// virtual receptionist
Virtual receptionist, UK
Greet callers with a branded message, then route them through a simple press-1 call menu. LineHQ's virtual receptionist is an auto-attendant for small businesses that want cleaner call routing; it is not a staffed answering service.
// the short answer
A virtual receptionist answers your LineHQ number with a greeting and routes callers through a simple press-1 menu. It can send sales, support or accounts calls to different phones or teams, then fall back to voicemail. It is automated, not a human call centre, and is included from LineHQ receptionist-tier plans.
Last reviewed July 2026
Professional greeting
Every call is answered with a branded welcome message, so even a one-person business sounds like a full team.
Press-1 menus
Build department menus — Sales, Support, Accounts — and route each choice to the right phone or ring group.
Locally-voiced prompts
Generate natural spoken menus on-platform, or record your own — kept perfectly in step with your departments.
Routing that fits your hours
Combine the receptionist with time-of-day rules and voicemail so out-of-hours callers are always handled.
Frequently asked questions
What does a virtual receptionist do?
It automatically answers your incoming calls with a greeting and an interactive menu, then forwards each caller to the right person or department based on the option they choose — no human operator needed.
Can I record my own greeting?
Yes. You can upload your own prompts, choose a platform voice, or have the greeting generated for you — and it stays in sync as you add or rename departments.
Is this a real person answering my calls?
No — it’s an automated auto-attendant (IVR). It handles greeting and routing instantly and consistently, so your team only picks up the calls meant for them.
Which plan includes the virtual receptionist?
The virtual receptionist and its press-1 menu are included from LineHQ’s £19.99 package upward, alongside call forwarding, recording and voicemail-to-email. Lower packages still give you a UK number with forwarding and voicemail; stepping up to the receptionist tier adds the automated greeting and department routing whenever your call volume justifies it.
Can the receptionist route calls to different departments?
Yes. You build a simple menu — for example “press 1 for Sales, 2 for Support, 3 for Accounts” — and point each option at a different phone or ring group. Callers reach the right person automatically, and you can change the options or their destinations at any time from the dashboard.
What happens if a caller doesn’t press anything?
You decide. If a caller stays on the line without choosing an option, LineHQ can send them to a default department, ring your main phone, or drop to voicemail-to-email — so no one is ever left stuck in the menu. The no-input action is set per receptionist in the dashboard.
Can the receptionist work only outside office hours?
Yes. You can combine the receptionist with time-of-day rules so that, for example, calls ring your mobile during opening hours and hit the automated menu or voicemail in the evenings and at weekends. Schedules can differ by day and wrap past midnight, so out-of-hours callers are always handled professionally.
Ready when you are
Set up a professional UK line in minutes. From £4.99/mo, no contract, cancel anytime.