023 Area Code — Southampton / Portsmouth, UK

023 is the UK dialling code for Southampton / Portsmouth, also serving Eastleigh, Totton and Woolston, allocated by Ofcom under the National Telephone Numbering Plan. Our database has tracked 1,077 distinct 023 numbers across 1,824 public lookups.

Quick facts

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.

Map of the 023 dialling area

The marker shows Southampton / Portsmouth; the shaded circle is an approximate indication of the area the 023 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 023

Settlements in and around the Southampton / Portsmouth dialling area that typically use 023 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 023 from abroad

From outside the UK, dial your international access prefix, then the UK country code 44, then 23 (the area code without its leading zero) and the local number.

History of the 023 code

Southampton (01703) and Portsmouth (01705) merged onto the new 023 code in the Big Number Change on 22 April 2000.

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.

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.

Ofcom number ranges on 023

Ofcom's National Numbering Plan lists 2,601 number blocks under 023, of which 460 are allocated to 142 communications providers. The first allocated blocks are shown below — look up any full number with the number checker to see its exact range holder.

Showing 12 of 460 allocated blocks. Source: Ofcom telephone numbering data, updated weekly.

Common scam patterns reported in Southampton / Portsmouth

Categories most-commonly tagged on user-submitted reports for 023 numbers in our community comments.

• silent — 2 reports
• spam — 1 report
• scam — 1 report
• unknown — 1 report

How to block and report 023 spam calls

Block or report 023

• You can block 023 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.

Frequently asked questions about the 023 code

Neighbouring dialling codes

Codes covering areas around Southampton / Portsmouth — useful when a caller is nearby but outside the 023 boundary.

Living in or moving to Southampton / Portsmouth?

Our free postcode reports cover house prices, crime, broadband and schools for the districts around Southampton / Portsmouth.

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.