The inquiry for the 151 area code refers to a geographic telephone code found outside of the North American Numbering Plan (NANP).
The direct answer is that 151 is the local dialing code for Liverpool, England, United Kingdom. It is a crucial part of the UK’s national numbering scheme and is not a valid area code in the United States or Canada.
This article clarifies the status of the 151 area code within North American telephony, details its UK location, and provides instructions for calling Liverpool internationally.
Location of Area Code 151: Liverpool, England
The 151 code covers the city of Liverpool and the surrounding Metropolitan Borough of Merseyside, including areas like the Wirral, Birkenhead, and Bootle.
| Detail | Information |
| Area Code: | 151 (Often seen as 0151 in the UK) |
| Country: | United Kingdom (UK) |
| Region: | Liverpool, England (Merseyside) |
| International Country Code: | +44 (The UK’s country code) |
| Time Zone: | GMT/UTC (Greenwich Mean Time), observing Daylight Saving Time (BST). |
History and the UK Dialing Format
The 151 code has historical significance:
- Original Code: The region’s original code was 051 (with 0 being the domestic trunk code).
- PhONEday Renumbering: In 1995, the UK’s renumbering event, known as PhONEday, inserted a ‘1’ after the trunk code, changing the code to 0151 to increase the supply of available numbers.
Dialing Rules for the 151 Area Code
When calling Liverpool, the procedure changes significantly based on your starting location and whether you are calling a landline or a mobile phone.
- Calling Liverpool from the US or Canada
To call a Liverpool landline internationally, you must use the following format:
011+44+151+7-Digit Local Number
- 011: The U.S./Canada exit code (or use + on a mobile phone).
- 44: The UK Country Code.
- 151: The Liverpool area code (the initial domestic ‘0’ is dropped).
- 7-Digit Local Number: The remaining subscriber number (UK national numbers are 10 digits total, including the area code).
- Calling Liverpool Mobile Phones
To call a mobile phone in the UK, you dial followed by the mobile service code (which starts with ), and then the remaining digits.
011+44+7XX+XXX XXXX
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is 151 a valid area code in the US?
No. The North American Numbering Plan (NANP) does not allow geographic area codes to begin with the digit 1. The lowest assigned US/Canadian area code starts with 201. Therefore, (151) XXX-XXXX is an invalid number for North America.
What is the time difference when calling Liverpool?
The UK observes GMT/BST. When calling from the US, the time difference is:
- 5 hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Standard Time (EST).
- 8 hours ahead of U.S. Pacific Standard Time (PST).
If I get a call from (151) XXX-XXXX, should I answer it?
No. Since 151 is not a valid NANP area code, any incoming call displaying (151) on your Caller ID is likely spoofed (faked) by a scammer or is an error. Ignore the call and do not return it, as doing so may connect you to a high-cost international service.
Conclusion
The 151 area code is the confirmed local code for Liverpool, UK. If you intend to call this vibrant city, remember to use the international prefix +44 151 and be aware of the 5-hour time difference from the Eastern US. If you receive an unexpected call from 151, treat it as fraudulent and block the number immediately.
