Telephones
There are several telephone companies in the UK; BT is one
of the largest, and operates public telephones. You will find
instructions for their use printed inside telephone boxes.
Most payphones will accept all British ‘silver’ coins (10p, 20p,
50p, £1). Some telephones are operated by credit cards and ‘phonecards’ which
can be bought from Post Offices and newsagents.
International Direct Dialling
For international calls it is better to use card operated payphones; international calls are cheaper between the hours of 20.00 and 07.00 the following day, and at weekends. You can dial direct to over 180 countries from the UK. Dial: 00 + Country Code + Area Code.
The market for international phone calls is very competitive and you can access many different services using a landline or mobile phone. For the cheapest service to your home country, see ukstudentlife.com (link opens a new browser window).
Mobile phones (cellular phones) are very common in the UK. The names of companies selling or hiring out these phones can be found in the Yellow Pages, a telephone directory listing all kinds of suppliers. The International Office has a copy which you can look at. Remember that calls made to and from mobile phones can be expensive.
This information can also be found by downloading our Guide for Guide for new international students [PDF format].