01603 Area Code — Norwich, Thorpe Hamlet & Bowthorpe
01603 is the UK dialling code for Norwich in Norfolk, also serving Thorpe Hamlet, Bowthorpe and Poringland, allocated by Ofcom under the National Telephone Numbering Plan. Our database has tracked 627 distinct 01603 numbers across 920 public lookups.
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Quick facts
Area code
01603
Location
Norwich
County
Norfolk
Region
East of England
Number type
Geographic landline
Number format
01603 XXX XXX
Operators serving
8+
Call cost
Standard rate
About the 01603 dialling code
01603 is the UK geographic dialling code for Norwich, allocated by Ofcom under the National Telephone Numbering Plan. It is used by landlines — and increasingly VoIP lines — registered to the Norwich area.
A full Norwich number is normally written as 01603 XXXXXX. 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 01603 number no longer guarantees the caller is physically in Norwich. Fraudsters also "spoof" local codes like 01603 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.
Map of the 01603 dialling area
The marker shows Norwich; the shaded circle is an approximate indication of the area the 01603 code serves — exact Ofcom charging-area boundaries are irregular and don't follow a neat radius.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. View larger map
Areas typically served by 01603
Settlements in and around the Norwich dialling area that typically use 01603 numbers. Approximate — Ofcom charging-area boundaries don't follow town or county lines exactly, and properties near a boundary may take a neighbouring code.
Calling 01603 from abroad
From outside the UK, dial your international access prefix, then the UK country code 44, then 1603 (the area code without its leading zero) and the local number.
| Calling from | Dial |
|---|---|
| United States & Canada | 011 44 1603 … |
| Europe / most of the world | 00 44 1603 … |
| Australia | 0011 44 1603 … |
| Any mobile phone | +44 1603 … |
History of the 01603 code
The code was 0603 until PhONEday, 16 April 1995, when a "1" was inserted after the leading zero to create 01603.
Top searched 01603 numbers
These are the 01603 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 01603 976944 | 18 | 2 Jul 2026 |
| 01603 340757 | 12 | 9 Jul 2026 |
| 01603 605300 | 11 | 9 Jul 2026 |
| 01603 340752 | 10 | 6 Jul 2026 |
| 01603 309541 | 8 | 10 Jul 2026 |
| 01603 337518 | 8 | 9 Jul 2026 |
| 01603 976166 | 8 | 8 Jul 2026 |
| 01603 383483 | 8 | 3 Jul 2026 |
| 01603 734422 | 7 | 11 Jul 2026 |
| 01603 406714 | 7 | 29 Jun 2026 |
| 01603 340754 | 6 | 11 Jul 2026 |
| 01603 340753 | 6 | 9 Jul 2026 |
| 01603 340756 | 6 | 7 Jul 2026 |
| 01603 288989 | 6 | 29 Jun 2026 |
| 01603 976167 | 6 | 29 Jun 2026 |
| 01603 886651 | 6 | 28 Jun 2026 |
| 01603 510473 | 6 | 28 Jun 2026 |
| 01603 340786 | 6 | 24 Jun 2026 |
| 01603 976168 | 5 | 9 Jul 2026 |
| 01603 987720 | 5 | 5 Jul 2026 |
Is a call from 01603 safe?
Most 01603 calls are ordinary local calls from Norwich homes and businesses. The main risk to be aware of is "neighbour spoofing", where a scammer fakes a local 01603 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 01603 (Norwich) number from outside the UK, drop the leading zero and dial +44 1603 followed by the local number.
Operators serving Norwich
These UK communications providers have been allocated 01603 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 | 123 |
| Vodafone Ltd (C&W) | 36 |
| Gamma Telecom Holdings Limited | 30 |
| Sky UK Limited | 23 |
| Virgin Media Limited | 15 |
| TalkTalk Communications Limited | 14 |
| Colt Technology Services | 10 |
| GCI Network Solutions Limited | 7 |
Ofcom number ranges on 01603
Ofcom's National Numbering Plan lists 469 number blocks under 01603, of which 368 are allocated to 91 communications providers. The first allocated blocks are shown below — look up any full number with the number checker to see its exact range holder.
| Number block | Status | Range holder (Ofcom-allocated) |
|---|---|---|
0160320… | Allocated | Vodafone Ltd (C&W) |
01603210… | Allocated | BT |
01603211… | Allocated | BT |
01603212… | Allocated | TELNYX UK LIMITED |
01603213… | Allocated | BT |
01603214… | Allocated | BT |
01603215… | Allocated | BT |
01603216… | Allocated | BT |
01603217… | Allocated | BT |
01603218… | Allocated | BT |
01603219… | Allocated | BT |
0160322… | Allocated | BT |
Showing 12 of 368 allocated blocks. Source: Ofcom telephone numbering data, updated weekly.
Common scam patterns reported in Norwich
Categories most-commonly tagged on user-submitted reports for 01603 numbers in our community comments.
- scam — 1 report
How to block and report 01603 spam calls
Block or report 01603
- You can block 01603 directly from your recent-calls list on iPhone or Android, and forward scam texts free to 7726.
- Scam or fraud calls should be reported to Action Fraud (0300 123 2040) or Police Scotland (101); persistent marketing calls to the ICO / TPS.
Full step-by-step instructions for every phone, network-level blocking and all UK reporting routes are in our guide: How to block and report unwanted calls in the UK.
How to stop unwanted calls for good
Blocking 01603 numbers stops that one number, but determined nuisance callers simply switch numbers. Silencing unknown callers, enabling your network's free spam shield and registering with the TPS cut the volume across the board — our canonical guide walks through each step: How to block and report unwanted calls in the UK.
Frequently asked questions about the 01603 code
Where is the 01603 area code?
The 01603 area code is allocated by Ofcom to Norwich in Norfolk, United Kingdom. It is a geographic UK landline dialling code under the National Telephone Numbering Plan. The surrounding dialling area also takes in Thorpe Hamlet, Bowthorpe, Poringland and nearby villages.
Is 01603 always a Norwich number?
Numbers with the 01603 prefix were originally allocated by Ofcom to Norwich. 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 Norwich.
How do I block 01603 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 01603 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 01603 call cost?
Calls to UK 01603 geographic numbers are charged at your provider's standard rate and are usually included in inclusive minutes on any modern landline or mobile plan.
Neighbouring dialling codes
Codes covering areas around Norwich — useful when a caller is nearby but outside the 01603 boundary.
Living in or moving to Norwich?
Our free postcode reports cover house prices, crime, broadband and schools for the districts around Norwich.
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.