How to Call London: A Simple Guide for Making International Calls

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Everything you need to know to make a call to London
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Do you need to call someone in London? If so, it's actually quite an easy task once you know what codes you need to dial. In this article we'll go over how to call someone in London, as well as how to contact them using other means (to avoid the cost of international calls). We've also included a list of all the exit codes used across the world so you can easily find your country's exit code. Read on to learn more.

How to Call London from USA

Dial 011, which is the exit code from the U.S. and Canada. Then, enter 44, which is the country code for the UK. If you're calling a landline, dial 20 and the number. Otherwise, dial the mobile number that starts with 7. Never include the leading (trunk) zero.

Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Calling London on a Phone

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  1. The exit code, or the international call prefix, is a 2-3 digit number that enables you to call outside of your country. There are many different exit codes for different nations. For example, the exit code for the United States is 011, for India, it’s 00, and for Nigeria, it’s 009. [1] Check the section below to see a list of exit codes from around the world.
    • If you're on a cell phone, dial + instead of the exit code. Dialing a + will tell your phone to automatically apply the exit code for whatever country you're in. The + key is usually shared with the 0 key.
    • A few countries, such as Brazil, have more than one exit code. These codes correspond to different phone providers, so dial the code that is connected to your phone company.
    • Do not enter the exit code if you are calling London from within the UK. An exit code is only necessary for international calls.
    • If you can't find the exit code you need, you can use Google or your favorite search engine to find the correct code.
  2. 44 is the country code assigned to the United Kingdom. A unique country code is assigned to each nation; these codes identify the nation you are phoning.
    • Skip the country code if you are dialing London from within the United Kingdom. Like the exit code, the country code is only used for international calls.
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  3. British mobile phone numbers generally begin with 07 and have 11 digits (excluding the exit or country codes).
    • British mobile numbers do not use area codes; this is why it is essential to determine if the number is for a landline or mobile phone. [2]
    • Drop the leading 0 if you are calling a mobile number from outside the United Kingdom. For an international call, the mobile number would only have 10 digits. Instead of dialing 07XXX XXX XXX you would dial 7XXX XXX XXX (plus the appropriate exit and country codes).
  4. Enter 011-44-7XXX XXX XXX to place a phone call from the United States to London, where 011 is the exit code for the United States, 44 is the country code for the United Kingdom, and 7XXX XXX XXX is the mobile phone number.
  5. 020 is the area code for most of Greater London. British area codes are 2-5 digits long (not including the first 0) and are assigned by geographic area. These codes always begin with a 0, but this 0 is not used if you are calling from outside the United Kingdom. [3]
    • Dial 020 if you are calling a London landline from within the United Kingdom.
  6. A phone call from the United States to a London landline would look like 011 44 20 XXXX XXXX, where where 011 is the exit code for the United States, 44 is the country code for the United Kingdom, 20 is the code for London, and XXXX XXXX is the landline phone number.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Using Apps to Phone London

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  1. Laptops, mobile phones, and tablets can all be used to phone London using Wi-Fi. There are many apps that will work on these devices; often these apps are free or cheaper than traditional phones. [4]
    • Wi-Fi hotspots are available at many cafes, libraries, or restaurants. If you don’t have access to Wi-Fi at your home, look for one of these hotspots to connect to Wi-Fi.
  2. You will need to add the phone number to your contacts. Open your address book and enter a plus sign (+) followed by the phone number; the plus sign indicates that the entry is an international number. Remove any leading zeros and do not include the exit code. [5]
    • Include the country code of 44. You should also include the area code if dialing a landline. A phonebook entry for a London landline should look like this: +44 20 XXXX XXXX. A London mobile number will not include the area code and will look like: +44 7XXX XXX XXX.
    • To place the call using WhatsApp, you open the app and then open a chat with the person you want to call. Then, select the phone button on the top of the screen to make the call. [6]
  3. FaceTime is included on almost all Apple devices. To place a call, open the app and use your Apple Account to login. iPhone users will automatically be logged in. [7]
    • Type in the email address or phone number of the person you want to contact. Next, select either the audio or video icon to place the call. The video icon will allow you to video chat, while the audio icon will have sound but no picture.
    • Make sure the person you are calling also has FaceTime. FaceTime can only be used to make calls if both parties have the app.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Considerations Before Calling

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  1. 1
    Know the local time in London before placing your call. London is on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) in the winter months, and British Summer Time (BST) in the summer months. Be sure to verify the local time before you make your phone call to ensure you are not calling too early or too late. [8]
    • The United Kingdom uses daylight saving time so clocks are set forward one hour on the last Sunday in March, and set back one hour on the last Sunday in October.
    • There are many websites that will tell you the current London time. These make it easy to ensure that you’re phoning at a reasonable time of the day. [9]
  2. Phone cards frequently offer a cheaper rate than many phone providers. They are also prepaid, which will prevent any surprisingly expensive phone bills. These phone cards can be bought at many convenience or grocery stores, or they can be ordered online.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Exit Codes for Other Countries

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  1. 1
    Exit codes vary by country. We've made a list of all the major exit codes used worldwide, but this list is not exhaustive. To make sure you have the right exit code, check Google or your favorite search engine. [10]
    • 011 is the exit code for the United States, Canada, several US territories, and some Caribbean islands.
    • 00 is the exit code for almost all of Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and South America, as well as some Asian countries.
      • Some countries, such as South Korea, Colombia, Brazil, Israel, Finland, and Indonesia use 00 but also allow or require extra digits to specify your carrier.
    • 0011 is the exit code for Australia. No other countries are currently using 0011 as an exit code.
    • 010 is the exit code for Japan, and it's the only country that currently uses this code.
    • 001 is used by Guyana, Hong Kong, Mongolia, Thailand, and Cambodia. 002 is used by Taiwan.
    • 0 is used by Samoa and Turks and Caicos.
    • 000 is used by Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Singapore.
    • 009 is only used by Nigeria.
    • 1XX0 is used in Chile, where the "XX" changes depending on your phone carrier.
    • 19XX is the exit code for Peru, where the "XX" is replaced by a specific carrier code.
    • 810 is the exit code for a number of countries in eastern Europe: Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.
    • 99 is the exit code for North Korea.

    Note: some countries have multiple exit codes that differ based on which service provider/carrier you’re using. As an example, Brazil has five different exit codes: 0014 (Brasil Telecom), 0015 (Telefonica), 0021 (Embratel), 0023 (Intelig), and 0031 (Telmar).

Community Q&A

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  • Question
    How many numbers does a phone number in London have?
    Community Answer
    If you wish to dial a London (UK) phone number from outside the London area (or a mobile phone), you need to prefix the 8 digits with the 3 digit London area code of 020 (which would normally be displayed in brackets before the number: (020) yxxx xxxx - (the y is either 3, 7 or 8).
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  • Question
    How do I call London from Australia?
    Community Answer
    The exit code for Australia is 0011. So you would dial 0011 44 and then the London phone number. Remember to drop the first 0 from the area code (if you are calling a landline). If you are calling a mobile, drop the first 0 from the number.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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    Not Helpful 0 Helpful 6
  • Question
    What is the average price of a phone call from Germany to Scotland?
    Community Answer
    The price for the phone call is going to vary wildly depending on the plan you have. Many mobiles have an international plan option where calling Scotland from Germany would be free. If you don't have the international plan, it could cost a lot more. The best thing to do is to contact your service provider and ask them for the price.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.howtocallabroad.com/codes.html
      2. ↑ https://www.howtocallabroad.com/uk/
      3. ↑ https://www.howtocallabroad.com/uk/
      4. ↑ https://www.cnet.com/news/what-you-need-to-know-about-wifi-calling/
      5. ↑ https://faq.whatsapp.com/en/android/21016748
      6. ↑ https://faq.whatsapp.com/en/android/28000016/?category=5245237
      7. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-sg/HT204380
      8. ↑ https://www.timeanddate.com/time/zones/bst
      9. ↑ https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/uk/london
      1. ↑ https://www.britannica.com/topic/list-of-country-calling-codes-2231578

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To call London, start by dialing the exit code for the country you're currently in, which is typically 2-3 digits. For example, the exit code for the United States is "011." Next, dial "44," which is the country code for the United Kingdom. Then, if you're dialing a mobile phone, enter the phone number and place your call. If you're dialing a landline, you'll need to enter "20" after the country code before you dial the number. To learn how to use apps to call London, scroll down!

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