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Master the +44 country code for dialing someone in London
It might appear daunting, but dialing a London number from abroad is straightforward. This guide by Mytour will show you how to place an international call to London with ease, whether you're using a traditional phone or an app.
Dialing London from the USA
Start by dialing 011, the exit code for the U.S. and Canada. Then, add 44, the UK country code, followed by 20, London's area code, and then the phone number of the person you wish to reach.
Step-by-Step Guide
Making a Call to London via Phone
Dial the exit code for your current location. The exit code, also known as the international call prefix, is a 2-3 digit number that allows you to make calls outside your country. Each country has its own exit code. For instance, the United States uses 011, India uses 00, and Nigeria uses 009.
- Search online for the correct exit code by typing the country's name followed by 'exit code'.
- Some countries, like Brazil, have multiple exit codes, depending on the phone provider. Choose the code that corresponds to your phone service.
- If calling from within the UK, skip the exit code, as it's only required for international calls.
Dial 44 to reach London. 44 is the designated country code for the United Kingdom. Each country has a unique code to identify it during phone calls.
- When dialing from within the UK, you can skip the country code. It’s only necessary for international calls.
Identify whether you’re calling a mobile or landline number. In the UK, mobile phone numbers typically start with 07 and contain 11 digits (excluding the exit and country codes).
- Mobile numbers in the UK do not have area codes, so it’s important to know if you’re calling a mobile or landline number.
- If calling a mobile number from outside the UK, drop the initial 0. The mobile number will only have 10 digits for international dialing. For example, instead of 07XXX XXX XXX, dial 7XXX XXX XXX (with the correct exit and country codes).
Dial the mobile number directly. To call a mobile phone in London from the U.S., enter 011-44-7XXX XXX XXX. Here, 7XXX XXX XXX is the mobile number, 44 is the UK country code, and 011 is the U.S. exit code.
Dial 20 after the country code for landline calls. 020 is the area code for most of Greater London. Area codes in the UK typically range from 2 to 5 digits (excluding the leading 0), and they correspond to specific geographic locations. The 0 at the start of the area code is omitted when calling from outside the UK.
- For landline calls within the UK to London, dial 020.
Enter the phone number following the area code for landline calls. To place a call from the U.S. to a London landline, dial 011-44-20-XXXX-XXXX. In this sequence, 20 is Greater London's area code, 44 is the UK country code, 011 is the U.S. exit code, and XXXX-XXXX is the landline number.
Check the local time in London before making your call. London operates on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) during winter and British Summer Time (BST) in the summer months. It’s important to verify the current local time to avoid calling too early or too late.
- The UK observes daylight saving time, so clocks are moved forward by one hour on the last Sunday in March, and moved back one hour on the last Sunday in October.
- Several websites can give you the exact time in London, making it easy to ensure you’re calling at an appropriate hour.
Consider purchasing an international phone card. International phone cards often offer more affordable rates than traditional phone services, and they are prepaid, which helps avoid unexpected high charges. These cards are available at many convenience stores or online retailers.
Calling London via Apps
Connect your device to Wi-Fi. Whether you're using a laptop, smartphone, or tablet, you can easily make a call to London using Wi-Fi. Many apps are available on these devices that offer cheaper rates compared to traditional phone services.
- Wi-Fi hotspots are often found in cafes, libraries, and restaurants. If you don't have Wi-Fi at home, find a nearby hotspot to connect.
Make a call to London using WhatsApp. To use WhatsApp, save the phone number in your contacts by entering a plus sign (+) followed by the number. The plus sign indicates an international call, so be sure to remove any leading zeroes and skip the exit code.
- Include the UK country code, 44. For landlines, also add the area code. A London landline number should look like +44 20 XXXX XXXX. A mobile number will only include the 7, like +44 7XXX XXX XXX.
- To make the call, open WhatsApp, start a chat with the person you want to call, and then tap the phone icon at the top to initiate the call.
Use FaceTime to call London. FaceTime comes pre-installed on most Apple devices. Open the app, sign in with your Apple ID (iPhone users are automatically signed in).
- Enter the phone number or email address of the person you wish to call. Choose the audio or video icon to start the call. The video icon will allow you to have a video chat, while the audio icon will only include sound.
- Both you and the person you are calling must have FaceTime installed for it to work.
Call London using Skype. Log into Skype and click on the phone icon to access the dial pad. The rates for calling your selected country will be displayed.
- From the drop-down menu, select the United Kingdom. This will automatically input the correct country code.
- Enter the phone number you wish to dial. For landline calls, remember to include the area code before the number.
- Click the blue call button to place your call once the number is entered.
