The London area code
020
Who called you from a 020 number?
A call from an 020 number is a call from a number registered to the London 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 London area code: what the register shows
020 is the dialling code for London. Ofcom's allocation register lists 3136 number blocks in this code, issued to 240 different phone companies. BT holds the most, with 1344 of the 3136 allocated blocks. Recorded allocations run from 22 March 1999 to 19 October 2026. Data retrieved 2026-10-22.
Code history: 0171 / 0181 → 020
London's numbering has changed three times: the single 01 code split into 071 (inner) and 081 (outer) in 1990, PhONEday made those 0171 and 0181 in 1995, and the Big Number Change in April 2000 merged everything into 020 with 8-digit local numbers starting 7 or 8. A pre-2000 0171 234 5678 is today's 020 7234 5678.
- Allocated blocks
- 3,136
- Operators
- 240
- Free or protected
- 2,056
- Share allocated
- 60%
Which companies hold 020 numbers
Ofcom allocates numbers to phone companies in blocks. These are the operators holding the most 020 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 | 1344 | 43% |
| Vodafone Ltd (C&W) | 336 | 11% |
| Colt Technology Services | 216 | 7% |
| Gamma Telecom Holdings Limited | 214 | 7% |
| Virgin Media Limited | 190 | 6% |
| Verizon UK Limited | 104 | 3% |
| Sky UK Limited | 63 | 2% |
| TalkTalk Communications Limited | 49 | 2% |
| GCI Network Solutions Limited | 34 | 1% |
| Lumen Technologies UK Limited | 32 | 1% |
| Magrathea Telecommunications Limited | 26 | 1% |
| Six Degrees Technology Group Limited | 24 | 1% |
Plus 228 further operators with smaller holdings.
What it costs to call 020
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 020
Where is the 020 area code?
020 is the UK dialling code for London. Numbers starting 020 are geographic landline numbers registered to that area.
Who called me from an 020 number?
The number belongs to one of 240 phone companies holding 020 number blocks, with BT holding the most. The operator table on this page shows who issues 020 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 a 020 number?
Standard landline rate. Full details in the cost section above.
Is a call from 020 a scam?
The code alone can't tell you. Most calls from 020 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.
What was the old code for 020?
London's numbering has changed three times: the single 01 code split into 071 (inner) and 081 (outer) in 1990, PhONEday made those 0171 and 0181 in 1995, and the Big Number Change in April 2000 merged everything into 020 with 8-digit local numbers starting 7 or 8. A pre-2000 0171 234 5678 is today's 020 7234 5678.
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.