Maps: Online mapping tools

Choose from a range of base maps to view the geological make up of the UK.

A range of maps from the BGS including geophysical, geochemical, and hydrogeological ones.

Maps of the UK on which you can display various "layers" of data, such as bore holes, chalk, clay etc.

A collection of nearly 500,000 aerial photographs of the UK from the University of Cambridge created from airborne surveys started in 1947.

LiDAR mapping data from the UK Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)

Mapping data made available via the U.S. Geological Survey. Maps can not be downloaded or purchased, but you can search a variety of data sets for reference purposes.

Shows the current waves, wind and aurora, along with pollution data around the world. You can choose from a variety of "projections" of the earth.

The Electronic Property Information Mapping Service (e-PIMS™) is the central database of Government Central Civil Estate properties and land.
It records the precise location of property, along with information such as landlord details, lease data and usage.
Users are able to find properties on an electronic map, amend their own property details, and use the system to search for vacant space.

The Environment Agency and lead local flood authorities use these maps to prepare their flood risk management plans from 2021 to 2027.

A search engine to help you fine a spatial dataset you need for your GIS project. Includes web sites using the Open GeoSpatial (OGC) standards - Web Map Server (WMS), Web Feature Service (WFS), Web Coverage Service (WCS), and Web Map Tile Service (WMTS) to serve data.

A view of the land as seen from space satellites - Useful for seeing natural verse man made furniture such as rivers and lakes near population centres.

HM Land registry website. Find out who owns a property or land, or take a look at their catalogue of datasets you can use.

Maps created using Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology. Allow you to find archaeological features on the Earth's surface which may not be visible via traditional mapping techniques.

NLS maps from their various collections, including historical maps going back in some cases to the 17th Century.

The initial version of NUAR went live in April 2023 and covers North East England, Wales and London. It includes data from all of the major energy and water companies in these areas, as well as numerous smaller and public sector organisations.

Free maps you can download from the Ordnance Survey.

A list of online resources offering satellite imagery, from colour imagery through to weather mapping and land monitoring.

An interactive map showing the "main" rivers in the UK. Published by the Environment Agency

A large collection of historical mapping data is available via the British Library reading rooms.

Buy paper maps for specific areas from the Main Mapping authority for the UK, or ask for a custom map to be made.

Interactive maps for directions and locating businesses and points of interest. Includes various "layers" such as traffic, and satellite imagery. Check out the street view to to see actual photographs of areas from a street POV too!

Online route finder from the Michelin company

A route planner from the roadside recovery service, The AA.

A free tool which will measure the distance in a straight line between two points on the globe.

Enter a NGR and get a UK postcode

Enter a UK postcode and get the National Grid reference number.

From to Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Offers statistics related to population, society and the labour market at national, regional and local levels. These include data from current and previous censuses. Search by geographical Local/County Council areas to see the data.

Data published by the UK central government, local authorities and public bodies to help build products and services.

The UK Data Service is a comprehensive high-quality social and economic data resource funded by the ESRC. Contains a wide range of secondary data including large-scale government surveys, international macrodata, business microdata, qualitative studies and census data from 1971 to 2011.

Download the Ordnance Survey mapping app for your mobile device, and either subscribe, or purchase one-off OS digital maps and view them through the app.