Hi, I have been trying to find out how much a 0208 number costs to call? I've Googled it, but the outcome was confusing. I've not heard of this code before, seems strange as its not an 01 before the number. The full number is 0208 2079094 its a direct number to an insurance team that someone gave me, to save going through the main switchboard. Thank you.

01, 02 and 03 numbers are all charged at the same rate. Also they  are included in calling plans.


0208 is the code for outer London
0207 is the code for inner London

jgxenite wrote on Jul 26^th, 2010 at 12:11pm:

Nope, it's a normal geographic number so will cost the same.

saffy wrote on Jul 26^th, 2010 at 12:18pm:



This must be the first time you have called anyone in London?

saffy wrote on Jul 26^th, 2010 at 12:01pm:

I see that this number isn't listed in our database. I hope that if it's an alternative to a 08 number, then you will let us know so it can be added. Do that by posting or the forum or sending me a personal message.

Also, the STD (area) code for London is 020 and not 0208. The digit 8 is part of the local number, and it is customary to put a space between code and local number, i.e. (020) 8207 9094. Brackets indicate that the code is unnecessary for those dialling from within the same area. They are frequently omitted, and it's not a great issue if they're not put in.

catj wrote on Sep 14^th, 2010 at 12:44am:


Indeed it went from :

01 to 071/081 to 0171/0181 to 020 7/8 ... quite a nightmare really, and not one of Ofcoms best attempts. Oh an don't forget the "new" 3 numbers, that is: 020 3

All to do with how many people in London needed a number.

CJT-80 wrote on Sep 14^th, 2010 at 10:07am:


Of course this was in fact down to Ofcom's equally useless parent, OFTEL, but you would think that they could have got it right the first time round by just going straight to eight figure London numbers and having left out all the nonsense with separate codes for inner and outer London.

To make matters worse they have then vastly compounded the error by doing nothing to properly educate the public that there is now only a single London code and no such thing as 0207 and 0208.