UK area code

01242 area code — Cheltenham

01242 is Ofcom’s Cheltenham numbering area, in Gloucestershire, South West England. 103 phone companies hold its 207 allocated number blocks. Its numbers are written like 01242 234 567. The nearest other codes are 01452 Gloucester (12 km) and 01285 Cirencester (22 km).

More on the Cheltenham dialling code →

01242 at a glance

Ofcom area name: Cheltenham
County: Gloucestershire
Council area: Gloucestershire
Region: South West England
Number format: 01242 234 567 (4+6)
Local calls: Full number recommended
Current code since: 1995 (previously 0242)
Allocated blocks: 207 of 379 (55%) across 103 providers
Newest block: 26 January 2026 (2 in the last 12 months)
Nearest codes: 01452 Gloucester (12 km), 01285 Cirencester (22 km), 01386 Evesham (24 km), 01451 Stow-on-the-Wold (25 km)

Sources: Ofcom numbering data (weekly) and area-code list, Ofcom Numbering Plan, ONS geography.

Map of the 01242 Cheltenham dialling area and the nearest other UK area codes — Shaded: the council area containing the code's main exchange town (Gloucestershire). Ofcom doesn’t publish exchange boundaries, so this shows where the numbering area’s town is, not an exact outline. Boundaries: ONS (OGL); places: ONS Index of Place Names.

If a 01242 number called you

No clear pattern in reports for these numbers yet. If a call worried you:

1
Call back on a number you trust
If a caller says they're your bank, HMRC, a courier or a council, hang up and ring the organisation on the number from its website or your statement, never the number that called you. Caller ID can be faked.
2
Forward it to 7726
On a mobile, copy the caller's number from your recent calls and text it to 7726 (it spells SPAM). Scam texts can be forwarded to 7726 as they are. It's free, and your network uses the reports to investigate and block numbers.
Ofcom: what to do about a scam call ↗
3
Stop sales calls
Register your landline and mobile free with the Telephone Preference Service (0345 070 0707). Legitimate UK marketers must check it; calls should drop within 28 days. It won't stop scammers.
Telephone Preference Service ↗
4
If you lost money or shared details
Call your bank on the number on your card (or 159 to reach most UK banks safely), then report it to Report Fraud online or on 0300 123 2040. Report Fraud replaced Action Fraud on 4 December 2025 for England, Wales and Northern Ireland; in Scotland call Police Scotland on 101.
159 (Stop Scams UK) ↗Report Fraud ↗

01242 history and number format

Number format: Numbers on 01242 use Ofcom's 4+6 format: the 5-digit code (including the leading 0) followed by a 6-digit local number — written like 01242 234 567.

Before 1995: 01242 took its current form at PhONEday on 16 April 1995, when a "1" was inserted into every UK geographic code — before that the area dialled 0242.

Local dialling: Traditionally not from another 01242 landline, but it now depends on your provider: Ofcom stopped requiring providers to offer local (code-free) dialling on 11 March 2022. Dialling 01242 first always works, and mobiles always need it.

Allocation record: the oldest number block still visible on 01242 was allocated on 15 July 1994, and the most recent on 26 January 2026. 2 blocks were allocated in the last 12 months — newly-activated ranges with no call history, which is worth knowing when an unfamiliar 01242 number rings (see the weekly numbering changelog for every new allocation.)

Phone companies holding 01242 numbers

Every Ofcom range holder with blocks on 01242, by allocated blocks. The holder is the company Ofcom allocated the block to; a number can since have been ported to another provider (see range holder vs current provider).

Range holder	Allocated	All blocks	First block	Latest block
BT	39	39	15 July 1994	5 June 2025
Gamma Telecom Holdings Limited	15	15	1 March 2004	14 March 2022
Virgin Media Limited	8	8	20 June 2012	16 March 2016
Colt Technology Services	7	7	30 January 2013	14 March 2024
Magrathea Telecommunications Limited	7	7	16 November 2011	16 November 2011
TalkTalk Communications Limited	7	7	16 May 2007	22 March 2019
Vodafone Ltd (C&W)	7	7	3 October 2013	17 November 2021
GCI Network Solutions Limited	6	6	20 April 2017	22 December 2023
Digital Space Group Limited	3	3	29 November 2007	12 April 2016
GTT-EMEA LTD	3	3	14 October 2021	14 October 2021
TelXL Limited	3	3	27 July 2011	27 July 2011
Voxbone SA	3	3	10 December 2007	6 November 2024
Barritel Limited	2	2	9 March 2006	2 December 2022
Fuse 2 Communications Ltd	2	2	3 July 2017	22 January 2024
IOVOX Limited	2	2	3 April 2012	23 December 2016
Media Hawk Ltd	2	2	10 April 2013	2 December 2015
Resilient Limited	2	2	9 September 2011	9 September 2011
Served Up Limited	2	2	1 March 2013	1 March 2013
Sky UK Limited	2	2	21 June 2013	14 November 2025
Voiceflex Limited	2	2	27 July 2007	19 February 2019
(AQ) LIMITED	1	1	19 October 2011	19 October 2011
8x8 Communications UK Limited	1	1	26 March 2012	26 March 2012
AQL Wholesale Ltd	1	1	1 November 2004	1 November 2004
Adepteo Limited	1	1	16 January 2017	16 January 2017
Andrews & Arnold (Numbers) Ltd	1	1	26 February 2009	26 February 2009
Andrews & Arnold Ltd	1	1	20 August 2007	20 August 2007
Atomstream Limited	1	1	15 November 2010	15 November 2010
Belgacom International Carrier Services SA	1	1	20 June 2016	20 June 2016
Bicom Systems EURL	1	1	2 March 2012	2 March 2012
Bink Networks Ltd	1	1	29 March 2023	29 March 2023

Showing the 30 largest of 103 holders.

All number blocks on 01242first 200 of 379, by prefix

Prefix	Status	Range holder
+44 124200	Protected	—
+44 124201	Protected	—
+44 124202	Protected	—
+44 124203	Protected	—
+44 124204	Protected	—
+44 124205	Protected	—
+44 124206	Protected	—
+44 124207	Protected	—
+44 124208	Protected	—
+44 124209	Protected	—
+44 124210	Protected	—
+44 124211	Protected	—
+44 124212	Protected	—
+44 124213	Protected	—
+44 124214	Protected	—
+44 124215	Protected	—
+44 124216	Protected	—
+44 124217	Protected	—
+44 124218	Protected	—
+44 124219	Allocated	BT
+44 1242200	Protected	—
+44 1242201	Protected	—
+44 1242202	Protected	—
+44 1242203	Protected	—
+44 1242204	Protected	—
+44 1242205	Protected	—
+44 1242206	Protected	—
+44 1242207	Protected	—
+44 1242208	Protected	—
+44 1242209	Protected	—
+44 124221	Allocated	BT
+44 124222	Allocated	BT
+44 124223	Allocated	BT
+44 124224	Allocated	BT
+44 124225	Allocated	BT
+44 124226	Allocated	BT
+44 124227	Allocated	BT
+44 124228	Allocated	BT
+44 124229	Allocated	Vodafone Ltd (C&W)
+44 1242300	Allocated	TalkTalk Communications Limited
+44 1242301	Allocated	Localphone Limited
+44 1242302	Protected	—
+44 1242303	Allocated	Voiceflex Limited
+44 1242304	Allocated	Andrews & Arnold Ltd
+44 1242305	Allocated	(AQ) LIMITED
+44 1242306	Allocated	Net-Work Internet Ltd
+44 1242307	Allocated	Orange Business Holdings UK Limited
+44 1242308	Allocated	VoIP-Un Limited
+44 1242309	Allocated	Nationwide Telephone Assistance Ltd
+44 1242310	Allocated	Digital Space Group Limited
+44 1242311	Allocated	Digital Space Group Limited
+44 1242312	Allocated	Voxbone SA
+44 1242313	Allocated	Digital Mail Limited
+44 1242314	Allocated	Telecom2 Limited
+44 1242315	Allocated	Nodemax Limited
+44 1242316	Allocated	Commi Holdings Limited
+44 1242317	Allocated	TalkTalk Communications Limited
+44 1242318	Allocated	Solutios Limited
+44 1242319	Protected	—
+44 1242320	Protected	—
+44 1242321	Allocated	TalkTalk Communications Limited
+44 1242322	Quarantined	—
+44 1242323	Allocated	Inet Telecoms Ltd (Voipfone)
+44 1242324	Allocated	Mars Communications Limited
+44 1242325	Allocated	Andrews & Arnold (Numbers) Ltd
+44 1242326	Allocated	Telecoms World Limited
+44 1242327	Protected	—
+44 1242328	Protected	—
+44 1242329	Allocated	Windsor Telecom Limited
+44 1242330	Allocated	Nuso Cloud UK Limited
+44 1242331	Quarantined	—
+44 1242332	Allocated	TeleWare Group Limited
+44 1242333	Quarantined	—
+44 1242334	Allocated	CFL Communications Ltd
+44 1242335	Allocated	BT
+44 1242336	Protected	—
+44 1242337	Allocated	Nexus Telecommunications Limited
+44 1242338	Protected	—
+44 1242339	Allocated	Gamma Telecom Holdings Limited
+44 1242340	Allocated	Suretec Systems Ltd
+44 1242341	Allocated	Datazero Ltd
+44 1242342	Allocated	Barritel Limited
+44 1242343	Allocated	Core Telecom Limited
+44 1242344	Allocated	Atomstream Limited
+44 1242345	Protected	—
+44 1242346	Allocated	INTELLIGENT EXCHANGES LIMITED
+44 1242347	Allocated	Nexbridge Communications Limited
+44 1242348	Allocated	Internexus Networks Limited
+44 1242349	Allocated	Tuxtel Ltd
+44 1242350	Allocated	Simwood eSMS Limited
+44 1242351	Allocated	Bicom Systems EURL
+44 1242352	Allocated	TalkTalk Communications Limited
+44 1242353	Allocated	8x8 Communications UK Limited
+44 1242354	Allocated	IOVOX Limited
+44 1242355	Protected	—
+44 1242356	Allocated	ICC Networks Ltd
+44 1242357	Allocated	Hello Telecom (UK) Limited
+44 1242358	Allocated	Ziron Limited
+44 1242359	Protected	—
+44 1242360	Allocated	Minotaur Telecom Limited
+44 1242361	Allocated	TalkTalk Communications Limited
+44 1242362	Allocated	Media Hawk Ltd
+44 1242363	Allocated	Colt Technology Services
+44 1242364	Allocated	XoverX Ltd
+44 1242365	Allocated	BT
+44 1242366	Allocated	BT
+44 1242367	Allocated	BT
+44 1242368	Allocated	BT
+44 1242369	Allocated	BT
+44 1242370	Allocated	BT
+44 1242371	Allocated	Vonage Business Limited
+44 1242372	Allocated	Content Guru Limited
+44 1242373	Allocated	TalkTalk Communications Limited
+44 1242374	Allocated	Kalnet4U Ltd
+44 1242375	Allocated	Invoco Ltd
+44 1242376	Allocated	M247 Ltd
+44 1242377	Allocated	Fuse 2 Communications Ltd
+44 1242378	Allocated	Redwood Technologies Ltd
+44 1242379	Allocated	YayYay Limited
+44 1242380	Allocated	Lanonyx Telecom Limited
+44 1242381	Allocated	Media Hawk Ltd
+44 1242382	Allocated	Colt Technology Services
+44 1242383	Allocated	Voxbone SA
+44 1242384	Allocated	Gamma Telecom Holdings Limited
+44 1242385	Allocated	Mintaka Limited
+44 1242386	Allocated	Gamma Telecom Holdings Limited
+44 1242387	Allocated	Gamma Telecom Holdings Limited
+44 1242388	Allocated	Colt Technology Services
+44 1242389	Protected	—
+44 1242390	Allocated	Belgacom International Carrier Services SA
+44 1242391	Allocated	Adepteo Limited
+44 1242392	Allocated	Number Services Ltd.
+44 1242393	Allocated	IOVOX Limited
+44 1242394	Allocated	Fuse 2 Communications Ltd
+44 1242395	Allocated	Gamma Telecom Holdings Limited
+44 1242396	Allocated	I.T Communications Limited
+44 1242397	Allocated	Orbtalk Limited
+44 1242398	Allocated	Entanet International Ltd
+44 1242399	Allocated	NFON UK Ltd
+44 1242400	Protected	—
+44 1242401	Protected	—
+44 1242402	Protected	—
+44 1242403	Protected	—
+44 1242404	Protected	—
+44 1242405	Protected	—
+44 1242406	Allocated	Virgin Media Limited
+44 1242407	Allocated	Virgin Media Limited
+44 1242408	Allocated	Virgin Media Limited
+44 1242409	Allocated	Virgin Media Limited
+44 1242410	Allocated	GTT-EMEA LTD
+44 1242411	Protected	—
+44 1242412	Allocated	GTT-EMEA LTD
+44 1242413	Protected	—
+44 1242414	Protected	—
+44 1242415	Allocated	GTT-EMEA LTD
+44 1242416	Protected	—
+44 1242417	Protected	—
+44 1242418	Protected	—
+44 1242419	Protected	—
+44 124242	Allocated	TTNC Limited
+44 1242430	Allocated	VoiceHost Limited
+44 1242431	Allocated	BT
+44 1242432	Allocated	SiPalto Ltd
+44 1242433	Allocated	Dial 9 Communications Limited
+44 1242434	Allocated	ICUK Computing Services Limited
+44 1242435	Allocated	VOXYONDER NETWORK SERVICES UK LTD
+44 1242436	Allocated	Colt Technology Services
+44 1242437	Allocated	BT
+44 1242438	Allocated	TELNYX UK LIMITED
+44 1242439	Allocated	Gamma Telecom Holdings Limited
+44 1242440	Protected	—
+44 1242441	Protected	—
+44 1242442	Protected	—
+44 1242443	Protected	—
+44 1242444	Allocated	Served Up Limited
+44 1242445	Allocated	Served Up Limited
+44 1242446	Protected	—
+44 1242447	Protected	—
+44 1242448	Protected	—
+44 1242449	Protected	—
+44 1242450	Protected	—
+44 1242451	Protected	—
+44 1242452	Protected	—
+44 1242453	Allocated	Digital Space Group Limited
+44 1242454	Protected	—
+44 1242455	Protected	—
+44 1242456	Protected	—
+44 1242457	Protected	—
+44 1242458	Protected	—
+44 1242459	Protected	—
+44 124246	Allocated	Sky UK Limited
+44 1242470	Allocated	Voiceflex Limited
+44 1242471	Allocated	TalkTalk Communications Limited
+44 1242472	Allocated	Gamma Telecom Holdings Limited
+44 1242473	Protected	—
+44 1242474	Allocated	Gamma Telecom Holdings Limited
+44 1242475	Protected	—
+44 1242476	Protected	—
+44 1242477	Protected	—
+44 1242478	Protected	—

FAQs about 01242

Where is area code 01242?

01242 is Ofcom's Cheltenham numbering area, in Gloucestershire, South West England. Its exchange town is in Gloucestershire. From abroad, drop the 0 and dial +44 1242.

Do I need to dial 01242 for a local call?

Traditionally not from another 01242 landline, but it now depends on your provider: Ofcom stopped requiring providers to offer local (code-free) dialling on 11 March 2022. Dialling 01242 first always works, and mobiles always need it.

How are 01242 numbers written?

Numbers on 01242 use Ofcom's 4+6 format: the 5-digit code (including the leading 0) followed by a 6-digit local number — written like 01242 234 567. From abroad the leading zero is dropped: +44 1242 then the local number.

What was the 01242 area code before?

01242 took its current form at PhONEday on 16 April 1995, when a "1" was inserted into every UK geographic code — before that the area dialled 0242. Old signage or stationery showing 0242 refers to the same Cheltenham numbers.

Which phone companies hold 01242 numbers?

Ofcom lists 103 providers with allocated blocks on 01242. The largest are BT with 39 of the 207 allocated blocks, Gamma Telecom Holdings Limited with 15 of the 207 allocated blocks and Virgin Media Limited with 8 of the 207 allocated blocks. Numbers can be ported, so a number's current provider may differ from the block's holder.

Which area codes are next to 01242?

By distance between exchange towns, the nearest other codes are 01452 Gloucester (12 km), 01285 Cirencester (22 km), 01386 Evesham (24 km) and 01451 Stow-on-the-Wold (25 km).

How do I report a scam call from a 01242 number?

On a mobile, text the caller's number to 7726 (free). If you lost money or shared details, call your bank and report it to Report Fraud (0300 123 2040), which replaced Action Fraud in December 2025. Unwanted sales calls go to the ICO after registering with the Telephone Preference Service.