Communication between England and the United States is always high volume, which is not surprising given our common roots and close economic ties. Making an international call to England is simple once you know the proper calling codes and how English phone numbers are organized. For the purposes of making international calls, England includes all of the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland). However, Ireland is not under the same country code as the United Kingdom.
Instructions
1. Keep the time difference in mind. The time in England is five hours later than on the east coast of the United States, and eight hours later than U.S. Pacific time. Call at off-peak hours as much as possible to save money. Rates can be 50 to 70 percent lower than during business hours.
2. Compare the rates for making an international call to England. Your own telephone company will have a discount international calling plan if you make regular calls. It's worthwhile to do some shopping around. Some discount providers offer excellent rates (under 5 cents per minute) while others may charge you several times as much.
3. Make sure you understand how phone numbers in the UK are configured. Area codes in the UK vary from two to four digits, with shorter ones for the larger cites. For example, the area code for London is 20 and for York it is 1904. A local telephone number can vary from four to eight digits. Generally, the total digits for the area code and local number add up to 10 digits but not always. To dial a cellphone number, put a 7 in front of the area code.
4. Make an international call to England by starting with the exit code for the United States and Canada, which is 011. Next dial 44 (the country code for England). Follow this with a 7 if you are calling a cell phone and then the area code and local number. For example, to make an international call to London, dial 011 + 44+ 7 (for cellphones only) + 20 + (4-8 digit local number).
