UK area code
020 area code — London
020 is Ofcom’s London numbering area, in Greater London. 240 phone companies hold its 3,134 allocated number blocks. Visitors have checked 1,816 different 020 numbers here. Its numbers are written like 020 2345 6789. The nearest other codes are 01689 Orpington (22 km) and 01708 Romford (23 km).
020 at a glance
- Ofcom area name
- London
- County
- Greater London
- Council area
- 32 London boroughs and the City of London
- Region
- London, England
- Number format
- 020 2345 6789 (2+8)
- Local calls
- Full number recommended
- Current code since
- 2000 (previously 0171 / 0181)
- Allocated blocks
- 3,134 of 5,201 (60%) across 240 providers
- Newest block
- 25 September 2026 (30 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 020 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
- 2,309
- Different numbers checked
- 1,816
- Different people checking
- 1,999
That makes 020 numbers the most-checked of the 443 UK area codes people have looked up here.
By day of the week
Busiest: Thursday (21% of checks)
By hour (UK time)
Busiest: 12pm–1pm; the three busiest hours hold 31% of checks
Caller verdicts on 020 numbers: 43
Scam 81% (35) · Nuisance 12% (5) · Safe 7% (3)
Community reports: bank impersonation (2), parcel and courier scams (1), 070 and spoofed-number calls (1), tech-support scams (1).
Latest comments
“"Energy Adviser" SCAMMERS”
Scam · 020 8157 7404 · 1 Oct 2026
“Scam/fraud”
Scam · 020 3345 7687 · 29 Sept 2026
“To be honest i couldn't understand a word he was saying and who he wanted. Still think it was scam phone call.”
Scam · 020 8073 1528 · 29 Sept 2026
Most-reported and most-checked 020 numbers
| Number | Verdicts | Reports | People checking |
|---|---|---|---|
| 020 3566 1067 | 2 scam | — | 2 |
| 020 8129 5017 | 1 nuisance | 1 | 2 |
| 020 8248 6737 | 1 scam | 1 | 1 |
| 020 3340 6560 | 1 safe | — | 3 |
| 020 4600 1972 | 1 scam | — | 3 |
If a 020 number called you
Reports here are mostly about bank impersonation and parcel and courier scams, so treat unexpected calls as possible scams.
- 1
Bank calls: use 159
Hang up and dial 159 from a phone the caller hasn't just used. It connects you to most UK banks' real fraud lines. Your bank will never ask you to move money to a 'safe account'.
- 2
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.
- 3
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.
- 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.
020 history and number format
Number format: Numbers on 020 use Ofcom's 2+8 format: the 3-digit code (including the leading 0) followed by a 8-digit local number — written like 020 2345 6789.
Before 2000: 020 dates from the Big Number Change on 22 April 2000. London's inner/outer split codes 0171 and 0181 (themselves 071/081 until PhONEday, and plain 01 before 1990) merged into a single 020 code with 8-digit local numbers.
Local dialling: Traditionally not from another 020 landline, but it now depends on your provider: Ofcom stopped requiring providers to offer local (code-free) dialling on 11 March 2022. Dialling 020 first always works, and mobiles always need it.
Allocation record: the oldest number block still visible on 020 was allocated on 22 March 1999, and the most recent on 25 September 2026. 30 blocks were allocated in the last 12 months — newly-activated ranges with no call history, which is worth knowing when an unfamiliar 020 number rings (see the weekly numbering changelog for every new allocation.)
Phone companies holding 020 numbers
Every Ofcom range holder with blocks on 020, 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 | 1,344 | 1,344 | 22 March 1999 | 24 November 2025 |
| Vodafone Ltd (C&W) | 336 | 336 | 20 June 2013 | 25 September 2026 |
| Colt Technology Services | 216 | 216 | 22 March 1999 | 10 August 2026 |
| Gamma Telecom Holdings Limited | 213 | 213 | 7 June 2002 | 26 June 2026 |
| Virgin Media Limited | 190 | 190 | 22 March 1999 | 18 March 2016 |
| Verizon UK Limited | 104 | 104 | 26 May 1999 | 15 December 2025 |
| Sky UK Limited | 63 | 63 | 5 June 2013 | 14 June 2019 |
| TalkTalk Communications Limited | 49 | 49 | 9 October 2003 | 9 January 2020 |
| GCI Network Solutions Limited | 34 | 34 | 30 March 2017 | 26 February 2024 |
| Lumen Technologies UK Limited | 32 | 32 | 26 May 1999 | 16 June 2021 |
| Magrathea Telecommunications Limited | 26 | 26 | 17 February 2003 | 10 November 2021 |
| Six Degrees Technology Group Limited | 24 | 24 | 8 April 2020 | 17 April 2020 |
| Resilient Limited | 19 | 19 | 31 May 2006 | 18 March 2015 |
| Voxbone SA | 18 | 18 | 25 October 2007 | 16 February 2026 |
| Hyperoptic Ltd | 12 | 12 | 12 May 2016 | 22 September 2025 |
| Syntec Limited | 11 | 11 | 20 December 2002 | 18 October 2019 |
| DRD Communications Limited | 9 | 9 | 8 September 2004 | 5 October 2023 |
| IOVOX Limited | 9 | 9 | 5 March 2012 | 17 November 2025 |
| Buzz Networks Limited | 8 | 8 | 2 November 1999 | 11 May 2021 |
| Citrus Telecommunications Ltd | 8 | 8 | 30 August 2002 | 1 September 2016 |
| Alphatalk Limited | 7 | 7 | 31 January 2014 | 31 January 2014 |
| Voiceflex Limited | 7 | 7 | 24 July 2007 | 11 February 2026 |
| AQL Wholesale Ltd | 6 | 6 | 1 November 2004 | 8 October 2019 |
| DIDWW Ireland Limited | 6 | 6 | 7 April 2014 | 1 August 2023 |
| Digital Space Group Limited | 6 | 6 | 7 February 2006 | 12 April 2016 |
| Fuse 2 Communications Ltd | 6 | 6 | 22 February 2016 | 22 January 2024 |
| Spitfire Network Services Limited | 6 | 6 | 3 January 2002 | 9 December 2019 |
| Vonage Business Limited | 6 | 6 | 20 April 2010 | 20 July 2026 |
| WAVECREST NETWORKS LIMITED | 6 | 6 | 16 December 2019 | 16 December 2019 |
| CINOS LIMITED | 5 | 5 | 3 February 2021 | 15 January 2026 |
Showing the 30 largest of 240 holders.
All number blocks on 020first 200 of 5,201, by prefix
| Prefix | Status | Range holder |
|---|---|---|
| +44 200000 | Allocated | Vodafone Ltd (C&W) |
| +44 200001 | Allocated | Citrus Telecommunications Ltd |
| +44 200002 | Allocated | Barritel Limited |
| +44 200003 | Allocated | Six Degrees Technology Group Limited |
| +44 200004 | Allocated | Atlas Interactive Group Limited |
| +44 200005 | Allocated | Simwood eSMS Limited |
| +44 200006 | Allocated | DRD Communications Limited |
| +44 200007 | Allocated | Virgin Media Limited |
| +44 200008 | Allocated | Virgin Media Limited |
| +44 200009 | Allocated | Colt Technology Services |
| +44 200010 | Allocated | Internet of Things Limited |
| +44 200011 | Allocated | TalkTalk Communications Limited |
| +44 200012 | Protected | — |
| +44 200013 | Protected | — |
| +44 200014 | Protected | — |
| +44 200015 | Protected | — |
| +44 200016 | Allocated | Virgin Media Limited |
| +44 200017 | Allocated | Vodafone Ltd (C&W) |
| +44 200018 | Allocated | Vodafone Ltd (C&W) |
| +44 200019 | Allocated | Vodafone Ltd (C&W) |
| +44 200020 | Allocated | Andrews & Arnold (Numbers) Ltd |
| +44 200021 | Protected | — |
| +44 200022 | Protected | — |
| +44 200023 | Protected | — |
| +44 200024 | Allocated | Vodafone Ltd (C&W) |
| +44 200025 | Allocated | Vodafone Ltd (C&W) |
| +44 200026 | Allocated | Vodafone Ltd (C&W) |
| +44 200027 | Allocated | Vodafone Ltd (C&W) |
| +44 200028 | Allocated | Vodafone Ltd (C&W) |
| +44 200029 | Allocated | Vodafone Ltd (C&W) |
| +44 200030 | Protected | — |
| +44 200031 | Protected | — |
| +44 200032 | Protected | — |
| +44 200033 | Protected | — |
| +44 200034 | Protected | — |
| +44 200035 | Protected | — |
| +44 200036 | Protected | — |
| +44 200037 | Protected | — |
| +44 200038 | Protected | — |
| +44 200039 | Protected | — |
| +44 200040 | Protected | — |
| +44 200041 | Protected | — |
| +44 200042 | Protected | — |
| +44 200043 | Protected | — |
| +44 200044 | Protected | — |
| +44 200045 | Protected | — |
| +44 200046 | Protected | — |
| +44 200047 | Protected | — |
| +44 200048 | Protected | — |
| +44 200049 | Protected | — |
| +44 200050 | Protected | — |
| +44 200051 | Protected | — |
| +44 200052 | Protected | — |
| +44 200053 | Protected | — |
| +44 200054 | Protected | — |
| +44 200055 | Protected | — |
| +44 200056 | Protected | — |
| +44 200057 | Protected | — |
| +44 200058 | Protected | — |
| +44 200059 | Protected | — |
| +44 200060 | Protected | — |
| +44 200061 | Protected | — |
| +44 200062 | Protected | — |
| +44 200063 | Protected | — |
| +44 200064 | Protected | — |
| +44 200065 | Protected | — |
| +44 200066 | Protected | — |
| +44 200067 | Protected | — |
| +44 200068 | Protected | — |
| +44 200069 | Protected | — |
| +44 200070 | Protected | — |
| +44 200071 | Protected | — |
| +44 200072 | Protected | — |
| +44 200073 | Protected | — |
| +44 200074 | Protected | — |
| +44 200075 | Protected | — |
| +44 200076 | Protected | — |
| +44 200077 | Protected | — |
| +44 200078 | Protected | — |
| +44 200079 | Protected | — |
| +44 200080 | Protected | — |
| +44 200081 | Protected | — |
| +44 200082 | Protected | — |
| +44 200083 | Protected | — |
| +44 200084 | Protected | — |
| +44 200085 | Protected | — |
| +44 200086 | Protected | — |
| +44 200087 | Protected | — |
| +44 200088 | Protected | — |
| +44 200089 | Protected | — |
| +44 200090 | Protected | — |
| +44 200091 | Protected | — |
| +44 200092 | Protected | — |
| +44 200093 | Protected | — |
| +44 200094 | Protected | — |
| +44 200095 | Protected | — |
| +44 200096 | Protected | — |
| +44 200097 | Protected | — |
| +44 200098 | Protected | — |
| +44 200099 | Protected | — |
| +44 200100 | Allocated | Buzz Networks Limited |
| +44 200101 | Allocated | Dynamic Mobile Billing Limited |
| +44 200102 | Allocated | Buzz Networks Limited |
| +44 200103 | Protected | — |
| +44 200104 | Protected | — |
| +44 200105 | Protected | — |
| +44 200106 | Protected | — |
| +44 200107 | Protected | — |
| +44 200108 | Protected | — |
| +44 200109 | Protected | — |
| +44 200110 | Protected | — |
| +44 200111 | Allocated | TalkTalk Communications Limited |
| +44 200112 | Protected | — |
| +44 200113 | Protected | — |
| +44 200114 | Protected | — |
| +44 200115 | Protected | — |
| +44 200116 | Protected | — |
| +44 200117 | Protected | — |
| +44 200118 | Protected | — |
| +44 200119 | Protected | — |
| +44 200120 | Protected | — |
| +44 200121 | Protected | — |
| +44 200122 | Protected | — |
| +44 200123 | Protected | — |
| +44 200124 | Protected | — |
| +44 200125 | Protected | — |
| +44 200126 | Protected | — |
| +44 200127 | Protected | — |
| +44 200128 | Protected | — |
| +44 200129 | Protected | — |
| +44 200130 | Protected | — |
| +44 200131 | Allocated | Buzz Networks Limited |
| +44 200132 | Allocated | Buzz Networks Limited |
| +44 200133 | Protected | — |
| +44 200134 | Allocated | Buzz Networks Limited |
| +44 200135 | Protected | — |
| +44 200136 | Protected | — |
| +44 200137 | Protected | — |
| +44 200138 | Protected | — |
| +44 200139 | Protected | — |
| +44 200140 | Protected | — |
| +44 200141 | Protected | — |
| +44 200142 | Protected | — |
| +44 200143 | Protected | — |
| +44 200144 | Protected | — |
| +44 200145 | Protected | — |
| +44 200146 | Protected | — |
| +44 200147 | Protected | — |
| +44 200148 | Protected | — |
| +44 200149 | Protected | — |
| +44 200150 | Protected | — |
| +44 200151 | Protected | — |
| +44 200152 | Protected | — |
| +44 200153 | Protected | — |
| +44 200154 | Protected | — |
| +44 200155 | Protected | — |
| +44 200156 | Protected | — |
| +44 200157 | Protected | — |
| +44 200158 | Protected | — |
| +44 200159 | Protected | — |
| +44 200160 | Protected | — |
| +44 200161 | Protected | — |
| +44 200162 | Protected | — |
| +44 200163 | Protected | — |
| +44 200164 | Protected | — |
| +44 200165 | Protected | — |
| +44 200166 | Protected | — |
| +44 200167 | Protected | — |
| +44 200168 | Protected | — |
| +44 200169 | Protected | — |
| +44 200170 | Protected | — |
| +44 200171 | Protected | — |
| +44 200172 | Protected | — |
| +44 200173 | Protected | — |
| +44 200174 | Protected | — |
| +44 200175 | Protected | — |
| +44 200176 | Protected | — |
| +44 200177 | Protected | — |
| +44 200178 | Protected | — |
| +44 200179 | Protected | — |
| +44 200180 | Protected | — |
| +44 200181 | Protected | — |
| +44 200182 | Protected | — |
| +44 200183 | Protected | — |
| +44 200184 | Protected | — |
| +44 200185 | Protected | — |
| +44 200186 | Protected | — |
| +44 200187 | Protected | — |
| +44 200188 | Allocated | GCI Network Solutions Limited |
| +44 200189 | Protected | — |
| +44 200190 | Protected | — |
| +44 200191 | Protected | — |
| +44 200192 | Protected | — |
| +44 200193 | Protected | — |
| +44 200194 | Protected | — |
| +44 200195 | Protected | — |
| +44 200196 | Protected | — |
| +44 200197 | Protected | — |
| +44 200198 | Protected | — |
| +44 200199 | Protected | — |
Related lookups
- 01689 Orpington22 km away
- 01708 Romford23 km away
- 01372 Esher23 km away
- 01895 Uxbridge25 km away
- BT1,344 allocated blocks on 020
- Vodafone Ltd (C&W)336 allocated blocks on 020
- Colt Technology Services216 allocated blocks on 020
- All UK towns A–ZDialling codes by town
- More Greater London 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 020
Where is area code 020?
020 is Ofcom's London numbering area, in Greater London. From abroad, drop the 0 and dial +44 20.
Do I need to dial 020 for a local call?
Traditionally not from another 020 landline, but it now depends on your provider: Ofcom stopped requiring providers to offer local (code-free) dialling on 11 March 2022. Dialling 020 first always works, and mobiles always need it.
How are 020 numbers written?
Numbers on 020 use Ofcom's 2+8 format: the 3-digit code (including the leading 0) followed by a 8-digit local number — written like 020 2345 6789. From abroad the leading zero is dropped: +44 20 then the local number.
What was the 020 area code before?
020 dates from the Big Number Change on 22 April 2000. London's inner/outer split codes 0171 and 0181 (themselves 071/081 until PhONEday, and plain 01 before 1990) merged into a single 020 code with 8-digit local numbers. Old signage or stationery showing 0171 / 0181 refers to the same London numbers.
Which phone companies hold 020 numbers?
Ofcom lists 240 providers with allocated blocks on 020. The largest are BT with 1,344 of the 3,134 allocated blocks, Vodafone with 336 of the 3,134 allocated blocks and Colt Technology Services with 216 of the 3,134 allocated blocks. Numbers can be ported, so a number's current provider may differ from the block's holder.
Are 020 numbers reported as scams?
Visitors have checked 1,816 different 020 numbers here 2,309 times since May 2026. 43 caller verdicts have been left on 020 numbers: 35 scam, 5 nuisance and 3 safe, so most say scam.
Which area codes are next to 020?
By distance between exchange towns, the nearest other codes are 01689 Orpington (22 km), 01708 Romford (23 km), 01372 Esher (23 km) and 01895 Uxbridge (25 km).
How do I report a scam call from a 020 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.