How much does it cost to call an 023 number?

Calls to 023 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 023 number — is it a scam?

Not necessarily, but be careful. Scammers often spoof local codes such as 023 so a call looks like it’s from Southampton & Portsmouth 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 Southampton & Portsmouth number from abroad?

Drop the leading 0 and add the UK country code +44. A Southampton & Portsmouth number written as 023 XXXX XXXX becomes +44 23 XXXX XXXX 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.

023 Area Code – Southampton & Portsmouth | Dialling Code, Format & Call Charges

Q: Where is the 023 area code?

023 is the UK geographic dialling code for Southampton & Portsmouth, covering Southampton (023 80), Portsmouth (023 92) and parts of south Hampshire. It sits in Hampshire in South East, England. The 023 code is shared between Southampton and Portsmouth, distinguished by the local-number prefix (80 for Southampton, 92 for Portsmouth).

Dialling code: 023
Area / city: Southampton & Portsmouth
Covers: Southampton (023 80), Portsmouth (023 92) and parts of south Hampshire
County: Hampshire
Region / nation: South East, England
Number type: Geographic landline (01/02)
Local format: 023 XXXX XXXX
From abroad: +44 23 XXXX XXXX

Where is the 023 area code?

The 023 dialling code is the UK geographic area code for Southampton & Portsmouth, covering Southampton (023 80), Portsmouth (023 92) and parts of south Hampshire. Southampton & Portsmouth lies in Hampshire, in the South East region of England. The 023 code is shared between Southampton and Portsmouth, distinguished by the local-number prefix (80 for Southampton, 92 for Portsmouth).

Because 023 is a geographic (01/02) code, a number using it is tied to the Southampton & Portsmouth area — though with modern hosted telephony (VoIP) a business can keep an 023 number even after moving premises, so the code reflects the original area rather than a guaranteed physical location today.

Southampton & Portsmouth phone number format & example

An Southampton & Portsmouth number is made up of a 3-digit area code followed by an 8-digit local number. Written in full it looks like 023 XXXX XXXX (the Xs stand for the local digits). Ofcom has not reserved a dedicated fictitious range for 023. For on-screen examples it recommends the unused 01632 960000–01632 960999 range. Real Southampton & Portsmouth numbers follow the pattern 023 XXXX XXXX.

How to dial a Southampton & Portsmouth (023) number

Within the Southampton & Portsmouth area: on most lines you can dial just the local part of the number, although dialling the full national number including 023 always works.
From elsewhere in the UK: dial the full number including the area code — 023 XXXX XXXX.
From abroad: replace the leading 0 with +44 — +44 23 XXXX XXXX.

Call charges for 023 numbers

Calls to 023 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 023 scam calls

Fraudsters frequently spoof local dialling codes, faking the caller ID so a scam call appears to come from a nearby Southampton & Portsmouth (023) number you might trust. This is called neighbour spoofing. Remember:

A familiar 023 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 Southampton & Portsmouth:

01962 Winchester South East 01202 Bournemouth South West

Browse all UK area-code guides ›

023 area code – Southampton & Portsmouth