If you are visiting the United Kingdom, it will be useful to know how to dial a local number. For many reasons; you may want to locate your hotel or call a cab, for example. If you dial a number in the County of Greater Manchester, you will have to use the 0161 area code. Phone numbers for emergency services are free and have special numbers that do not require this code.
Remember that 0161 is the current area code since 1995. Some people still try to use the old code (061). During the so-called phone day, the digit ‘1’ was added between the ‘0’ and the ‘6.’ This was done to provide more numbers to the growing demand for phone services.
How Phone Numbers Work in the UK
The office of communications is in charge of managing all the issues concerning phone numbers in the United Kingdom. This governmental body has created an efficient plan for assigning telephone numbers throughout the nation. It is often referred to as the National Telephone Numbering Plan.
All the local numbers can be dialed with a prefix that always starts with the digit ‘0.’ The following numbers of the prefix can indicate a geographical area as in the case of the Manchester area (161). The length of the number can vary. So, here we have some examples, including the Manchester area:
- London area: (020) xxxx xxxx
- Birmingham area: (0121) xxx xxxx
- Glasgow area: (0141) xxx xxxx
- Manchester area: (0161)
Notice that all the numbers start with the digit ‘0’ as mentioned. This is the trunk code, which is used to access the telephone network.
What about Emergency Numbers?
For emergencies in the United Kingdom, you do not have to use the prefixes mentioned above. You can dial 999 or 112. Any of these numbers will connect you to a helpdesk if you need the police, an ambulance, the firefighters, etc. These numbers are completely free. You can dial the one you prefer. Both have the same priority.
For American visitors that are used to dialing 911 for emergencies, this number may help in the United Kingdom. If you call from a mobile phone, dialing 911 will be equivalent to dialing 999. Similarly, the call has no cost for you.
Other Important Numbers to Remember
Whether you are in the United Kingdom for business or leisure, it is important to remember some telephone numbers. First of all, remember that the country code for the United Kingdom is 44. If someone wants to call you from abroad, you have to inform them about this number.
But if you want to call a telephone number abroad, you first have to dial 00. This is the access code for international telephone services from the United Kingdom and almost all the rest of Europe.
If you prefer speaking to an operator first, dial 100 for calls within the United Kingdom. Dial 155 for an international operator.
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