020 Area Code: London Dialling Guide (2026)

If you’ve received a call from a number beginning with 020, it’s from London — the biggest telephone area code zone in the United Kingdom. The 020 area code serves the entirety of Greater London, covering more than nine million residents and hundreds of thousands of businesses across 32 boroughs and the City of London. Whether you’re returning a missed call, trying to understand the difference between 0207 and 0208, or looking to get a London number for your business, this guide explains everything you need to know about the 020 dialling code.

What Area Is 020?

The 020 area code covers all of Greater London — every one of the 32 London boroughs plus the City of London. This makes it by far the largest geographic area code in the UK by population and call volume. Unlike most UK area codes which serve a single town or city, the 020 code encompasses a vast metropolitan area stretching roughly 30 miles across.

Key areas covered by the 020 number range include:

• Central London — Westminster, City of London, Holborn, Soho, Mayfair
• Inner London — Camden, Islington, Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Lambeth, Southwark
• West London — Hammersmith, Ealing, Hounslow, Brentford, Chiswick
• North London — Barnet, Enfield, Haringey, Tottenham, Finchley
• East London — Newham, Barking, Dagenham, Ilford, Stratford
• South London — Croydon, Bromley, Lewisham, Greenwich, Sutton
• South West London — Richmond, Kingston, Wimbledon, Merton

If someone asks “what area is 020?”, the short answer is the whole of London — from Enfield in the north to Croydon in the south, and from Hillingdon in the west to Havering in the east.

Understanding London’s Number Ranges

One of the most common points of confusion around the 020 area code is the apparent existence of separate codes like 0207, 0208, 0203, and 0204. In reality, the area code is simply 020, and the local number is eight digits long. The digit immediately after 020 is part of the local number, not the area code.

Here’s how the number ranges break down:

• 020 7xxx xxxx — Originally assigned to inner London. These numbers were historically associated with central business districts and have long carried prestige value.
• 020 8xxx xxxx — Originally assigned to outer London boroughs. The 020 8 range covers suburban areas further from the centre.
• 020 3xxx xxxx — Introduced in 2005 when the 020 7 and 020 8 ranges began running low. The 0203 numbers are not tied to any specific part of London and can be allocated to addresses anywhere within Greater London.
• 020 4xxx xxxx — The newest addition, opened in 2019 to provide even more capacity. Like 0203 numbers, the 0204 area code numbers are available London-wide.

The important point is that all four ranges — 020 7, 020 8, 020 3, and 020 4 — are London numbers with no geographic distinction between them for newer allocations. A 020 3 number is every bit as much a London number as a traditional 020 7 one. Calls between any of these ranges are local calls.

History of London’s Area Code

London’s telephone numbering has undergone more changes than any other UK city, reflecting the enormous demand for telephone numbers in the capital:

• Pre-1990: London used the area code 01, with local numbers beginning with exchange codes. A central London number might have been 01-734 xxxx.
• 1990: London’s 01 code was split into 071 for inner London and 081 for outer London. This created the inner/outer divide that persists in perceptions of 0207 and 0208 today.
• 1995 (PhONEday): A “1” was inserted after the leading zero, changing the codes to 0171 (inner) and 0181 (outer).
• 2000 (Big Number Change): London was reunified under a single 020 code. Former 0171 numbers became 020 7xxx xxxx, and former 0181 numbers became 020 8xxx xxxx. Local numbers went from seven to eight digits.

The 2000 change was designed to create a massive pool of available numbers under a single code, and the later addition of the 020 3 and 020 4 ranges has ensured London won’t run out of numbers any time soon.

How to Dial London Numbers

Dialling a 020 number is straightforward, but the format depends on where you’re calling from:

• From within London on a landline: You can drop the 020 prefix and dial just the eight-digit local number (e.g. 7946 0123). However, dialling the full number with the 020 prefix also works.
• From a UK mobile or another UK area: Dial the full number including the area code, e.g. 020 7946 0123.
• From outside the UK: Replace the leading 0 with the UK country code +44. A London number becomes +44 20 7946 0123.

Calls to 020 numbers from UK landlines and mobiles are charged at standard geographic rates and are typically included in bundled call minutes. There is no difference in cost between calling a 020 7, 020 8, 020 3, or 020 4 number.

Getting a London Business Number

A London phone number is one of the most sought-after area codes for UK businesses. A 020 number instantly signals that your company has a London presence, which can boost credibility with clients, investors, and partners. The good news is that you don’t need a physical London office to use one.

With a VoIP or virtual phone system, you can get a London 020 number from anywhere in the UK — or anywhere in the world. Virtual London numbers start from just £6/month and can route calls to your mobile, laptop, desk phone, or an entire team.

Benefits of a virtual London number include:

• Instant London presence without London office costs
• Professional call handling with IVR menus and voicemail
• Route calls to any device, any location
• Scale from a single user to a full contact centre
• Choose from 020 3 or 020 4 number ranges

You might also find our guides on business phone line providers in the UK and business connectivity providers in London useful when choosing your telecommunications setup. For mobile options, see our business mobile deals in London roundup.

Related Area Codes Around London

London’s 020 code has clear boundaries, and several neighbouring area codes serve the towns and cities immediately outside the M25:

• 01753 — Slough, directly west of London beyond Heathrow
• 01923 — Watford, to the north-west in Hertfordshire
• 01708 — Romford, where some areas use this code rather than 020
• 01322 — Dartford, south-east of London in Kent
• 01234 — Bedford, further north on the M1 corridor
• 01483 — Guildford, south-west of London in Surrey

For guides on other area codes in southern England, see our articles on the 0118 area code for Reading and the 01273 area code for Brighton & Hove.

Frequently Asked Questions