By Calling a French phone number from the UK
If you are in the United Kingdom and wish to contact someone in France, you have to follow a specific protocol, as with every time you want to contact France from abroad. If you're calling from the US, the dialling code is different — see our dedicated guide.
Dial sequence — UK to France
00
UK exit
33
France
X XX XX XX XX
French number — drop leading 0
Example: 01 23 45 67 89 → 00 33 1 23 45 67 89 · On mobile: +33 1 23 45 67 89
Type 00 into your phone - this is the UK exit code. From a mobile phone, you can simply type "+".
Next, add 33 - this is the code specific to France.
End by typing the last 9 digits of the French phone number you are contacting, skipping the first digit which will be a zero.
France is 1 hour ahead of the UK in both winter (CET, UTC+1 vs GMT) and summer (CEST, UTC+2 vs BST, UTC+1). The gap stays at +1 h year-round — keep this in mind when planning calls.
French phone number converter
Enter any French phone number to get the exact sequence to dial from the United Kingdom — for both landlines and cellphones. All formats accepted: 06 12 34 56 78, +33 1 23 45 67 89, 0033612345678, etc.
How to call France from UK for free?
Before calling, double check your mobile or landline plan. Some UK operators include free calls to France: either in a package or via unlimited EU minutes, while others bill by the minute. If you're unsure, log into your account or ask your operator.
If you want to call for free regardless of your plan, consider internet-based solutions. Voice over IP apps such as WhatsApp, FaceTime or Viber make it possible to call anyone in France at no cost, as long as you both use the app and are on WiFi or a data connection.
The quality of calls over the internet depends heavily on the stability and speed of your connection. Low bandwidth, network congestion or poor WiFi signal can cause delays, echo, or even dropped calls. And since both parties must have the same app installed, these free calls won't work for conventional landline or mobile numbers.
What are French dialing codes from UK?
The following guide will help you identify the French area code of the number you want to join, and recognise a French fixed line from a mobile phone line.
How to call a French landline from the UK?
In France, fixed phones numbers are made up of 10 numbers, oftentimes presented in 5 sets of 2 digits, such as 0X XX XX XX.
All fixed phone numbers will start with a zero, then the following digit is determined by the phone line's area code.
Below is a summary of the area codes in France, with the main cities found in each zone:
| Zone (Region or City) | Area Code |
|---|---|
| Paris / Île de France | 1 |
| Northwest France (Angers, Brest, Caen, Cherbourg, Le Havre, Lorient, Nantes, Orléans, Rennes, Rouen, Tours), the Réunion and Mayotte DOMs | 2 |
| Northeast France (Besançon, Boulogne, Calais, Dijon, Lille, Nancy, Metz, Strasbourg, Reims, Troyes) | 3 |
| Southeast France (Annecy, Cannes, Clermont-Ferrand, Grenoble, Lyon, Marseille, Monaco, Montpellier, Nice, Nîmes, Perpignan, Saint-Etienne, Toulon, Valence) and Corsica | 4 |
| Southwest France (Albi, Bayonne, Biarritz, Bordeaux, La Rochelle, Limoges, Lourdes, Poitiers, Rodez, Toulouse) and the Martinique, Guadeloupe, Saint-Barthélemy, Saint-Martin, French Guiana and Saint Pierre et Miquelon DOMs | 5 |
So, for instance, to contact the French fixed number 01 12 34 56 78 from the UK, you have to dial 00 331 12 34 56 78 or +331 12 34 56 78.
You can also keep your phone number if you move from one region to another, thanks to number portability available throughout France.
Calling French mobile phones from the UK
Just like fixed phone numbers, all mobile telephone numbers are presented in the 0X XX XX XX model. They are easy to identify as the first digit is a zero, and the second digit is a 6 or a 7.
So, for instance, to contact the French mobile number 07 12 34 56 78 from the UK, you have to dial 00 337 12 34 56 78 or +337 12 34 56 78.
If so, it's worth signing up for a postpaid mobile phone plan. In the long run, these are cheaper than pay-as-you-go and offer better calling time/data allowances. Call our English-speaking customer service line at 09 77 55 72 27 (Monday to Friday, from 8 am to 9 pm, Saturdays from 8.30 am to 6.30 pm and Sundays from 9 am to 6 pm), or ask for a free callback to help you find a plan that meets your needs.
The French codes for other types of phone numbers
Aside from the typical fixed and mobile lines, you will also find other types of numbers, which can be identified by the second digit once again.
Here are the main ones:
- →Numbers starting with 08 are special service numbers. They can be free (0800 to 0805), standard rate (0806 to 0809), or premium rate (0810 to 0899).
- →Numbers starting with 09 are non-geographic VoIP numbers, charged at the same rate as a landline call.
- →Short numbers with 4 digits are used for various services and can be free or charged depending on the provider.
- →Numbers starting with 118 are directory enquiry services and are usually premium rate.
👉 French mobile operators' customer service numbers
If you need to contact a French operator from abroad, note that short numbers (like 1023 or 3244) only work in France. Use the international number instead (charged at international rates):
- →Orange: +33 9 69 39 39 00 ;
- →SFR: +33 9 70 83 10 23 ;
- →Free: +33 1 78 56 95 60 ;
- →Bouygues Telecom: +33 660 614 614.
To join a French utility service from the United Kingdom, such as energy or transport companies, check out this guide about how to call important French numbers from abroad. You can also follow the information in this other guide on how to contact emergency numbers in France.
How much will I pay to call France from the UK?
Since the UK left the EU's single market, most UK operators have reintroduced charges for using your phone in France. The Roam Like At Home rule no longer covers UK SIM cards automatically — whether you pay, and how much, depends entirely on your plan and provider.
Here is how the main UK operators currently handle France roaming:
| UK operator | France roaming policy |
|---|---|
| EE | Daily roaming add-on required on most plans (charged per day of use in Europe) |
| Vodafone | Roam Freely add-on — charged per day of use in Europe |
| O2 | Varies by plan — some include EU roaming, others charge per day; check My O2 |
| Three | Go Roam — France included at no extra cost on most Three plans |
| Sky Mobile | Roam Days — charged per day used in Europe |
| giffgaff | EU Roaming bolt-on required; free roaming not included by default |
To keep costs under control when calling France from the UK, you have several options:
- →You can get hold of a pay-as-you-go phone, thanks to which you can stay in control of how much you pay for your communications.
- →Getting a French telephone number is also a good solution to call and text in France for relatively cheap, plus most of the providers have deals that specifically give you preferential rates to use your allowance abroad.
- →International SIM cards, such as Flexiroam can allow you a certain amount of calling time and/or data while in France at very competitive rates.
- →WiFi calling via apps like WhatsApp, FaceTime or Viber — free from either side of the Channel, as long as both parties have the app installed.
Dial 00 44 (or +44 on mobile) then the UK number without its leading zero. Example: to reach 012-3456-7890 from France, dial 0044-12-3456-7890 or +44-12-3456-7890.
What are the best international mobile phone plans?
Find below the best international mobile plans, currently available in France. Signing up for an international phone plan is the cheapest way to call France from UK and surf the internet from abroad, if you often travel between the two countries. For regular travellers outside Europe, the Bouygues, SFR and Free plans are interesting because they offer mobile data in many non-European countries, such as the USA, Canada, Japan, etc.
Call France from UK: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I call a French number from the UK? Read more Close
To call France from the UK, dial 00 (or + on mobile) then 33 (the country code for France), followed by the French number without the initial zero.
How to call France for free? Read more Close
You can call France for free using internet-based apps like WhatsApp, FaceTime, or Viber, as long as both parties are connected to WiFi or mobile data.
Can I call a French number from UK O2? Read more Close
Yes, UK O2 allows calls to French numbers, but international rates may apply depending on your plan.
Are French toll-free or premium numbers reachable from the UK? Read more Close
French toll-free numbers (0800–0805) may be charged from the UK, and premium numbers (0810–0899, 118) are often not accessible or can be expensive.
What about VoIP numbers in France? Read more Close
French VoIP numbers starting with 09 can be called from the UK and are usually billed at standard local rates.
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