phones Country calling codes · EN / 中文
🇬🇧

United Kingdom +44

International code · Europe

How to dial

Calling from abroad +44 7700 900123

Dial +44, then the local number. Drop the leading trunk prefix 0. E.g. the landline 020 7946 0123 is dialled from abroad as +44 20 7946 0123. Generate the full number →

Calling a mobile locally 07700 900123

For domestic long distance dial 0 first, then the area code. Local calls: dial directly. Mobiles are dialled with the leading 0 as well.

Mobile length
10 digits
Mobile prefixes
7XXX XXXXXX
Landline format
0XXXX XXXXXXe.g. 020 7946 0123
International format
+44 XXXX XXXXXX
Domestic trunk
0

Sign-up availability

What to expect when signing up for these services with a physical SIM from this country:

ChatGPT Works
Claude Works
WhatsApp Works
Telegram Works
LINE Works
WeChat Works
X Works
TikTok Works
Gemini Works

Applies to every platform: VoIP / virtual numbers and heavily-reused number pools get rejected. Physical SIM only.

Checked 2026-09-12. Platform region policies and number-range allocations change — always confirm against each platform’s official supported-regions list and the carrier’s notices.
2 sources
help.openai.com/articles/7947663support.google.com/gemini?p=gemini_web_availability

How to read a number

+447700900123

+44Country code
United Kingdom.
7Mobile indicator
Written 07 domestically — the 0 is the trunk prefix. Real mobiles are 071–075 and 077–079; 070 is personal (forwarding) numbering and 076 is paging, neither is a mobile.
700900123Remaining 9 digits
The leading digits are the block Ofcom allocated to a carrier; with portability you can’t tell the current carrier.

Domestic format: 07700 900123. 07700 900000–900999 in the example is reserved by Ofcom for fiction. Landlines starting 01 and 02 are geographic, e.g. London is 020.

This section checked 2026-09-13.
3 sources
www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/phone-numbers/numbers-for-dramawww.ofcom.org.uk/phones-telecoms-and-internet/information-for-industry/numbering/070-guidanceonsim.uk/uk-dialling-codes

Number ranges & quality

RangeTypeNotes
Starts with 07 (071xx / 074xx / 075xx / 077xx / 078xx / 079xx) Mobile carrier UK mobile ranges.
0700 Other Personal numbers (forwarding), not mobile — sign-ups get rejected.
0300 / 0800 / 0845 Other Non-geographic numbers, not mobile.
Intl SMSStable
Virtual-number riskLow
ID requiredPrepaid ID requirements are relaxed.

Physical SIMs starting with 07 are fine for everything. 0700 is a forwarding number and will be rejected by platforms when used to sign up.

Carriers & prefixes

Mobile prefixes by carrier.

Number portability applies — a prefix only shows the original carrier.

  • EE Mobile carrier

    Owned by BT.

  • Virgin Media O2 Mobile carrier

    Notable brands: O2, giffgaff

    Tesco Mobile and Sky Mobile also run on its network.

  • VodafoneThree Mobile carrier

    Notable brands: Vodafone, Three, VOXI, SMARTY

    Merged in May 2025; iD Mobile and Lebara also run on its network.

This section checked 2026-09-13.
2 sources
www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2025/06/vodafone-and-three-uk-officially-complete-16bn-mega-mobile-merger.htmlmobileecosystemforum.com/2025/07/29/drama-and-dynamics-the-state-of-the-uks-mvno-market

SIM cards & keeping a number

The UK is one of the most popular “keep a number” countries among Chinese-speaking users, mainly thanks to giffgaff: the SIM is free, a £10 top-up activates it, and one chargeable action every 6 months keeps the number alive. Receiving SMS while roaming in China is free. It runs on O2, so it is a genuine carrier number that overseas platforms readily accept. But in July 2026 it cut off a batch of numbers used long-term outside the UK, so keeping one in China is now risky — see below.

Read more

In summer 2026 there was a scare: in late July giffgaff disconnected a batch of numbers used long-term outside the UK (mostly people keeping a number in China); in mid-August some were told they had been cut off in error, restored and given £10 credit. The rule wasn’t relaxed, though — the restoration email still says accounts need regular use within the UK. If you use it purely to keep a number abroad, be prepared for it to be cut off.

Note: from 2026 giffgaff no longer ships physical SIMs to mainland China — most people now use eSIM or have a card forwarded. If you forget the 6-month rule, the number is reclaimed and can’t be restored.

If you're switching UK SIMs, the main networks' terms differ a lot: on Three a top-up counts and we found no clause cutting off numbers for long use abroad; Lebara has the longest window (roughly one use every 15 months) but credit is lost after 90 days; EE's terms require a stable link to the UK, much like giffgaff's reason; Vodafone's pay as you go is for UK residents only.

giffgaff

Number-keeping SIM
Network
MVNO on O2 (Virgin Media O2)
Price
Free SIM; a £10 top-up is required to activate. eSIM available since October 2023
Keeping the number
At least one call, SMS, data session or top-up every 6 months. Warning emails go out a month and 5 days before; once deactivated the balance is lost and the SIM can’t be reactivated, though a PAC code can be requested within 30 days to port the number out. The cheapest way from China used to be one SMS every six months. But around 27 July 2026 giffgaff disconnected a batch of numbers used long-term abroad, saying its service is mainly for use in the UK and roaming is for short trips; on 29 July a giffgaff team member replied publicly that credit would not be refunded. Around 19 August some users were told they had been disconnected in error, restored and given £10 credit, but that email still says accounts need regular ongoing use within the UK to stay active, and not everyone was restored.
ID check
No ID required
SMS & calls
Incoming SMS free while roaming in China; outgoing SMS about £0.30 each

Reported sign-up results

TelegramWorksChatGPTWorksWhatsAppWorks

Pros

  • Free SIM, no monthly fee
  • A genuine carrier number on O2, widely accepted by platforms
  • Incoming SMS free while roaming in China

Watch out

  • Long-term use abroad got numbers cut off in July 2026, partly reversed in August; the terms still require regular UK use
  • No direct shipping to mainland China since 2026
  • Miss the 6-month rule and the number and balance are gone
  • Platform results come mainly from SIM sellers and Chinese guides; individual platforms may differ

Where to buy: giffgaff.com

6 sources
help.giffgaff.com/en/articles/242797-understanding-why-your-number-has-been-deactivatedcommunity.giffgaff.com/t5/Help-Support/SIM-deactivation-after-6-months-without-a-chargeable-event/td-p/96035buyhksim.com/guide-giffgaff.phpwww.giffgaff.im/guides/usagev2ex.com/t/1230901www.v2ex.com/t/1235529

Three Pay As You Go

Number-keeping SIM
Network
Three UK's own network (a network operator)
Price
SIM price and top-ups; see the website
Keeping the number
Three: the number stays active with at least one chargeable activity every 180 days — buying a top-up, Data Pack or Add-on counts, as do calls, texts and data on the Three network (not over Wi-Fi). Clause 10.2(b): with no top-up or chargeable use in the preceding 6 months the number can be disconnected and unused credit is forfeited. A disconnected number can't be restored.
ID check
The UK has no legal requirement to register prepaid SIMs, so no ID is needed to buy one
SMS & calls
We haven't confirmed whether receiving texts while roaming in China is charged; check the price guide

Pros

  • A top-up counts, so one online top-up from abroad keeps it
  • No clause found that cuts off the number for long use abroad, unlike giffgaff
  • A network operator's own number

Watch out

  • Clause 6.16(c): roaming exclusively in Go Roam destinations for two complete months can get international roaming suspended (the number itself stays)
  • A disconnected number can't be restored

Where to buy: three.co.uk

3 sources
www.three.co.uk/paygsimwww.three.co.uk/content/dam/live-asset/web/PDF/paym-and-payg/new_pay_as_you_go_terms_and_conditions_-_for_customers_who_joined_on_or_after_19_april_2026.pdfwww.gsma.com/solutions-and-impact/connectivity-for-good/public-policy/mobile-policy-handbook/consumer-protection/mandatory-registration-of-prepaid-sims

Lebara UK Pay As You Go

Number-keeping SIM
Network
A mobile virtual network operator (host network not confirmed here)
Price
SIM price and top-ups; see the website
Keeping the number
Lebara UK terms 13.5: no Chargeable Activity for 90 consecutive days and remaining credit is lost; 13.6: none for a further 365 consecutive days and the agreement is treated as ended, the service disconnected and the SIM no longer usable. A Chargeable Activity is defined as a call, text or data use, so a top-up alone doesn't count — roughly one real use every 15 months.
ID check
The UK has no legal requirement to register prepaid SIMs, so no ID is needed to buy one
SMS & calls
The terms say texts sent and received abroad are charged extra, outside the standard rates

Pros

  • The longest disconnection window of the UK options, roughly one use every 15 months
  • No ID needed

Watch out

  • Credit is lost after 90 days without use
  • A top-up alone doesn't count — it has to be a call, text or data
  • Receiving texts abroad costs money

Where to buy: lebara.co.uk

2 sources
www.lebara.co.uk/en/terms-and-conditions.htmlwww.gsma.com/solutions-and-impact/connectivity-for-good/public-policy/mobile-policy-handbook/consumer-protection/mandatory-registration-of-prepaid-sims

EE Pay As You Go

Number-keeping SIM
Network
EE's own network (a network operator)
Price
SIM price and top-ups; see the website
Keeping the number
EE: with no call, text or top-up for 180 days the account goes into hibernation and credit is removed; contact EE within the next 90 days to restore the number and credit; after 270 days with no contact the number is disconnected and recycled. These actions count whether done in the UK or abroad.
ID check
The UK has no legal requirement to register prepaid SIMs, so no ID is needed to buy one
SMS & calls
We haven't confirmed whether receiving texts while roaming in China is charged; check the price guide

Pros

  • A 90-day window to recover the number after hibernation
  • Calls, texts and top-ups made abroad all count

Watch out

  • The August 2026 terms say the service is for customers with a stable link to the UK (60+ days in the UK in any 120), not for permanent roaming; exceeding it in the EU can lead to charges or a blocked SIM — much like giffgaff's reason for disconnecting
  • Credit is removed on hibernation

Where to buy: ee.co.uk

3 sources
ee.co.uk/help/mobile/manage-use/pay-as-you-go/pay-as-you-go-credit-run-out-when-i-havent-made-callsee.co.uk/content/dam/help/terms-and-conditions/mobile/pay-as-you-go/packs/ee-pay-as-you-go-plan-terms-24-august-2026.pdfwww.gsma.com/solutions-and-impact/connectivity-for-good/public-policy/mobile-policy-handbook/consumer-protection/mandatory-registration-of-prepaid-sims

Vodafone UK Pay as you go 1

Number-keeping SIM
Network
Vodafone UK's own network (a network operator)
Price
By plan; see the website
Keeping the number
Pay as you go 1 terms (December 2024), section 17: with no use of the service for 180 consecutive days (buying a plan, or an outbound chargeable call, text or data) the service can be disconnected and credit and allowances are lost; a reminder text goes out after 90 days and again 45 days before disconnection. Vodafone's help page: a disconnected number can't be reactivated.
ID check
Terms section 1: the agreement only covers consumers who are UK residents with a UK billing address
SMS & calls
The terms list receiving standard international texts in roaming destinations as part of the plan

Pros

  • A network operator's own number
  • Two reminder texts before disconnection

Watch out

  • The terms only cover UK residents with a UK billing address, so it doesn't suit keeping a number from abroad
  • Receiving calls doesn't count as use

Where to buy: vodafone.co.uk

2 sources
www.vodafone.co.uk/help/plans/how-do-i-reactivate-my-pay-as-you-go-numberbinaries.vodafone.co.uk/gbnnsauqav4t/5HKZLvqT3mE03oVFkOvFvW/f8212808699917d90290259b9350aa63/payg-airtime-payg1-dec-2024.pdf

From user and blogger reports; platform risk rules change often — treat as a guide only. This section checked 2026-10-25.

Community tips

  • 英国预付费 SIM（Giffgaff、EE 等）基本不查身份，便利店就能买，收验证码很稳。

    个人实测 · 2026-09

  • Giffgaff 免费收短信，注册各类海外账号都好用，门槛也低。

    reddit · 2026-09

Reader-reported, for reference only; not a registration guarantee. Official platform rules apply. Tips are shown in the original language as submitted.

Have experience to share? Submit →

Other countries

Elsewhere in Europe