029 area code
Cardiff
The 029 area code is for Cardiff and the surrounding area.
Locations using 029 numbers include:
- Bedwas
- Caerphilly
- Cardiff
- Cardiff Bay
- Culverhouse Cross
- Dinas Powys
- Llandaff
- Llanedeyrn
- Llanishen
- Llanrumney
- Penarth
- Pentyrch
- Radyr
- Roath
- Senghenydd
- Sully
- Taffs Well
- Whitchurch
Most 029 numbers are for normal Cardiff landlines but be aware that, as is the case for all UK area codes, such numbers may also be used for services without any physical link to the area. (More info)
029 area code information
| Area code: | 029 |
| Location: | Cardiff (Caerdydd) |
| Council area: | City and County of Cardiff |
| Local number length: | 8 digits |
| Number format: | 029 xxxx xxxx |
| International number format: | +44 29 xxxx xxxx |
| Last code change: | April 2000 (previously 01222) |
Formatting an 029 number
029 numbers should be displayed in the format 029 xxxx xxxx or (029) xxxx xxxx, with the first space always placed between '029' and the eight-digit local number.
For international callers, use: +44 29 xxxx xxxx.
Badly-written or misquoted numbers such as '02920 xxxxxx' are incorrect.
Area code history
The Cardiff area code changed from 0222 to 01222 during April 1995, as part of a nationwide renumbering. In 2000, phone numbers were lengthened from six to eight digits and the new 029 area code replaced the 01222 area code:
| 1995 | Code becomes 01222, with local numbers unchanged. |
| 2000 | Code becomes 029, with local numbers lengthened to 8 digits by prefixing with '20'. For example, (01222) 872087 became (029) 2087 2087. |
| 2005 | Local numbers beginning with 21 introduced. |
| 2010 | Local numbers beginning with 22 introduced. |
Any number between (029) 2000 0000 and (029) 9989 9999 is available for use in Cardiff – but only local numbers beginning with 20, 21 and 22 are in use so far as of 2017.
The 029 area code has ten times the capacity of the codes allocated to bigger cities such as Bristol (0117) or Birmingham (0121). This reflects the fact that when first introduced the 029 area code was planned to replace all other area codes in Wales at a later date. This would have led to a single area code for all of Wales, with all landlines able to dial each other using just the eight-digit local number, as is the case in Northern Ireland.