// virtual numbers
UK virtual phone numbers
Get a real UK virtual phone number that forwards to the phones you already use — your mobile, office line or whole team. Choose a local, 07 mobile, 0800 or 03 number, set routing in minutes, and keep billing simple from £4.99/mo with no contract.
// the short answer
A UK virtual phone number is a real local, 07 mobile, 0800 or 03 number that is not tied to a SIM or physical landline. Customers call one professional number while LineHQ forwards the call to your mobile, landline or team. You can add routing, voicemail-to-email, recording and prepaid billing from £4.99/mo.
Last reviewed September 2026
Any UK number type
Local geographic (020, 0161, 0121…), 07 mobile, freephone 0800 and national 03 — buy online or port your existing line.
Forwards to mobile or team
Send calls to your mobile, landline or several people at once. Set ring order, ring time and opening-hours rules from the dashboard.
Recording & voicemail
Optional per-number call recording with a consent prompt, and voicemail delivered to your inbox as a secure link.
Prepaid, no contract
Packages from £4.99/mo with a calling credit — you only pay for the forwarding minutes you use. Cancel anytime.
// choose the right number
How should you choose a UK virtual phone number?
Start with how customers see the number, then decide where the call should ring. The number type creates the first impression; the forwarding rules make sure the right person answers.
Do you need a local area code?
Choose a local 01/02 number when customers expect a city or regional presence, such as 020 for London or 01482 for Hull.
Do callers need the call to be free?
Choose an 0800 number for adverts, sales lines and support routes where removing caller cost could make people more likely to ring.
Do you want one national number?
Choose an 03 number when you serve the UK rather than one city. Callers pay the same as a standard landline and usually use bundled minutes.
Who should answer first?
Route calls to one mobile, a landline, everyone at once or a team in order. Add voicemail-to-email so missed calls still become follow-ups.
Which UK virtual number type fits your business?
| Number type | Best fit | Caller cost | Where to go next |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local 01/02 | A business that wants a city or regional signal | Standard landline-rate call, usually bundled | Use the virtual landline or local business numbers page |
| 07 mobile | Trades, mobile teams and owner-led businesses | Standard mobile-rate call, usually bundled | Use the mobile virtual numbers page |
| 0800 freephone | Sales, adverts and support where calls should feel easy | Free for callers; business pays the received call cost | Use the 0800 numbers page |
| 0333 / 03 | UK-wide enquiries and support without a city tie | Standard landline-rate call, usually bundled | Use the 0333 numbers page |
Keep this page as the general UK virtual phone number route. Use the type pages when you need more detail on caller cost, business cost, porting or local trust.
Frequently asked questions
What is a UK virtual phone number?
A virtual number is a real UK phone number that isn’t tied to a SIM or a physical line. Calls to it are forwarded over the internet to whichever phone you choose, so you can run a professional business line from your existing mobile.
Can I keep my existing number?
Yes. You can port most UK landline and non-geographic numbers to LineHQ, or start with a brand-new number and port later. Porting is free and usually completes within a couple of weeks.
How quickly can I get a number?
You can search, reserve and activate a new number in minutes. Configure call forwarding, recording and voicemail straight away in the dashboard.
How much does a UK virtual phone number cost?
LineHQ packages start at £4.99 a month and include a UK virtual number plus voicemail allowance. On Pay As You Go, local/03 numbers include 300 voicemail minutes, while UK 07 mobile numbers include 50. You top up a calling credit and only pay for the forwarding minutes you actually use, billed to the penny. There’s no physical landline rental and no contract, so you can cancel anytime and scale up or down as your call volume changes.
Is a virtual phone number the same as VoIP?
Not exactly. A virtual phone number is the number customers call. VoIP is one way calls can be carried over the internet. With LineHQ, basic forwarding can ring the mobile or landline you already use, while app, SIP and desk-phone options are available when you want internet calling or Professional Calling.
Do I need an app to use a virtual number?
No app is required for basic call forwarding. A LineHQ virtual number can ring a phone you already own, so you answer like any normal call on your mobile or landline. The LineHQ Android app, SIP apps and compatible desk phones are optional when you want app ringing or outbound calling with Professional Calling.
Can several people answer the same virtual number?
Yes. A LineHQ number can ring your whole team rather than a single phone. You choose whether the phones ring one after another in a set order or all at once, and set how long each rings before the call moves on — so the right person picks up and nothing goes unanswered.
What’s the difference between local, 07 mobile, 0800 and 03 numbers?
A local number (like 020 or 0161) carries a city dialling code and suits a business serving a specific area. A 07 mobile number looks familiar for trades and mobile-first businesses. An 0800 freephone number is free for customers to call and looks well-established. An 03 national number is charged like a landline and included in callers’ bundles. You can run more than one type on the same account.
// related
Ready when you are
Set up a professional UK line in minutes. From £4.99/mo, no contract, cancel anytime.