Popular Local Phone Numbers: London

Regular readers might recall that we have been following the progress of the London 2012 Olympic Games with a keen interest, and with just a week to go now until the games we thought it would be fitting to use our regular to look at popular local phone numbers to talk about the host city: London.

London is the largest city in the UK, with a population of over 8 million – approximately one eighth of the UK population. Built around the River Thames, London has a history dating back over 2000 years to Roman times, and has witnessed the Black Death, the Peasants’ Revolt, the Great Fire of London and the Blitz to name but a few. Between 1831 and 1925 London had the largest population of any city in the world.

London is the world’s most visited city, with tourist attractions including the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, St Paul’s Cathedral, Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament. It is one of the world’s leading financial centres. It also boasts 40 West End theatres, 43 universities and the world’s oldest underground railway.

This is not the first time that London has hosted the Olympic Games – it previously did so in 1908 and 1948. The area code for London is 020 – often split into 0203, 0207 and 0208 numbers. Enjoy the games!

Keep Calm and Carry On!

We were all appalled to watch the riots this week, in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Salford, and in smaller pockets elsewhere. It has been heartbreaking to witness. At a time when the country is already on a knife edge financially, this is the last thing that businesses - particularly small businesses - need.

But safety has to come first. If rooting and rioting continues, and its not safe to be at your work place, then get a virtual phone number pointed at your home number or mobile phone, even if its only temporary - eg get virtual London 0208 numbers pointed to your mobile, so that you can still carry on operating, but safely.

Business has to continue. There are many small businesses which may not recover from this already, insurance premiums are going to go through the roof from the cost of the damage, the image and reputation of the UK abroad has been badly dented, all at a time when the Eurozone and the US are teetering on the verge. Just shutting up shop would not be wise right now, but hopefully this is one little tip that might help a bit.