Dialing the U.K.

“New Number for United Kingdom” (News, Tips & Bargains, May 7) may mislead some readers. Rather than an outright change in the country code [44, which is used to dial Britain from the U.S.], the U.K.’s city codes have been altered. In most cases this alteration takes the form of a “1” being inserted before the existing code, so your advice will generally lead to a successful connection. But nothing in Britain is ever so straightforward. Five major cities in England now have entirely new city codes [and have gone from six- to seven-digit local numbers]. So, after dialing 011-44-1, to call Bristol, one must dial the new city code of 117 plus the prefix 9 and the local number; Leeds, 113 plus 2; Leicester, 116 plus 2; Nottingham, 115 plus 9, and Sheffield, 114 plus 2.

DOUGLAS BARRANCOTTO, La Jolla