How much does it cost to call an 0131 number?

Calls to 0131 numbers are geographic landline calls, charged at your provider’s standard UK landline rate and normally included in any inclusive minutes — the same as calling an 03 number.

I had a missed call from an 0131 number — is it a scam?

Not necessarily, but be careful. Scammers often spoof local codes such as 0131 so a call looks like it’s from Edinburgh and you’re more likely to answer. A familiar area code is never proof of who is calling — if in doubt, hang up and call the organisation back on a number you find independently.

How do I dial a Edinburgh number from abroad?

Drop the leading 0 and add the UK country code +44. A Edinburgh number written as 0131 496 0000 becomes +44 131 496 0000 when dialled internationally.

Can this tool tell me who owns the number?

No. It shows the geographic area of the dialling code and the communications provider Ofcom allocated the number range to — not the individual or business that holds a specific number, which can also have been ported to another network.

0131 Area Code – Edinburgh | Dialling Code, Format & Call Charges

Q: Where is the 0131 area code?

0131 is the UK geographic dialling code for Edinburgh, covering Edinburgh and its immediate surroundings. It sits in City of Edinburgh in Scotland. Edinburgh is Scotland's capital and home to the Scottish Parliament and the world-famous Festival Fringe.

Dialling code: 0131
Area / city: Edinburgh
Covers: Edinburgh and its immediate surroundings
County: City of Edinburgh
Region / nation: Scotland
Number type: Geographic landline (01/02)
Local format: 0131 XXX XXXX
From abroad: +44 131 496 0000

Where is the 0131 area code?

The 0131 dialling code is the UK geographic area code for Edinburgh, covering Edinburgh and its immediate surroundings. Edinburgh lies in City of Edinburgh, in the Scotland. Edinburgh is Scotland's capital and home to the Scottish Parliament and the world-famous Festival Fringe.

Because 0131 is a geographic (01/02) code, a number using it is tied to the Edinburgh area — though with modern hosted telephony (VoIP) a business can keep an 0131 number even after moving premises, so the code reflects the original area rather than a guaranteed physical location today.

Edinburgh phone number format & example

An Edinburgh number is made up of a 4-digit area code followed by a 7-digit local number. Written in full it looks like 0131 XXX XXXX (the Xs stand for the local digits). 0131 496 0000 is a number Ofcom reserves for use in TV and radio dramas, so it is safe to show as an example — it can never be allocated to a real person.

How to dial a Edinburgh (0131) number

Within the Edinburgh area: on most lines you can dial just the local part of the number, although dialling the full national number including 0131 always works.
From elsewhere in the UK: dial the full number including the area code — 0131 496 0000.
From abroad: replace the leading 0 with +44 — +44 131 496 0000.

Call charges for 0131 numbers

Calls to 0131 geographic numbers are charged at your phone provider’s standard UK landline rate and are normally included in any inclusive call minutes on your landline or mobile plan. UK-wide 03 numbers are guaranteed by Ofcom to cost the same as 01/02 calls, while 084, 087 and 09 numbers cost considerably more — so it’s always worth checking the prefix before you dial.

Spotting spoofed 0131 scam calls

Fraudsters frequently spoof local dialling codes, faking the caller ID so a scam call appears to come from a nearby Edinburgh (0131) number you might trust. This is called neighbour spoofing. Remember:

A familiar 0131 area code is not proof the caller is local or genuine — caller ID can be faked.
Banks, HMRC and the police will never ask you to move money or share passwords or one-time codes over the phone.
If a call feels off, hang up, wait a moment, and call the organisation back on a number from their official website or your statement.
Report nuisance calls to the ICO and forward scam texts to 7726 (free).

Nearby & related area codes

Explore the dialling codes of places near Edinburgh:

0141 Glasgow Scotland

Browse all UK area-code guides ›

0131 area code – Edinburgh