020 (UK dial code)
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020 is the dial code for Greater London in the United Kingdom.
Contents |
[edit] Coverage
The code serves an area similar to Greater London, formerly known as the London Director Area. Some outer districts are covered by sections of adjacent codes and in some places the 020 code extends beyond the Greater London boundary. The code covers an area larger than the London postal district.
[edit] Completely covered by 020
The City of London and the London boroughs of Barking and Dagenham, Barnet, Brent, Camden, Ealing, Enfield, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Harrow, Hounslow, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Kingston upon Thames, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Newham, Redbridge, Richmond upon Thames, Southwark, Sutton, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Wandsworth and the City of Westminster are more or less completely covered by the code.
[edit] Partly covered by other codes
| Area code | Main exchange | London boroughs partly covered |
|---|---|---|
| 01322 | Dartford † | Bexley |
| 01689 | Orpington | Bromley and Croydon |
| 01708 | Romford | Havering |
| 01753 | Slough † | Hillingdon |
| 01895 | Uxbridge | Hillingdon |
| 01923 | Watford † | Hillingdon |
| 01959 | Westerham † | Bromley |
| 01992 | Waltham Cross † | Enfield |
† = outside Greater London
[edit] Outside Greater London covered by 020
| County | District | Places |
|---|---|---|
| Essex | Epping Forest | Loughton, Chigwell, Buckhurst Hill, Sewardstone |
| Hertfordshire | Hertsmere | Elstree, Borehamwood |
| Surrey | Elmbridge | Molesey, Thames Ditton |
| Epsom and Ewell | Ewell | |
| Tandridge | Whyteleafe |
[edit] Sub ranges
| 0xxx xxxx 1xxx xxxx |
national dialling only, not issued locally |
| 2xxx xxxx | future use |
| 3xxx xxxx | new local numbers created by move to 020 (currently issued) |
| 4xxx xxxx 5xxx xxxx 6xxx xxxx |
future use |
| 70xx xxxx 71xx xxxx |
new local numbers created by move to 020 |
| 72xx xxxx 73xx xxxx 74xx xxxx 75xx xxxx 76xx xxxx 77xx xxxx 78xx xxxx 79xx xxxx |
local numbers transferred from 0171 |
| 80xx xxxx 81xx xxxx |
new local numbers created by move to 020 |
| 82xx xxxx 83xx xxxx 84xx xxxx 85xx xxxx 86xx xxxx 87xx xxxx 88xx xxxx 89xx xxxx |
local numbers transferred from 0181 |
| 9xxx xxxx | future use |
[edit] Allocation
59% of numbers within the 020 code are allocated to BT.[1]
[edit] History
020 replaced the 0171 and 0181 codes on 22 April 2000, after a period of dual-running which began 1 June 1999. Before May 1990 there had been a single area code of 01 which covered the same area as the current 020 code. Before this date the three digits after the code indicated the geographic area the number was located. e.g. 01-222 1234 was a number in Westminster, and 01-946 1234 was in Wimbledon. However, more than one sub-code was usually overlaid for each area such that all Wimbledon numbers did not necessarily begin 01-946.
Between 1922 and 1966 the three digit sub-codes each corresponded to one area and were represented by letters by way of a mnemonic. The first exchange to become part of the London Director telephone system was Holborn. The numbers were written as ABBey 1234 and WIMbledon 1234. The system of mnemonics was withdrawn with the transition to all-figure dialling.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Parliamentary Debates, House of Lords, 28 March 2006.
