UK area code
01256 area code — Basingstoke
01256 is Ofcom’s Basingstoke numbering area, in Hampshire, South East England. 109 phone companies hold its 270 allocated number blocks. Its numbers are written like 01256 234 567. The nearest other codes are 01635 Newbury (18 km) and 0118 Reading (18 km).
01256 at a glance
- Ofcom area name
- Basingstoke
- County
- Hampshire
- Council area
- Hampshire
- Region
- South East England
- Number format
- 01256 234 567 (4+6)
- Local calls
- Full number recommended
- Current code since
- 1995 (previously 0256)
- Allocated blocks
- 270 of 415 (65%) across 109 providers
- Newest block
- 20 August 2026 (4 in the last 12 months)
Sources: Ofcom numbering data (weekly) and area-code list, Ofcom Numbering Plan, ONS geography.
If a 01256 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.
- 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.
- 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.
01256 history and number format
Number format: Numbers on 01256 use Ofcom's 4+6 format: the 5-digit code (including the leading 0) followed by a 6-digit local number — written like 01256 234 567.
Before 1995: 01256 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 0256.
Local dialling: Traditionally not from another 01256 landline, but it now depends on your provider: Ofcom stopped requiring providers to offer local (code-free) dialling on 11 March 2022. Dialling 01256 first always works, and mobiles always need it.
Allocation record: the oldest number block still visible on 01256 was allocated on 15 July 1994, and the most recent on 20 August 2026. 4 blocks were allocated in the last 12 months — newly-activated ranges with no call history, which is worth knowing when an unfamiliar 01256 number rings (see the weekly numbering changelog for every new allocation.)
Phone companies holding 01256 numbers
Every Ofcom range holder with blocks on 01256, 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 | 48 | 48 | 15 July 1994 | 21 July 2021 |
| Gamma Telecom Holdings Limited | 18 | 18 | 1 March 2004 | 20 August 2026 |
| Virgin Media Limited | 18 | 18 | 17 October 1994 | 22 February 2010 |
| Sky UK Limited | 15 | 15 | 21 June 2013 | 7 June 2024 |
| Vodafone Ltd (C&W) | 15 | 15 | 3 October 2013 | 17 November 2021 |
| GTT-EMEA LTD | 10 | 10 | 14 October 2021 | 14 October 2021 |
| GCI Network Solutions Limited | 8 | 8 | 20 April 2017 | 26 February 2024 |
| TalkTalk Communications Limited | 7 | 7 | 21 March 2007 | 26 March 2019 |
| Colt Technology Services | 6 | 6 | 7 February 2013 | 9 November 2023 |
| Six Degrees Technology Group Limited | 5 | 5 | 13 January 2020 | 13 January 2020 |
| Redcentric Solutions Limited | 4 | 4 | 5 June 2015 | 5 June 2015 |
| Served Up Limited | 4 | 4 | 29 June 2010 | 29 June 2010 |
| Voxbone SA | 4 | 4 | 10 December 2007 | 17 March 2026 |
| Barritel Limited | 3 | 3 | 11 November 2008 | 2 December 2022 |
| Digital Space Group Limited | 3 | 3 | 29 November 2007 | 12 April 2016 |
| IOVOX Limited | 3 | 3 | 3 February 2014 | 23 December 2016 |
| TelXL Limited | 3 | 3 | 1 June 2010 | 1 June 2010 |
| Datazero Ltd | 2 | 2 | 8 November 2010 | 29 April 2019 |
| Digitech Solutions Global Limited | 2 | 2 | 23 April 2010 | 22 June 2012 |
| Fuse 2 Communications Ltd | 2 | 2 | 3 July 2017 | 22 January 2024 |
| Media Hawk Ltd | 2 | 2 | 26 September 2011 | 23 October 2017 |
| (AQ) LIMITED | 1 | 1 | 17 October 2011 | 17 October 2011 |
| 24 Seven Cloud Communications Ltd | 1 | 1 | 30 September 2019 | 30 September 2019 |
| 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 |
| Alnitak GmbH | 1 | 1 | 14 January 2016 | 14 January 2016 |
| Andrews & Arnold (Numbers) Ltd | 1 | 1 | 27 February 2009 | 27 February 2009 |
| Atomstream Limited | 1 | 1 | 25 February 2010 | 25 February 2010 |
| Belgacom International Carrier Services SA | 1 | 1 | 20 June 2016 | 20 June 2016 |
Showing the 30 largest of 109 holders.
Openreach exchanges at Basingstoke
Exchanges Openreach lists at this location in its copper stop-sell programme, with the date new copper orders stop.
- Chineham THCHNStop sell 13-Oct-21 · Tranche 1b
All number blocks on 01256first 200 of 415, by prefix
| Prefix | Status | Range holder |
|---|---|---|
| +44 125600 | Allocated | Virgin Media Limited |
| +44 125601 | Protected | — |
| +44 125602 | Protected | — |
| +44 125603 | Protected | — |
| +44 125604 | Protected | — |
| +44 125605 | Protected | — |
| +44 125606 | Protected | — |
| +44 125607 | Protected | — |
| +44 125608 | Protected | — |
| +44 125609 | Protected | — |
| +44 125610 | Protected | — |
| +44 1256110 | Protected | — |
| +44 1256111 | Protected | — |
| +44 1256112 | Protected | — |
| +44 1256113 | Protected | — |
| +44 1256114 | Protected | — |
| +44 1256115 | Protected | — |
| +44 1256116 | Protected | — |
| +44 1256117 | Protected | — |
| +44 1256118 | Protected | — |
| +44 1256119 | Protected | — |
| +44 125612 | Protected | — |
| +44 125613 | Protected | — |
| +44 125614 | Protected | — |
| +44 125615 | Protected | — |
| +44 125616 | Protected | — |
| +44 125617 | Protected | — |
| +44 125618 | Protected | — |
| +44 125619 | Protected | — |
| +44 1256200 | Protected | — |
| +44 1256201 | Protected | — |
| +44 1256202 | Protected | — |
| +44 1256203 | Protected | — |
| +44 1256204 | Protected | — |
| +44 1256205 | Protected | — |
| +44 1256206 | Allocated | Core Telecom Limited |
| +44 1256207 | Allocated | Voxbone SA |
| +44 1256208 | Allocated | Colt Technology Services |
| +44 1256209 | Allocated | Voxbone SA |
| +44 1256210 | Free | — |
| +44 1256211 | Allocated | Sky UK Limited |
| +44 1256212 | Allocated | TalkTalk Communications Limited |
| +44 1256213 | Allocated | Invoco Ltd |
| +44 1256214 | Allocated | Media Hawk Ltd |
| +44 1256215 | Allocated | TGL Services (UK) Ltd |
| +44 1256216 | Allocated | Internexus Networks Limited |
| +44 1256217 | Allocated | Bicom Systems EURL |
| +44 1256218 | Allocated | Gamma Telecom Holdings Limited |
| +44 1256219 | Allocated | 8x8 Communications UK Limited |
| +44 1256220 | Allocated | GCI Network Solutions Limited |
| +44 1256221 | Allocated | Sky UK Limited |
| +44 1256222 | Allocated | GCI Network Solutions Limited |
| +44 1256223 | Allocated | Fuse 2 Communications Ltd |
| +44 1256224 | Allocated | BT |
| +44 1256225 | Allocated | TalkTalk Communications Limited |
| +44 1256226 | Allocated | Redwood Technologies Ltd |
| +44 1256227 | Allocated | TalkTalk Communications Limited |
| +44 1256228 | Allocated | IOVOX Limited |
| +44 1256229 | Allocated | Sky UK Limited |
| +44 1256230 | Allocated | Sky UK Limited |
| +44 1256231 | Allocated | TELNYX UK LIMITED |
| +44 1256232 | Allocated | TalkTalk Communications Limited |
| +44 1256233 | Allocated | Digital Space Group Limited |
| +44 1256234 | Allocated | ICUK Computing Services Limited |
| +44 1256235 | Protected | — |
| +44 1256236 | Allocated | Gamma Telecom Holdings Limited |
| +44 1256237 | Protected | — |
| +44 1256238 | Allocated | SiPalto Ltd |
| +44 1256239 | Allocated | EG TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED |
| +44 1256240 | Allocated | Digital Mail Limited |
| +44 1256241 | Allocated | TelNG Limited |
| +44 1256242 | Allocated | TalkTalk Communications Limited |
| +44 1256243 | Allocated | Sky UK Limited |
| +44 1256244 | Allocated | Localphone Limited |
| +44 1256245 | Free | — |
| +44 1256246 | Allocated | Commi Holdings Limited |
| +44 1256247 | Allocated | Voiceflex Limited |
| +44 1256248 | Free | — |
| +44 1256249 | Allocated | Resilient Limited |
| +44 1256250 | Allocated | GTT-EMEA LTD |
| +44 1256251 | Allocated | GTT-EMEA LTD |
| +44 1256252 | Allocated | GTT-EMEA LTD |
| +44 1256253 | Allocated | GTT-EMEA LTD |
| +44 1256254 | Allocated | GTT-EMEA LTD |
| +44 1256255 | Allocated | GTT-EMEA LTD |
| +44 1256256 | Allocated | GTT-EMEA LTD |
| +44 1256257 | Allocated | GTT-EMEA LTD |
| +44 1256258 | Allocated | GTT-EMEA LTD |
| +44 1256259 | Allocated | GTT-EMEA LTD |
| +44 1256260 | Allocated | Dial 9 Communications Limited |
| +44 1256261 | Allocated | Mi Telecom Limited |
| +44 1256262 | Allocated | Gamma Telecom Holdings Limited |
| +44 1256263 | Allocated | BT |
| +44 1256264 | Allocated | Gamma Telecom Holdings Limited |
| +44 1256265 | Allocated | Gamma Telecom Holdings Limited |
| +44 1256266 | Allocated | TelXL Limited |
| +44 1256267 | Allocated | TelXL Limited |
| +44 1256268 | Allocated | Gamma Telecom Holdings Limited |
| +44 1256269 | Allocated | TelXL Limited |
| +44 1256270 | Allocated | (AQ) LIMITED |
| +44 1256271 | Allocated | Digital Space Group Limited |
| +44 1256272 | Allocated | VoIP-Un Limited |
| +44 1256273 | Allocated | Telecom2 Limited |
| +44 1256274 | Allocated | Voxbone SA |
| +44 1256275 | Allocated | Digital Space Group Limited |
| +44 1256276 | Allocated | Nodemax Limited |
| +44 1256277 | Allocated | Net-Work Internet Ltd |
| +44 1256278 | Allocated | Nationwide Telephone Assistance Ltd |
| +44 1256279 | Allocated | TalkTalk Communications Limited |
| +44 1256280 | Allocated | BT |
| +44 1256281 | Allocated | BT |
| +44 1256282 | Protected | — |
| +44 1256283 | Protected | — |
| +44 1256284 | Protected | — |
| +44 1256285 | Protected | — |
| +44 1256286 | Protected | — |
| +44 1256287 | Protected | — |
| +44 1256288 | Protected | — |
| +44 1256289 | Protected | — |
| +44 1256290 | Allocated | Orange Business Holdings UK Limited |
| +44 1256291 | Allocated | Sky UK Limited |
| +44 1256292 | Allocated | Sky UK Limited |
| +44 1256293 | Allocated | Gamma Telecom Holdings Limited |
| +44 1256294 | Allocated | Hyperoptic Ltd |
| +44 1256295 | Protected | — |
| +44 1256296 | Protected | — |
| +44 1256297 | Allocated | Spitfire Network Services Limited |
| +44 1256298 | Protected | — |
| +44 1256299 | Protected | — |
| +44 125630 | Allocated | BT |
| +44 125631 | Allocated | BT |
| +44 125632 | Allocated | BT |
| +44 125633 | Allocated | BT |
| +44 125634 | Allocated | BT |
| +44 125635 | Allocated | BT |
| +44 125636 | Allocated | BT |
| +44 125637 | Allocated | BT |
| +44 125638 | Allocated | BT |
| +44 125639 | Allocated | BT |
| +44 125640 | Allocated | BT |
| +44 125641 | Allocated | Virgin Media Limited |
| +44 1256420 | Allocated | Virgin Media Limited |
| +44 1256421 | Allocated | Virgin Media Limited |
| +44 1256422 | Allocated | Virgin Media Limited |
| +44 1256423 | Allocated | Virgin Media Limited |
| +44 1256424 | Allocated | Virgin Media Limited |
| +44 1256425 | Allocated | Virgin Media Limited |
| +44 1256426 | Allocated | Virgin Media Limited |
| +44 1256427 | Allocated | Virgin Media Limited |
| +44 1256428 | Allocated | Virgin Media Limited |
| +44 1256429 | Allocated | Virgin Media Limited |
| +44 1256430 | Allocated | Virgin Media Limited |
| +44 1256431 | Allocated | Virgin Media Limited |
| +44 1256432 | Allocated | Virgin Media Limited |
| +44 1256433 | Allocated | Virgin Media Limited |
| +44 1256434 | Allocated | KCOM Group Ltd |
| +44 1256435 | Allocated | Bink Networks Ltd |
| +44 1256436 | Allocated | Colt Technology Services |
| +44 1256437 | Allocated | BT |
| +44 1256438 | Allocated | Twilio Ireland Limited |
| +44 1256439 | Allocated | Virgin Media Limited |
| +44 1256440 | Free | — |
| +44 1256441 | Allocated | GCI Network Solutions Limited |
| +44 1256442 | Allocated | GCI Network Solutions Limited |
| +44 1256443 | Free | — |
| +44 1256444 | Allocated | GCI Network Solutions Limited |
| +44 1256445 | Allocated | GCI Network Solutions Limited |
| +44 1256446 | Free | — |
| +44 1256447 | Protected | — |
| +44 1256448 | Protected | — |
| +44 1256449 | Allocated | GCI Network Solutions Limited |
| +44 125645 | Protected | — |
| +44 125646 | Allocated | BT |
| +44 125647 | Allocated | BT |
| +44 125648 | Allocated | BT |
| +44 125649 | Allocated | BT |
| +44 125650 | Protected | — |
| +44 1256510 | Allocated | Orbtalk Limited |
| +44 1256511 | Allocated | 24 Seven Cloud Communications Ltd |
| +44 1256512 | Allocated | Nexbridge Communications Limited |
| +44 1256513 | Allocated | Hello Telecom (UK) Limited |
| +44 1256514 | Protected | — |
| +44 1256515 | Allocated | IOVOX Limited |
| +44 1256516 | Allocated | Sky UK Limited |
| +44 1256517 | Allocated | BT |
| +44 1256518 | Allocated | Ziron Limited |
| +44 1256519 | Allocated | ICC Networks Ltd |
| +44 125652 | Allocated | TTNC Limited |
| +44 1256530 | Protected | — |
| +44 1256531 | Protected | — |
| +44 1256532 | Allocated | Solutios Limited |
| +44 1256533 | Allocated | Inet Telecoms Ltd (Voipfone) |
| +44 1256534 | Protected | — |
| +44 1256535 | Allocated | Barritel Limited |
| +44 1256536 | Allocated | Vonage Business Limited |
| +44 1256537 | Quarantined | — |
| +44 1256538 | Allocated | Mars Communications Limited |
| +44 1256539 | Allocated | Telecoms World Limited |
| +44 1256540 | Allocated | Andrews & Arnold (Numbers) Ltd |
| +44 1256541 | Allocated | TalkTalk Communications Limited |
Related lookups
- 01635 Newbury18 km away
- 0118 Reading18 km away
- 01420 Alton22 km away
- 01252 Aldershot25 km away
- BT48 allocated blocks on 01256
- Gamma Telecom Holdings Limited18 allocated blocks on 01256
- Virgin Media Limited18 allocated blocks on 01256
- All UK towns A–ZDialling codes by town
- More Hampshire codesSame region
- All UK area codesBrowse every 01/02 dialling code
- Lookup any UK numberFree reverse phone lookup
- UK area codes explainedCornerstone guide
- 020 London numbers explainedCornerstone guide
- 0330 numbers explainedCornerstone guide
- How Ofcom allocates UK phone numbersCornerstone guide
FAQs about 01256
Where is area code 01256?
01256 is Ofcom's Basingstoke numbering area, in Hampshire, South East England. Its exchange town is in Hampshire. From abroad, drop the 0 and dial +44 1256.
Do I need to dial 01256 for a local call?
Traditionally not from another 01256 landline, but it now depends on your provider: Ofcom stopped requiring providers to offer local (code-free) dialling on 11 March 2022. Dialling 01256 first always works, and mobiles always need it.
How are 01256 numbers written?
Numbers on 01256 use Ofcom's 4+6 format: the 5-digit code (including the leading 0) followed by a 6-digit local number — written like 01256 234 567. From abroad the leading zero is dropped: +44 1256 then the local number.
What was the 01256 area code before?
01256 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 0256. Old signage or stationery showing 0256 refers to the same Basingstoke numbers.
Which phone companies hold 01256 numbers?
Ofcom lists 109 providers with allocated blocks on 01256. The largest are BT with 48 of the 270 allocated blocks, Gamma Telecom Holdings Limited with 18 of the 270 allocated blocks and Virgin Media Limited with 18 of the 270 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 01256?
By distance between exchange towns, the nearest other codes are 01635 Newbury (18 km), 0118 Reading (18 km), 01420 Alton (22 km) and 01252 Aldershot (25 km).
How do I report a scam call from a 01256 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.