... also gained a 1. There were exceptions like Leeds, Nottingham, Bristol and Reading - living near Reading I saw quite a few shopfronts and vans with "01734 xxxxxx" instead of "0118 9xxxxxx" ;-) Wasn't Reading the exception that did go to 01734 first and only later to 0118? Yes. I think that 01734 was considered adequate for Reading in 1995 (PhONEday), but demand for ...

...and only gained the leading 1 at the time of PhONEday when almost all other codes also gained a 1. There were exceptions like Leeds, Nottingham, Bristol and Reading - living near Reading I saw quite a few shopfronts and vans with "01734 xxxxxx" instead of "0118 9xxxxxx" ;-) Wasn't Reading the exception that did go to 01734 first and only later to 0118? -- Colin Rosenstiel

... all other codes also gained a 1. There were exceptions like Leeds, Nottingham, Bristol and Reading - living near Reading I saw quite a few shopfronts and vans with "01734 xxxxxx" instead of "0118 9xxxxxx" ;-) Well, maybe, but surely this is no problem now as London is once again one area code and a prestigious one at that, (020). At least no-one's perpetrated the howler that ...