020 numbers: what are they, and are they free to call?

Key takeaways

• 020 numbers are London area code numbers.
• Whether an 020 number is free to call depends on your provider. With SMARTY, calls to 020 numbers are included in the unlimited UK minutes on every plan. Other networks can charge from a landline or mobile, so it's worth checking.
• If an 020 number keeps calling you, it's often a genuine London business, since the area code covers roughly 100 million possible numbers. Scammers do spoof 020 numbers too, though, so unexpected calls are still worth a bit of caution.

 

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An 020 number flashing on your phone doesn't tell you much on its own. It could be your dentist, an old employer, or a call you'd rather not answer. Here's what the 020 code covers, whether calling it back will cost you anything, and how to work out whether it's worth picking up.

What is an 020 number?

020 is London's dialling code. You might also see it called an area code or a phone code. The code has grown over time as London's population and business numbers have increased:

Format	Introduced	Why
0207 and 0208	2000	Replaced the older 0171 and 0181 London codes
0203	2005	Added once 0207 and 0208 combinations started running low
0204	2019	Added for the same reason, most recently

One common point worth clarifying: 020 is a UK area code, not a country code. The UK's country code is +44, so an 020 number is written as +44 20 followed by the eight-digit local number when dialling from abroad.

Are 020 numbers free to call and text?

It depends on where you're calling from and who your provider is.

• With SMARTY: calls to any 020 number are included free in the unlimited UK minutes on every plan, no matter the format (0203, 0204, 0207 or 0208).
• From a landline: can cost up to 16p a minute, depending on your provider's tariff.
• From another mobile network: typically somewhere between 3p and 65p a minute, so it's worth a quick check if you're not sure.
• Texting a 020 number: these are landline numbers, so texting them isn't usually possible or necessary. If a number you've been given behaves like a mobile, double-check the format with whoever gave it to you.

Why do 020 numbers keep calling me?

The 020 area code covers roughly 100 million numbers. Many UK businesses are based in or around London, so a fair few of the calls and texts you get will genuinely start with 020.

That same scale is exactly why scammers like it too. Spoofing an 020 number makes a call look local and, to some people, more credible, which is a cheap trick for anyone trying to seem more legitimate than they are.

How can I tell if an 020 call is genuine or a scam?

A call from an 020 number isn't automatically suspicious. Most of the time, it's exactly what it seems. A few habits make it easier to tell the difference when you're not sure.

Let it go to voicemail

Genuine callers usually leave a message or try again. Scam callers tend to move straight on once a call isn't answered, so letting an unrecognised 020 number ring out is rarely a bad option.

Search the number online

A quick search can tell you a lot. Sites like Who Called Me often show how many times a number's been searched, along with comments from other people it's called. A number that's had a spike in searches recently, or has several negative comments, is worth treating carefully.

Verify directly with the company

If a caller says they're from a specific company, don't hand over any personal details on the call, especially if you're being rushed. Hang up, find the company's number on their official website, and call that instead. If it doesn't match, you'll know where you stand.

If you’re on SMARTY, none of this affects your bill. Wanted or not, calls to 020 numbers come out of your unlimited minutes, no extra cost either way.

FAQs

1. Is a 0203 number free to call?

Whether a 0203 number is free depends on your plan. With SMARTY, calls to 0203 numbers are included in the unlimited UK minutes on every plan, whereas other providers may charge a per-minute rate for calls from a landline or mobile.

2. What area code is 0204?

0204 is a London area code, introduced in 2019 to provide additional number capacity once the existing 0203, 0207 and 0208 combinations were nearly exhausted.

3. Is 020 a country code?

No, 020 is a UK area code, not a country code. The UK's country code is +44, and an 020 number is dialled as +44 20 followed by the local number when calling from outside the UK.