London 0207 numbers
Numbers that start with the 020 area code, including ‘0207’ numbers, are for London and the surrounding area.
There is no technical or official difference between London phone numbers that start 020 7 and those which start with 020 3 or 020 8 – all are available to business and personal customers anywhere in London.
Which area of London are numbers starting 020 7 for?
All 020 numbers are available for use in all areas of London.
Although there were separate area codes for inner and outer London between 1990 and 2000, the distinction was scrapped with the introduction of the single London-wide area code of 020. Any 020 number can be used in any part of London.
As is the case with all landline numbers, 020 numbers can also be used to forward calls to other parts of the country, to international destinations, or to virtual services such as VOIP phones.
Frequently asked questions about ‘0207 numbers’
Is it 020 or 0207?
The area code for London is just 020; the following digits are all part of the eight-digit local number. When displaying London phone numbers, the correct format is 020 xxxx xxxx – with the first space placed immediately after the 020 area code.
Are 0207 numbers Central London numbers?
A large proportion of numbers starting 020 7 are used in central London, as pre-existing numbers from the old 0171 inner London area code were renumbered to start 020 7 in the year 2000. However, since mid-2000 any 020 number can be issued for use anywhere in London.
Are 0207 numbers more valuable or prestigious?
Some telephone companies may try to charge more for these numbers due to their historic association with central London and the very limited remaining supply of such numbers. There is no reason to pay a premium for such numbers; they offer no real extra benefits when compared with other 020 numbers.
Do only BT issue 0207 numbers?
No, most telephone companies own blocks of 020 7 numbers. However, as the supply of new 020 7 numbers ran out in the mid-2000s, some newer telephone companies may not have any of their own supply.
Have companies stopped issuing 0207 numbers?
All available 020 7 numbers have been allocated to phone companies. While they cannot obtain any new stock, they can recycle old numbers and issue any unusued 020 7 numbers they own – which means that some new connections may be issued with 020 7 numbers.
Do I need to dial 0207 in London?
The 020 area code is optional from landlines and calls within the London area can be made by dialling just the eight-digit local phone number. For example, (020) 7946 7946 can be dialled as simply ‘7946 7946’ from any 020 London landline.
More information
» 020 area code
Full details of areas covered and the history of 020 numbers.
» Phone number formatting
How to correctly display phone numbers for major UK cities.