London Phones Have New Area Codes

A reorganization of the British telephone systems means, among other things, that city codes for London are changing. Under the old system, callers dialed 171 or 181 for London numbers. You can use either the old or new codes now, but beginning April 22, 2000, you must use the new codes. The codes will change to 20, followed by eight-digit local numbers beginning with either 7 or 8, depending on whether the old code contained a 7 or 8.

For example, a number that was, (171) 555-5555 under the old system becomes (20) 7555-5555 under the new system.

(If you’re dialing from Europe, you must add a 0 in front of the 2, but still include the 7 or 8.)

The reason for the change? “It’s the same reason we do it here: the demand with cell phones, faxes and computers,” said Robin Prestage, senior press relations executive with the British Tourist Authority in New York.

For more information, visit the Web site https://www.numberchange.org.