OS Names API
The OS Names API is a geographic directory containing basic information about identifiable places. It provides a reliable way of supporting the discovery, identification and visualisation of a named place. You can use it for geocoding, routing and navigation, linking diverse information (such as statistics or descriptions) and more.
The OS Names API allows you to locate a feature using only its name, or to find the closest location to a given point. Places are divided into themes, but the name of the place is the key property used in queries.
Within OS Names API, place names aren’t unique. Extra location details are provided to help you refine your queries and accurately identify the named place you're interested in. These include the postcode, district, populated place, district/borough, county/unitary authority, European region and country. Places may also have more than one name, for example Cardiff (in English) and Caerdydd (in Welsh).
Comprehensive data
Take advantage of direct access to the OS Open Names data.
Nearest location search
Help users find the closest named location.
Link your own data
Link your own data to named locations with co-ordinates that are ready to map.
Free to use
Free for all to use for any purpose. The underlying data is sourced from OS Open Names which is available under the Open Government Licence attribution to inform decision making.
Improve search accuracy
Using a comprehensive data source to ensure correct named location identification.
Enhanced user experience
Enable faster and more reliable named location searches.
Format: GeoJSON, XML
Data Source: OS Open Names
Coverage: Great Britain
Update: Five working days from each product refresh date
Things to remember for OS Names API
You can:
Search for areas, cities and roads
Search for postcodes
Search for named woodlands and forests
You can't:
Search for specific addresses (for example, 21 Croxton Road)
Bulk-search for addresses
What's next?
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