- Prefix
020 8- Area
- London
- Number type
- Geographic landline (01/02)
- Format
020 8XXX XXXX- From abroad
+44 20 8XXX XXXX- Ofcom blocks in range
- 1,000
- Blocks in service
- 970
- Range holders
- 96
What are 020 8XXX XXXX numbers?
Any UK number matching 020 8XXX XXXX sits in the
020 dialling code for London.
Ofcom hands these numbers to communications providers in blocks; this range
contains 1,000 blocks, of which
970 are allocated and usable. Calls from these
numbers are typically homes and businesses in the London area — or
organisations elsewhere that keep a local 020 presence using
VoIP.
Who holds 020 8… number ranges?
| Range holder (allocated by Ofcom) | Number blocks | Example range |
|---|---|---|
| BT | 557 | 020 8008 XXXX |
| Virgin Media Limited | 115 | 020 8061 XXXX |
| Vodafone Ltd (C&W) | 89 | 020 8043 XXXX |
| Gamma Telecom Holdings Limited | 31 | 020 8016 XXXX |
| Colt Technology Services | 26 | 020 8044 XXXX |
| Verizon UK Limited | 12 | 020 8018 XXXX |
| TalkTalk Communications Limited | 10 | 020 8001 XXXX |
| GCI Network Solutions Limited | 6 | 020 8003 XXXX |
| IOVOX Limited | 5 | 020 8022 XXXX |
| Lumen Technologies UK Limited | 5 | 020 8039 XXXX |
| Syntec Limited | 5 | 020 8030 XXXX |
| Six Degrees Technology Group Limited | 4 | 020 8620 XXXX |
…and 84 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.
Not every block in this range is in service: of the 1,000 blocks Ofcom lists, 29 are protected (reserved by Ofcom and not in use). A call appearing to come from an unallocated block is a strong sign of a spoofed number.
Is a call from a 020 8… number safe?
A local-looking number is never proof of who is calling: fraudsters spoof 020 caller IDs so their calls look like they come from London (‘neighbour spoofing’). If an unexpected caller asks for personal, banking or one-time-code details, hang up and ring the organisation back on a number you find independently. To put a name to a caller, see who called me?; to report one, see how to report a scam number.
Check a specific 020 8XXX XXXX number
Paste any full number into the checker above (or on the main phone number checker) to see its exact range holder and allocation status from this week’s Ofcom data.
Run mobiles for a business? See our business mobile network comparison or get a quote.