Find a UK Phone Number From an Address: What Works in 2026

You can find a UK telephone number from an address in one situation: when it's a listed landline or a business. Listed landlines are in BT's directory and available from 118 directory enquiries, searchable by name and area. Businesses publish their numbers. Private mobiles aren't listed anywhere, and there is no public directory that goes the other way, from a number to a home address. This guide covers the lawful routes, what each costs, and where UK privacy law draws the line.

#Ways to find a UK phone number from an address or name

BT's directory

BT no longer prints the Phone Book, but it publishes a free A–Z Directory for each area as a PDF, with business and residential listings sorted by name and then street. It only contains numbers whose owners are listed: anyone who is ex-directory is left out. It's the cheapest way to find a landline when you know the surname and street.

Directory enquiries (118 numbers)

A 118 service will search by name and location and can connect you. BT's own service is 118 500 (118 404 in Welsh). Other 118 services vary widely in price; Ofcom caps the service charge at £3.65 per 90 seconds, and your phone company adds its access charge on top, so a short call can still cost several pounds. Calls to 118 numbers are never part of inclusive minutes. More detail in our guide to 118 directory enquiries.

Businesses and organisations

For a shop, surgery, tradesperson or office, search the business name and town. The organisation's own website is the most reliable source; business listings on maps and directories are usually right but can be out of date. Companies House shows a company's registered office address and officers, but not phone numbers.

#What the electoral roll can and can't tell you

The electoral register lists the names and addresses of people registered to vote. It never includes phone numbers. There are two versions:

• The full register is used for elections and a few other purposes set by law, such as credit reference checks and crime prevention. You can't buy it or search it online.
• The open register (sometimes called the edited register) can be bought by any person, company or organisation. People-search websites use it, alongside other data, to match names to addresses.

You can opt out of the open register at any time through your local electoral registration office; it doesn't affect your right to vote. So the electoral roll can help you confirm who lives at an address, but it can't give you their number.

#Addresses from phone numbers: can you work backwards?

Not for private numbers. There's no public reverse directory in the UK, directory enquiries won't tell you who a number belongs to, and networks may not disclose subscriber addresses. What you can find out:

• An 01 or 02 landline's town. The area code tells you the exchange area, for example 0161 for Manchester; see UK area codes. Number portability means even that is a guide, not a guarantee.
• A business's address, if the business publishes the number. Search the number in quotes.
• Nothing about a mobile's location. UK mobile numbers aren't tied to a place; see our cell phone lookup guide.

If you need to know who is behind a number because of harassment, threats or fraud, don't try to track them down yourself. Your network and the police can identify the caller; see how to trace a phone number in the UK.

#Privacy and UK GDPR

Being in the phone directory is your choice. Most UK landline providers offer free options to be ex-directory (not in the directory or directory enquiries) or listed with directory enquiries only. BT's options are free and can be set up by phone.

Companies that hold your name, address or number, including people-search sites, need a lawful basis under UK GDPR. You can ask them to delete your details or object to their use, and complain to the Information Commissioner's Office if they don't respond properly. To cut down unsolicited sales calls, register your numbers free with the Telephone Preference Service.

#Step by step: finding a landline number from a name and address

1. 1

   Get the occupant's name

   Directory searches need a name. If it's a business, you only need the business name.

2. 2

   Check BT's A–Z Directory for the area

   Download the free PDF for the area and look up the surname, then match the street.

3. 3

   Try directory enquiries if it's not there

   Call 118 500, or another 118 service, with the name and town. Check the price first.

4. 4

   Accept ex-directory as the answer

   If the number isn't listed, the owner has chosen privacy. Write a letter or ask a mutual contact instead.