The Cheltenham area code
01242
Who called you from 01242?
A call from an 01242 number is a call from a number registered to the Cheltenham area. That could be a local business, a GP surgery, a school, or a call centre that bought local numbers to look local. Ofcom's allocation data tells you which phone company issued the number, and that's the most anyone can tell you from the number alone.
Was it a scam?
The code alone can't tell you, and anyone who says otherwise is guessing. What settles it is the call itself: a genuine organisation survives you hanging up and ringing back on the number from its website or your paperwork. If the caller wanted money, bank details, one-time codes or remote access to your computer, treat it as hostile.
What to do now
- Missed call, no voicemail? Don't ring back numbers you don't recognise. Anything important comes back properly.
- Suspicious call: forward the number and what was said to 7726, free on every UK network.
- Lost money or gave away details: Action Fraud, 0300 123 2040 (Police Scotland on 101 in Scotland), and your bank on the number on your card.
- If a caller claims to be from a government department, ring the department back on its official number, which ContactNumbers lists with the source.
- Full walkthrough in the report a call guide.
The Cheltenham area code: what the register shows
01242 is the dialling code for Cheltenham. Ofcom's allocation register lists 207 number blocks in this code, issued to 103 different phone companies. BT holds the most, with 39 of the 207 allocated blocks. Recorded allocations run from 15 July 1994 to 26 January 2026. Data retrieved 2026-10-22.
- Allocated blocks
- 207
- Operators
- 103
- Free or protected
- 169
- Share allocated
- 55%
Which companies hold 01242 numbers
Ofcom allocates numbers to phone companies in blocks. These are the operators holding the most 01242 blocks. The company that was issued a number often supplies it onward to a business or reseller, and UK numbers can be ported between networks, so read this as where the number started, and a strong hint rather than proof of who serves it today.
| Operator | Blocks held | Share of allocated |
|---|---|---|
| BT | 39 | 19% |
| Gamma Telecom Holdings Limited | 15 | 7% |
| Virgin Media Limited | 8 | 4% |
| Colt Technology Services | 7 | 3% |
| Magrathea Telecommunications Limited | 7 | 3% |
| TalkTalk Communications Limited | 7 | 3% |
| Vodafone Ltd (C&W) | 7 | 3% |
| GCI Network Solutions Limited | 6 | 3% |
| Digital Space Group Limited | 3 | 1% |
| GTT-EMEA LTD | 3 | 1% |
| TelXL Limited | 3 | 1% |
| Voxbone SA | 3 | 1% |
Plus 91 further operators with smaller holdings.
What it costs to call 01242
Standard landline rate
Calls to this code cost the same as any UK landline call. On most landline and mobile plans they come out of your inclusive minutes, so a call usually costs you nothing extra.
Inclusive minutes: Yes, on almost every UK plan. See the full UK call charges guide.
Questions people ask about 01242
Where is the 01242 area code?
01242 is the UK dialling code for Cheltenham. Numbers starting 01242 are geographic landline numbers registered to that area.
Who called me from an 01242 number?
The number belongs to one of 103 phone companies holding 01242 number blocks, with BT holding the most. The operator table on this page shows who issues 01242 numbers. The caller could be anyone using a number from that range, and caller ID can be spoofed, so an unexpected call asking for personal details deserves suspicion wherever it appears to come from.
How much does it cost to call 01242 numbers?
Standard landline rate. Full details in the cost section above.
Is a call from 01242 a scam?
The code alone can't tell you. Most calls from 01242 numbers are legitimate, but scammers can dial from, or pretend to dial from, any range. Never hand over passwords, PINs or remote computer access to an inbound caller. If in doubt, hang up and call the organisation back on the number printed on its website or your paperwork.
How do I report a nuisance or scam call?
Forward scam call details to 7726 (free, all UK networks), report fraud to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040, and report persistent nuisance calls to the ICO. Our report a call guide walks through each route.
Related codes
Source: Ofcom telephone numbering allocation data, retrieved 2026-10-22 and reproduced with acknowledgement under Ofcom's re-use terms. Figures describe number blocks, and a block being allocated to an operator says nothing about any individual caller. Last verified by a human on 2026-10-22.