
With the growth of the population and the increasing number of phones and fax machines, the available phone numbers were running low.
In April 1995 the Office of Communications organised the event called PhONEday and brought the necessary changes to the London area code along with all other codes in England. The digit ‘1’ was added after the trunk code ‘0’.
The capital was using two phone codes, which became 0171 for inner London and 0181 for outer London. Then, in April 2000, after the Big Number Change, they merged into the 020 area code that is still in use today.
People talk about London area codes using the plural because in practice it seems there isn’t just a single dialing code for the region. It’s a misconception that starts from the length of the London Phone code.
It’s shorter than others, so people sometimes think the first digit in the local number is actually part of the area code. Since 3 is the first digit in many London numbers, the 0203 area code became popular.
The reason the London area code is so short is that it needed to cover a huge number of subscribers. So, while most area codes in England have 4 digits, London has 2, since 0 is actually the trunk code.
Part 2: How to Dial 0203 Area Code in the UK and From Abroad?
The dialing method of 0203 area code remains the same. It only depends on where you are calling from. Some cities require the area code even when you are calling from within that region, but that’s not the case with London.
You only have to dial the 0203 area code if you are calling from a landline outside of the London area. The 0203 area code is also mandatory when calling from a mobile phone, no matter where you are.
When you want to call someone with the London area code from abroad, these are the steps you need to follow:
- Start with the international access code.
- Dial the country code, which is 44 for the UK.
- Enter the London area code, without the trunk code 0.
- Dial the local number.
Part 3: What Is the Calling Cost of 0203 Area Code?
All the geographic numbers on the London area codes map have the same charges. It’s the cost of a call to a standard landline in England. But it depends on the type of phone you are using.
If you call from a landline, the normal cost to the London area code is 10p per minute. But depending on the provider, you could pay less. You can usually call for free in the evening or on weekends, outside of peak hours.
When you call from a mobile phone, the cost can go from 10p to 40p per minute. But it depends on your mobile provider. Most of them include free calls and reduced charges in the contract.
Final Words
The 0203 area code belongs to London and the surrounding area. It covers a huge number of subscribers. These are all geographic numbers and have standard dialing methods and costs.
Some companies are trying to enter the market in London. If they appear to be local, clients will respond better. In this way, getting a virtual phone number could be more helpful.
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