How to call the UK

Dialling codes, number formats for mobiles and landlines, the time zone and the ways to call the UK.

Updated 17 October 20262 min read

To call the UK from another country, dial an international prefix, then the country code for the UK (+44), then the number without its first 0.

The quick version

From a mobile: type + (hold down 0 on most keypads), then 44, then the number without its first 0: +44 7XXX XXXXXX. This works from any country.
From a landline: dial your country's international access code instead of the +. It's 00 in most countries, for example 00 44 7XXX XXXXXX, and 011 in the US and Canada.
In DanaTel: type 44 (the + is already there), then the number without its first 0, or paste a number that starts with +44. The dialler shows the UK and the price as soon as it recognises the code.

Calling a mobile in the UK

A mobile number written locally as 07XXX XXXXXX becomes +44 7XXX XXXXXX when you call from another country. If the number already starts with +44 or 0044, don't add the code again.

Calling a landline

A landline number written locally as 01XX XXX XXXX becomes +44 1XX XXX XXXX when you call from another country.

What it costs

There are three common ways to call, and the costs work differently:

Your phone plan. Calls abroad usually aren't part of your monthly minutes and are charged per minute at your provider's international rate, unless you buy an international add-on. Check your provider's price list before a long call.
Internet calling apps. Free when both of you have the same app and a good data connection, but they don't help when the person you're calling isn't online.
Browser calling with DanaTel. You call from your browser and they answer their normal phone. You pay a per-minute rate shown before you dial, billed in 6-second steps, and unanswered calls are free.

When to call

The UK is on UTC+0 and moves its clocks forward an hour in summer, to UTC+1, so the time difference with your country can change during the year. See what time it is in the UK now, and how far ahead or behind you it is.

Good to know

If someone sends you a number that already starts with +44 or 0044, copy it and paste it into DanaTel's dialler as it is: it tidies the number up for you.

Ready to call? See DanaTel's rate for the UK, or create a free account and top up from £5.