The 0161 area code is a geographic area code that covers Manchester and the surrounding areas.
The 0161 area code covers a large and diverse region, including the city of Manchester itself, as well as surrounding towns and districts. These include Altrincham, Ashton-under-Lyne, Bramhall, Bury, Chadderton, Cheadle, Cheadle Hulme, Denton, Droylsden, Dukinfield, Eccles, Failsworth, Gatley, Hale, Hazel Grove, Hyde, Irlam, Lees, Marple, Middleton, Oldham, Radcliffe, Romiley, Sale, Salford, Stockport, Stretford, Swinton, Trafford, Urmston, Walkden, Whitefield, and Worsley.
Calls from 0161 Numbers
It is very likely that any call you get from a 0161 number will have come from a person or company in the Manchester area.
It’s crucial to keep in mind, though, that businesses can now purchase virtual 0161 numbers.
This means that they are not necessarily based in Manchester or even the UK, but have acquired a local number to give the impression that they are local to the area. Some businesses may do this as a way to gain trust with locals.
Dialling Manchester Phone Numbers from Overseas
To dial a phone number in Manchester from overseas:
- Dial the international access code for the country you are calling from (typically 00, 011, or +)
- Dial the country code for the United Kingdom (44)
- Dial the area code for Manchester without the first zero (161)
- Dial the person’s or company’s number.
- Full example telephone number to dial: 00 44 161 000 0000
Dialling Manchester Phone Numbers from the UK
To dial a telephone number in Manchester from within the UK, use the area code 0161 plus the number. For instance, 0161 000 0000.
If calling a local phone number in Manchester from a landline that also has the area code 0161, the 0161 area code is not needed.
The 0161 telephone code is always used when calling a Manchester number from a mobile phone.

Current Time in Manchester
If you are located overseas and need to make a call to someone in the Manchester area, it is important to be aware that there may be a time difference between the time in your country and UK time.
To avoid the risk of calling at an inconvenient time, it is recommended that you check the current time in the UK before making your call.
The current time in Manchester and the UK is . The date is .
Map of Manchester
The map below shows the location of Manchester.

Other Greater Manchester Area Codes
While the 0161 area code is by far the most well-known in the county of Greater Manchester, there are also a number of other area codes that are used in the area.
They include:
We also offer a complete list of area codes for all towns and cities in the UK.