Comments on: Formatting UK telephone numbers

By: Glenn Williams

Glenn Williams — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 14:30:43 +0000

Thanks SO much for pointing me to that website. Just what I needed. You have just saved me lots of work.

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By: Ash

Ash — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:28:20 +0000

I have got a land line installed in Kingston, and got an 020 8 number. Was hoping for a 3!

By: John Medd

John Medd — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 19:01:08 +0000

We had the same thing in Nottingham: 0602 became 0115 9. You London boys lost your exclusive rights, however, when you waved goodbye to 01. Back in the day, there was always a certain kudos in dialling an 01 number. What bugs me most is when people give you a telephone number to write down and do it in increments of two numbers: ‘that’s 07 97 34…’ and so on. Maybe it’s just me.

By: John Handelaar

John Handelaar — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 13:27:39 +0000

(That’s because Chrysalis really was in 081-land.)

By: Adam Bowie

Adam Bowie — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 09:49:31 +0000

Surely whether your number begins 7, 8, 3 or whatever matters very little these days? Aside from businesses, who actually uses a landline anyway?

(Interesting aside, if someone from Global in London phones you, it comes from an 8xxx xxxx number, whereas their Leicester Square numbers are all 7xxx xxxx numbers to the best of my knowledge)

By: James Cridland

James Cridland — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 09:46:11 +0000

Indeed, I discover that 020 7xxx xxxx numbers are now being given to people throughout London, not just in the centre – and vice-versa. (I’d be quite peeved to get an 020 8xxx number in central London!)

I had an 020 3 number for some time; it is the default when purchasing an online London number from Skype. I now have 020 7100 1811, which is much more posh looking, as Media UK’s main reception number. (I say ‘reception’, it’s not really.)

By: Paul Easton

Paul Easton — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 09:35:24 +0000

Totally agree with Adam – including the bit about people who say “haitch” – re. people who don’t use the number correctly.

There are also, of course, 020 3xxx xxxx numbers in London.

By: Adam Bowie

Adam Bowie — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 09:16:15 +0000

It’s just over ten years since London changed from 0171 and 0181 to (020) 7xxx xxxx or (020) 8xxx xxxx.

And large numbers of businesses – including radio stations – still don’t really understand how telephone codes work. The London code is 020 followed by an eight digit number. If you’re reading out your number as 0207 followed by a seven digit number, then you’re wrong.

I feel like that David Mitchell character in the otherwise hit-or-miss recent series of Mitchell & Webb who commits cold-blooded murder when people say “haitch” instead of “aitch” when referring to the letter that comes after G in the alphabet.