023 area code

By areacodesuk / October 21, 2023

Southampton & Portsmouth

The 023 area code is for Portsmouth and Southampton in Hampshire, and the surrounding areas.

Locations using 023 numbers include:

The first digit of the eight-digit local number usually indicates more precisely where it is associated with:

Number range	Primary area*	Other locations served
(023) 8xxx xxxx	Southampton	Ashurst, Bassett, Bursledon, Cadnam, Chandler’s Ford, Eastleigh, Fair Oak, Fawley, Hamble, Hampton, Hythe, Lyndhurst, Moorhill, Rownhams, Shirley, Totton, Woolston
(023) 9xxx xxxx	Portsmouth	Compton, Cosham, Gosport, Hambledon, Havant, Hayling Island, Horndean, Lee-on-the-Solent, North End, Rowland’s Castle, Southsea, Waterlooville

* Telephone companies are officially required to issue numbers according to this pattern. Some smaller or newer operators may disregard the rules and use the same series of numbers across the entire area.

Most 023 numbers are for normal Southampton and Portsmouth landlines but be aware that, as is the case for all UK area codes, such numbers may also be used for services without any physical link to the area. (More info)

023 number call costs

023 numbers are normal, landline numbers charged at standard rates.

» Typical landline call charges

Formatting an 023 number

023 numbers should be displayed in the format 023 xxxx xxxx or (023) xxxx xxxx, with the first space always placed between ‘023’ and the eight-digit local number.

For international callers, use: +44 23 xxxx xxxx.

02380, 02381 and 02382 numbers, as well as 02392, 02393 and 02394 numbers, should all be written as above; formats such as ‘02380 xxxxxx’ are incorrect. [Why?]

Notes and links

Area code 023 was introduced in April 2000, to replace the older 01703 and 01705 area codes.

Unusually, the same 023 area code serves two separate non-adjoining areas. The Portsmouth and Southampton areas covered are some distance apart, with the 01329 and 014 89 area codes used in the area in between them.

Recent history

1980s	Southampton uses area code 0703, along with the 0421 for some outer areas. Meanwhile, Portsmouth uses area code 0705 alongside 0701 for outer areas.
1994	By this point area codes had been consolidated, with just 0703 in use in Southampton and 0705 in Portsmouth. Both areas have six-digit local numbers.
1995	Codes becomes 01703 and 01705, with local numbers unchanged.
2000	Both areas move to the shared 023 area code, with local numbers lengthened to eight digits by prefixing with ’80’ in Southampton and ’92’ in Portsmouth. Example: (01703) 833000 becomes (023) 8083 3000.
2006	Local numbers beginning with 81 and 93 introduced.
2012	Local numbers beginning with 82 introduced.
2013	Local numbers beginning with 94 introduced.

The numbering scheme introduced in 2000 gives Southampton and Portsmouth nearly 80 million usable numbers: (023) 20000000 to 99899999.

Prior to the change, fewer than 800,000 were available in each city: (01703) 200000 to 998999 for Southampton and (01705) 200000 to 998999 for Portsmouth.