UK area code
023 area code — Southampton & Portsmouth
023 is Ofcom’s Southampton & Portsmouth numbering area, covering Southampton and Portsmouth, in Hampshire, South East England. 139 phone companies hold its 455 allocated number blocks. Visitors have checked 92 different 023 numbers here. Its numbers are written like 023 2345 6789. The nearest other codes are 01794 Romsey (12 km) and 01489 Bishops Waltham (15 km).
023 at a glance
- Ofcom area name
- Southampton & Portsmouth
- Places on this code
- Southampton 0238
- Portsmouth 0239
- County
- Hampshire
- Council areas
- Southampton, Portsmouth
- Region
- South East England
- Number format
- 023 2345 6789 (2+8)
- Local calls
- Full number recommended
- Current code since
- 2000 (previously 01703 (Southampton))
- Allocated blocks
- 455 of 2,601 (17%) across 139 providers
- Newest block
- 17 March 2026 (4 in the last 12 months)
Sources: Ofcom numbering data (weekly) and area-code list, Ofcom Numbering Plan, ONS geography.
What people check and report about 023 numbers
From searches in our lookup form since 13 May 2026 and the verdicts and reports visitors left. A check means someone typed the number in, usually after a missed call.
- Checks
- 114
- Different numbers checked
- 92
- Different people checking
- 110
That makes 023 numbers the 11th most-checked of the 443 UK area codes people have looked up here.
By day of the week
Busiest: Wednesday (25% of checks)
By hour (UK time)
Busiest: 11am–12pm; the three busiest hours hold 38% of checks
If a 023 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.
023 history and number format
Number format: Numbers on 023 use Ofcom's 2+8 format: the 3-digit code (including the leading 0) followed by a 8-digit local number — written like 023 2345 6789.
Before 2000: 023 dates from the Big Number Change on 22 April 2000. Southampton (01703) and Portsmouth (01705) merged onto the shared 023 code with 8-digit local numbers.
Local dialling: Traditionally not from another 023 landline, but it now depends on your provider: Ofcom stopped requiring providers to offer local (code-free) dialling on 11 March 2022. Dialling 023 first always works, and mobiles always need it.
Allocation record: the oldest number block still visible on 023 was allocated on 26 May 1999, and the most recent on 17 March 2026. 4 blocks were allocated in the last 12 months — newly-activated ranges with no call history, which is worth knowing when an unfamiliar 023 number rings (see the weekly numbering changelog for every new allocation.)
Phone companies holding 023 numbers
Every Ofcom range holder with blocks on 023, 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 | 114 | 114 | 26 May 1999 | 12 January 2021 |
| Virgin Media Limited | 29 | 29 | 26 May 1999 | 13 March 2013 |
| Vodafone Ltd (C&W) | 19 | 19 | 20 June 2013 | 15 November 2021 |
| Gamma Telecom Holdings Limited | 17 | 17 | 1 March 2004 | 21 December 2021 |
| Sky UK Limited | 9 | 9 | 24 June 2013 | 3 October 2016 |
| TalkTalk Communications Limited | 7 | 7 | 25 May 2005 | 14 October 2013 |
| Digital Space Group Limited | 6 | 6 | 9 June 2008 | 12 April 2016 |
| GCI Network Solutions Limited | 6 | 6 | 30 March 2017 | 22 December 2023 |
| IOVOX Limited | 6 | 6 | 22 August 2013 | 12 December 2016 |
| Colt Technology Services | 4 | 4 | 23 May 2013 | 26 July 2021 |
| Fuse 2 Communications Ltd | 4 | 4 | 3 July 2017 | 22 January 2024 |
| AQL Wholesale Ltd | 3 | 3 | 1 November 2004 | 18 June 2021 |
| Datazero Ltd | 3 | 3 | 2 November 2010 | 12 April 2019 |
| Magrathea Telecommunications Limited | 3 | 3 | 24 September 2004 | 9 September 2019 |
| Media Hawk Ltd | 3 | 3 | 1 November 2011 | 19 April 2013 |
| Resilient Limited | 3 | 3 | 1 December 2006 | 14 May 2014 |
| TelXL Limited | 3 | 3 | 12 February 2008 | 9 January 2020 |
| (AQ) LIMITED | 2 | 2 | 28 September 2012 | 28 September 2012 |
| 24 Seven Cloud Communications Ltd | 2 | 2 | 30 September 2019 | 21 January 2020 |
| 8x8 Communications UK Limited | 2 | 2 | 19 April 2012 | 19 April 2012 |
| 8x8 UK Limited | 2 | 2 | 19 February 2010 | 19 February 2010 |
| Adepteo Limited | 2 | 2 | 19 October 2016 | 19 October 2016 |
| Alnitak GmbH | 2 | 2 | 7 December 2015 | 7 December 2015 |
| Aloha Telecommunications Ltd | 2 | 2 | 16 August 2011 | 16 August 2011 |
| Andrews & Arnold (Numbers) Ltd | 2 | 2 | 15 April 2009 | 15 April 2009 |
| Atomstream Limited | 2 | 2 | 15 April 2010 | 15 April 2010 |
| Barritel Limited | 2 | 2 | 13 February 2006 | 13 February 2006 |
| Belgacom International Carrier Services SA | 2 | 2 | 20 June 2016 | 20 June 2016 |
| Buzz Networks Limited | 2 | 2 | 24 February 2010 | 1 March 2010 |
| CFL Communications Ltd | 2 | 2 | 11 August 2008 | 24 September 2009 |
Showing the 30 largest of 139 holders.
All number blocks on 023first 200 of 2,601, by prefix
| Prefix | Status | Range holder |
|---|---|---|
| +44 230000 | Protected | — |
| +44 230001 | Allocated | Virgin Media Limited |
| +44 230002 | Protected | — |
| +44 230003 | Protected | — |
| +44 230004 | Protected | — |
| +44 230005 | Protected | — |
| +44 230006 | Protected | — |
| +44 230007 | Protected | — |
| +44 230008 | Protected | — |
| +44 230009 | Protected | — |
| +44 230010 | Protected | — |
| +44 230011 | Protected | — |
| +44 230012 | Protected | — |
| +44 230013 | Protected | — |
| +44 230014 | Protected | — |
| +44 230015 | Protected | — |
| +44 230016 | Protected | — |
| +44 230017 | Protected | — |
| +44 230018 | Protected | — |
| +44 230019 | Protected | — |
| +44 230020 | Protected | — |
| +44 230021 | Protected | — |
| +44 230022 | Protected | — |
| +44 230023 | Protected | — |
| +44 230024 | Protected | — |
| +44 230025 | Protected | — |
| +44 230026 | Protected | — |
| +44 230027 | Protected | — |
| +44 230028 | Protected | — |
| +44 230029 | Protected | — |
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| +44 230032 | Protected | — |
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| +44 230068 | Protected | — |
| +44 230069 | Protected | — |
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| +44 230126 | Protected | — |
| +44 230127 | Protected | — |
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| +44 230170 | Protected | — |
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| +44 230197 | Protected | — |
| +44 230198 | Protected | — |
| +44 230199 | Protected | — |
Related lookups
- 01794 Romsey12 km away
- 01489 Bishops Waltham15 km away
- 01329 Fareham16 km away
- 01962 Winchester19 km away
- BT114 allocated blocks on 023
- Virgin Media Limited29 allocated blocks on 023
- Vodafone Ltd (C&W)19 allocated blocks on 023
- All UK towns A–ZDialling codes by town
- More South Coast 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 023
Where is area code 023?
023 is Ofcom's Southampton & Portsmouth numbering area, in Hampshire, South East England. Its exchange towns are in Southampton and Portsmouth. From abroad, drop the 0 and dial +44 23.
Which places use the 023 code?
Ofcom splits 023 into 2 areas by the first digit of the local number: Southampton (0238); Portsmouth (0239).
Do I need to dial 023 for a local call?
Traditionally not from another 023 landline, but it now depends on your provider: Ofcom stopped requiring providers to offer local (code-free) dialling on 11 March 2022. Dialling 023 first always works, and mobiles always need it.
How are 023 numbers written?
Numbers on 023 use Ofcom's 2+8 format: the 3-digit code (including the leading 0) followed by a 8-digit local number — written like 023 2345 6789. From abroad the leading zero is dropped: +44 23 then the local number.
What was the 023 area code before?
023 dates from the Big Number Change on 22 April 2000. Southampton (01703) and Portsmouth (01705) merged onto the shared 023 code with 8-digit local numbers. Old signage or stationery showing 01703 (Southampton) refers to the same Southampton & Portsmouth numbers.
Which phone companies hold 023 numbers?
Ofcom lists 139 providers with allocated blocks on 023. The largest are BT with 114 of the 455 allocated blocks, Virgin Media Limited with 29 of the 455 allocated blocks and Vodafone with 19 of the 455 allocated blocks. Numbers can be ported, so a number's current provider may differ from the block's holder.
Are 023 numbers reported as scams?
Visitors have checked 92 different 023 numbers here 114 times since May 2026.
Which area codes are next to 023?
By distance between exchange towns, the nearest other codes are 01794 Romsey (12 km), 01489 Bishops Waltham (15 km), 01329 Fareham (16 km) and 01962 Winchester (19 km).
How do I report a scam call from a 023 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.