How much does it cost to call a 01588 number?

Calls to 01588 numbers are standard geographic landline calls, charged at your provider’s normal UK landline rate and usually included in inclusive minutes — the same as calling an 03 number.

I had a missed call from a 01588 number — is it a scam?

Not necessarily, but be careful: scammers spoof local codes such as 01588 so a call looks like it’s from Bishops Castle and you’re more likely to answer. If in doubt, hang up and call the organisation back on a number you find independently.

How do I dial a Bishops Castle number from abroad?

Drop the leading 0 and add +44. A number written as 01588 XXXXXX becomes +44 1588 XXXXXX when dialled internationally.

Can this tool tell me who owns the number?

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

01588 Area Code – Bishops Castle | Dialling Code, Format & Call Charges

Q: Where is the 01588 area code?

01588 is the UK geographic dialling code for Bishops Castle. Any number written as 01588 XXXXXX is tied to the Bishops Castle dialling-code area, though with modern VoIP a business can keep its 01588 number after moving away.

Dialling code: 01588
Area: Bishops Castle
Number type: Geographic landline (01/02)
Local format: 01588 XXXXXX
From abroad: +44 1588 XXXXXX
Ofcom number blocks: 451
Blocks in service: 93
Range holders: 83

Where is the 01588 area code?

The 01588 dialling code is the UK geographic area code for Bishops Castle. Because 01588 is a geographic (01/02) code, a number using it is tied to the Bishops Castle dialling-code area — though with modern hosted telephony (VoIP) a business can keep a 01588 number after moving premises, so the code reflects the number’s designated area rather than a guaranteed physical location today.

Ofcom currently lists 451 number blocks under 01588, of which 93 are allocated to 83 communications providers.

Bishops Castle phone number format

A Bishops Castle number is made up of a 5-digit area code followed by a 5 or 6-digit local number. Written in full it looks like 01588 XXXXXX (the Xs stand for the local digits). Ofcom has not reserved a fictitious drama range for 01588; for on-screen examples it recommends the unused 01632 960000–01632 960999 range.

Who holds 01588 number ranges?

Ofcom allocates 01588 numbers to providers in blocks. These providers hold the largest allocations under 01588:

Range holder (allocated by Ofcom)	Number blocks	Example range
BT	7	`01588 62XXXX`
Digital Space Group Limited	2	`01588 257XXX`
Fuse 2 Communications Ltd	2	`01588 448XXX`
Six Degrees Technology Group Limited	2	`01588 800XXX`
TalkTalk Communications Limited	2	`01588 238XXX`
(AQ) LIMITED	1	`01588 82XXXX`
24 Seven Cloud Communications Ltd	1	`01588 446XXX`
API Telecom Limited	1	`01588 427XXX`

…and 75 more providers hold smaller allocations in this range.

Ofcom’s data shows the provider each number range was originally allocated to — not who holds an individual number today. Numbers are frequently moved (ported) between providers, and no public database reveals the person or business behind a specific number, so treat any service that claims to with suspicion.

01588 number ranges

Browse the allocated 01588 ranges by their first local digit — each guide lists the providers holding that slice of Bishops Castle’s numbers:

01588 2XXXXX · 11 ranges 01588 3XXXXX · 10 ranges 01588 4XXXXX · 42 ranges 01588 5XXXXX · 12 ranges 01588 6XXXXX · 9 ranges 01588 8XXXXX · 9 ranges

Call charges for 01588 numbers

Calls to 01588 geographic numbers are charged at your phone provider’s standard UK landline rate and are normally included in inclusive call minutes. 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 — always check the prefix before you dial.

Spotting spoofed 01588 scam calls

Fraudsters frequently spoof local dialling codes, faking the caller ID so a scam call appears to come from a Bishops Castle (01588) number you might trust. Remember:

A familiar 01588 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).

Other dialling codes in this range

Numerically adjacent UK dialling codes:

01584 Ludlow Area code guide 01586 Campbeltown Area code guide 01590 Lymington Area code guide 01591 Llanwrtyd Wells Area code guide

Browse all UK area-code guides ›

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01588 area code – Bishops Castle