United Kingdom
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Dialling codes (also known as "area codes") are typically surrounded by parentheses, indicating that they are optional for local callers, and are followed by the customer's telephone number. Parentheses are not normally used on non-geographic area codes and mobile phone numbers.
Codes with the form 02x are followed by 8-digit local numbers and should be written as (02x) AAAA AAAA. Area codes with the form 011x or 01x1 are used for many of the major population centers in the UK, are always followed by 7-digit local numbers and should be written as (01xx) AAA BBBB. Other area codes have the form 01xxx with 5 or 6 figure local numbers written as (01xxx) AAAAA or (01xxx) AAAAAA; or have the form 01xxxx with 4 or 5 figure local numbers written as (01xx xx) AAAA or (01xx xx) AAAAA.
Geographic numbers are also sometimes displayed in a format with a dash separating the code and number, this was formerly the recommended format for six major metropolitan areas in the UK, e.g. 01x1-AAA BBBB. They are sometimes also shown in a format with a space between the code and number, similar to the non-geographic format, e.g. 01x1 AAA BBBB.
Numbers for mobile phones and pagers are formatted as 07AAA BBBBBB and most other non-geographic numbers are 10 figures in length (excluding trunk digit '0') and formatted as 0AAA BBB BBBB. However, these numbers are sometimes written in other formats. 9 figure freephone numbers are 0500 AAAAAA and 0800 AAAAAA and there are two numbers of 7 figures length: 0800 1111 (Childline) and 0845 4647 (NHS Direct).
Domestically, there are also a number of special service numbers such as 100 for the operator, 123 for the speaking clock and 155 for the international operator, as well as 118 AAA for various directory enquiry services, and 116 AAA for various helplines. For some services, the number you call will depend on which operator you use to connect the call. Both 112 and 999 work for calling the emergency services. These numbers cannot be called from abroad.
When calling from abroad, the initial '0' trunk prefix is not required. UK numbers shown with a zero immediately after the country code, either with or without parentheses, are incorrectly formatted. Most non-geographic numbers cannot be connected when dialed from outside the UK.
Read more about this topic: Local Conventions For Writing Telephone Numbers, Europe
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