Telephone Area Code For London
History
Before 1989, there was one dialling code for London: 01, plain and simple. Admittedly getting particular numbers allocated was a pain, but it was due to overcrowding in the number range that the numbers were split into inner and outer London. (See the page Locale Docklands for a reference to this.)
From 1989, the dialling codes changed FOUR times:
| Date | Code | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1989 | 01 | Seven-digit local numbers. |
| 1989 to 1992 | 071 and 081 | London was split in two to double the amount of available numbers. |
| 1992 to 1999 | 0171 and 0181 | National codes were all changed to add a 1 after the initial 0. |
| June 1999 to April 2000 | 020 with 7 or 8. | Introductory period - the previous dialling codes continued to work. Local numbers were still dialled as 7 digits, e.g. 123 4567 |
| 2000 to present | 020 | Eight-digit local numbers. One code for all of London. |
In 1999, the exchange codes were properly reorganised to be 4 digits long, with the local number 8 digits long. It is no longer possible to determine the location of a subscriber within London based on the area code.
It can be a good indicator of how long a firm has been in business if it has a sign using one of the older dialling code conventions (and also of how much they care about their frontage).
Outer London
Some outer London boroughs are partly covered by other codes:
- 01322 [Dartford]: Bexley (Crayford, Erith, Northumberland Heath, Slade Green, Barnes Cray, Belvedere)
- 01689 [Orpington]: Bromley (Orpington, Farnborough); Croydon (New Addington)
- 01708 [Romford]: Havering (Romford, Rainham, Hornchurch, Upminster, Harold Wood, Gidea Park)
- 01895 [Uxbridge]: Hillingdon (Ruislip, Uxbridge, Harefield, West Drayton, Cowley)
- 01923 [Watford]: Hillingdon (Northwood)
- 01959 [Westerham]: Bromley (Biggin Hill, Cudham)
Local calls from 020
All the following codes are considered local when dialled from 020 numbers:
- 01322 Dartford
- 01372 Esher
- 01689 Orpington
- 01707 Potters Bar
- 01708 Romford
- 01727 St Albans
- 01737 Redhill
- 01753 Slough
- 01784 Staines
- 01883 Caterham
- 01895 Uxbridge
- 01923 Watford
- 01932 Weybridge
- 01959 Westerham
- 01992 Hoddesdon