023 Area Code — Southampton / Portsmouth, UK
023 is the UK dialling code for Southampton / Portsmouth, allocated by Ofcom under the National Telephone Numbering Plan. Our database has tracked 397 distinct 023 numbers across 664 public lookups.
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Quick facts
Area code
023
Location
Southampton / Portsmouth
Number type
Geographic landline
Number format
023 XXX XXX
Operators serving
8+
Call cost
Standard rate
About the 023 dialling code
023 is the UK geographic dialling code for Southampton / Portsmouth, allocated by Ofcom under the National Telephone Numbering Plan. It is used by landlines — and increasingly VoIP lines — registered to the Southampton / Portsmouth area.
A full Southampton / Portsmouth number is normally written as 023 XXXXX. You can dial the local part on its own from within the same area, or the full number from anywhere in the UK.
Because of UK number portability and internet calling, a 023 number no longer guarantees the caller is physically in Southampton / Portsmouth. Fraudsters also "spoof" local codes like 023 so an unknown call looks like a nearby business or neighbour — so treat an unexpected call on what is actually said, not on the area code alone.
Top searched 023 numbers
These are the 023 numbers most-looked-up by visitors to our number checker. Click any number to see its full lookup page with risk-level, range holder, and community reports.
| Number | Searches | Last looked up |
|---|---|---|
| 023 8015 8741 | 21 | 5 Jun 2026 |
| 023 8001 9912 | 14 | 10 Jun 2026 |
| 023 8015 8751 | 14 | 4 Jun 2026 |
| 023 8015 8760 | 12 | 10 Jun 2026 |
| 023 8015 8757 | 9 | 8 Jun 2026 |
| 023 8015 8753 | 9 | 4 Jun 2026 |
| 023 8201 1259 | 8 | 8 Jun 2026 |
| 023 8228 4152 | 7 | 11 Jun 2026 |
| 023 8167 0268 | 7 | 4 Jun 2026 |
| 023 8228 0472 | 7 | 1 Jun 2026 |
| 023 8015 8754 | 6 | 5 Jun 2026 |
| 023 8228 0296 | 6 | 30 May 2026 |
| 023 8256 1226 | 6 | 26 May 2026 |
| 023 9438 1723 | 6 | 18 May 2026 |
| 023 8024 0616 | 5 | 12 Jun 2026 |
| 023 8000 3136 | 5 | 11 Jun 2026 |
| 023 9326 7163 | 5 | 10 Jun 2026 |
| 023 8033 0012 | 5 | 9 Jun 2026 |
| 023 8037 5400 | 5 | 9 Jun 2026 |
| 023 8015 8749 | 5 | 8 Jun 2026 |
Is a call from 023 safe?
Most 023 calls are ordinary local calls from Southampton / Portsmouth homes and businesses. The main risk to be aware of is "neighbour spoofing", where a scammer fakes a local 023 prefix so you are more likely to answer. Never share bank details, passwords or one-time security codes with an unexpected caller, even when the number looks local — hang up and call the organisation back on a number you have verified yourself.
To call a 023 (Southampton / Portsmouth) number from outside the UK, drop the leading zero and dial +44 23 followed by the local number.
Operators serving Southampton / Portsmouth
These UK communications providers have been allocated 023 number blocks by Ofcom. The number of blocks per operator gives a rough sense of how widely each provider serves this area.
| Provider (Ofcom-allocated) | Allocated blocks |
|---|---|
| BT | 114 |
| Virgin Media Limited | 29 |
| Vodafone Ltd (C&W) | 19 |
| Gamma Telecom Holdings Limited | 17 |
| Sky UK Limited | 9 |
| TalkTalk Communications Limited | 7 |
| Digital Space Group Limited | 6 |
| GCI Network Solutions Limited | 6 |
How to block and report 023 spam calls
Block 023 on your phone
- iPhone: open Phone → Recents, tap the (i) next to 023, scroll down and tap Block this Caller.
- Android: open the Phone app, press and hold 023 in your recent calls, then tap Block / Report spam.
- Network level: EE, O2, Vodafone and Three all offer free spam-call blocking in their app or online account settings.
Report 023
- Scam texts: forward the message to 7726 (free) — it spells "SPAM" on the keypad — to report it to your mobile network.
- Scam or fraud calls: report to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 (England, Wales & NI) or Police Scotland on 101.
- Nuisance / marketing calls: report to the ICO and register with the free Telephone Preference Service (TPS) to reduce unsolicited sales calls.
How to stop unwanted calls for good
Blocking 023 numbers stops that one number, but determined nuisance callers simply switch numbers. These steps cut the volume across the board:
- Silence unknown callers. iPhone: Settings → Apps → Phone → Silence Unknown Callers. Android: open Phone → Settings → Caller ID & spam and turn on filtering. Unknown numbers go straight to voicemail.
- Turn on your network's free spam shield. EE, O2, Vodafone, Three, Sky and most providers offer free spam/scam-call screening in their app or account settings.
- Register with the Telephone Preference Service (TPS). It's free and legally obliges UK companies to stop unsolicited sales calls within 28 days.
- Use a dedicated call-blocker app if nuisance calls are persistent — these screen against live community spam databases and can auto-reject flagged callers before your phone even rings.
- Never engage to "opt out". Pressing a key to be removed only confirms your number is live and usually means more calls.
Frequently asked questions about the 023 code
Where is the 023 area code?
The 023 area code is allocated by Ofcom to Southampton / Portsmouth, United Kingdom. It is a geographic UK landline dialling code under the National Telephone Numbering Plan.
Is 023 always a Southampton / Portsmouth number?
Numbers with the 023 prefix were originally allocated by Ofcom to Southampton / Portsmouth. With UK number portability and VoIP allowing geographic relocation while keeping the same number, the call origin can differ from the original area, but the prefix's official assigned location remains Southampton / Portsmouth.
How do I block 023 spam calls?
On iPhone, tap the (i) next to the number in Recents and choose Block this Caller. On Android, long-press the number in Recents and choose Block. To prevent unknown 023 numbers ringing, enable Settings → Phone → Silence Unknown Callers (iPhone) or your dialler's spam filter (Android). Forward spam texts to 7726 free of charge.
How much does a 023 call cost?
Calls to UK 023 geographic numbers are charged at your provider's standard rate and are usually included in inclusive minutes on any modern landline or mobile plan.
Check another UK number
Have the full 10- or 11-digit number? The UK Phone Number Checker shows the Ofcom range holder, risk level, and any community reports for that specific number.
