Getting started
OS Open Names contains accurate and current settlement names, road names and numbers, postcodes and their locations with additional contextual information and links to other datasets.
Getting started guide (PDF)
Guidance for OS Open Names.
User guide (PDF)
OS Open Names is a geographic directory that contains basic information about identifiable places (Named Place).
OS Open Names release note (PDF)
Download the release notes for OS Open Names.
Getting started with GeoPackage (PDF)
This guide helps you to get started using GeoPackage - a lightweight format that can contain large amounts of complex data in a single, easy to distribute and ready to use file.
OS Open Names is designed for use in web service and mobile development. In addition to the data product, OS Open Names content is available through the OS Names API.
Technical specification (PDF)
The technical specification for OS Open Names
| Key Features | What this product offers |
|---|---|
| Themes | Place names; postcodes; road names and road numbers |
| Attributes | Unique IDs; alternative names – Welsh, Scots Gaelic; administrative areas; place names hierarchy; bounding boxes for roads and settlements; geo-referenced to the National Grid; links to DBPedia and Geonames. |
| Formats | CSV, GeoPackage, GML and API |
| Supply | Online download and API |
| Update frequency | Quarterly – January, April, July and October |
| Coverage | Great Britain |
FAQs
