0161 at a glance
- Type
- Geographic (landline area code)
- Region
- Greater Manchester
- Country
- United Kingdom (+44)
- Number format
- 0161 XXX XXXX (area code + 7-digit local number)
- From abroad
- +44 161
- Cost to call
- Charged as a standard UK landline call; usually included in landline and mobile call bundles.
0161 is the area code for Manchester and much of the surrounding Greater Manchester conurbation, including Salford, Stockport, Oldham, Trafford and Tameside. Bolton, Wigan and Rochdale have their own codes. 0161 replaced 061 on PhONEday in 1995, and local numbers have seven digits. Manchester is a major centre for media, finance, retail and the NHS, so 0161 calls come from councils, hospital trusts, GP surgeries, universities, call centres and businesses of every kind. Numbers can be ported and used over VoIP anywhere, and caller ID can be faked, so treat an unexpected 0161 call with normal caution.
Who called me from 0161?
The prefix tells you where the line was originally registered (Manchester), but not who is behind it. Numbers can be ported between networks and caller ID can be spoofed, so a familiar code is no guarantee. Search the full number to see its current carrier, line type and whether other people have reported it. Read our UK phone number guide for mobile prefixes, networks and the scams currently doing the rounds.