QGIS

Accessing OS Maps API via QGIS

QGIS is an open GIS (Geospatial Information System) desktop application that allows you to display, interrogate, visualise and create geospatial information including from geo-centric APIs (for example, a Service).

What you need

• OS Maps API added to an API project in the OS Data Hub with an API Key. See Getting started with an API project for more information.

• QGIS version 3.22.0 or later

Note: We used QGIS version 3.22.0 to create these instructions.

Instructions

1. Open a blank document in QGIS.

2. Navigate to Layer > Add Layer > Add WMS/WMTS Layer...

   
3. In the Data Source Manager | WMS/WMTS dialog, click New.

   
4. In the Create a New WMS/WMTS dialog, provide your new connection details and then click OK to save the information:

   • Name: Provide a name for the API. It is good practice to name your connections in a way that makes them recognisable for future use.

   • URL: Copy your OS Maps API WMTS endpoint address from the OS Data Hub and paste it into this field. Your API Key is automatically added to the URL in the key parameter.

   • Authentication: You can ignore these options. It is not necessary to enter your username and password to use the service as as all authentication is done through your Project key.

   • Other fields: Leave the rest of the fields as they are.

     

     QGIS Create a New WMS/WMTS dialog

     QGIS saves your connection details. You can reuse this connection with any of your geospatial projects.

5. In the Data Source Manager | WMS/WMTS dialog, select your new connection in the dropdown if necessary (named OS Data Hub WMTS 2 in our example) and then click Connect.

   

   When you connect, a list of available tilesets displays in the Tilesets tab.

6. Select your preferred tileset, click Add to add it and then Close to close the dialog.

   The OS Maps API data should now display in the map area.

   
7. Use the standard map controls to zoom into the area required.