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  • OS Download Products' Documentation
  • Addressing and Location
    • Addressing and Location Portfolio Information
    • AddressBase Fundamentals
      • Release Notes
        • AddressBase Products May 2025 – Epoch 118
        • AddressBase Islands May 2025 – Epoch 118
        • AddressBase Products March 2025 – Epoch 117
        • AddressBase Islands March 2025 – Epoch 117
        • AddressBase Products February 2025 – Epoch 116
        • AddressBase Islands February 2025 – Epoch 116
        • AddressBase Products December 2024 – Epoch 115
        • AddressBase Islands December 2024 – Epoch 115
        • AddressBase Products November 2024 – Epoch 114
        • AddressBase Islands November 2024 – Epoch 114
        • AddressBase Products September 2024 – Epoch 113
        • AddressBase Islands September 2024 – Epoch 113
        • AddressBase Products August 2024 – Epoch 112
        • AddressBase Islands August 2024 – Epoch 112
        • AddressBase Products June 2024 – Epoch 111
        • AddressBase Islands June 2024 – Epoch 111
        • AddressBase Products May 2024 – Epoch 110
        • AddressBase Islands May 2024 – Epoch 110
        • AddressBase Products April 2024 – Epoch 109
        • AddressBase Islands April 2024 – Epoch 109
      • AddressBase product family
      • Future and past publication dates
      • Unique Property Reference Number (UPRN)
      • Coordinate reference systems
      • Classification scheme
      • Data sources
      • Street names and numbering
      • Currency, completeness and precision
      • Product supply
      • Code lists and enumerations
        • AddressbasePostalCode
        • BLPUStateCode
        • ChangeTypeCode
        • CountryCode
        • Date
        • FileTypeCode
        • LanguageCode
        • LogicalStatusCode
        • OfficialFlagCode
        • PostcodeTypeCode
        • RPCCode
        • StateCode
        • StreetClassificationCode
        • StreetRecordTypeCode
        • StreetStateCode
        • StreetSurfaceCode
        • Time
        • USRNMatchIndicatorCode
      • AddressBase local custodian codes
      • AddressBase Islands local custodian codes
    • AddressBase
      • Release Notes
      • AddressBase Getting Started Guide
        • Prerequisites
        • Data supply
        • Working with CSV data
        • Working with GML data
        • Working with COU data
        • Creating a single-line or multi-line address
        • Searching for addresses
      • AddressBase Technical Specification
        • Data formats
        • Supply and update
        • AddressBase structure
        • Feature types
          • Address
          • AddressBase Supply Set
        • Code list and enumerations
        • CSV to GML mapping
        • Example records
          • CSV
          • GML
      • AddressBase Downloads
      • AddressBase Known Data Issues
    • AddressBase Core
      • Release Notes
        • 20 May 2025
        • 13 May 2025
        • 07 May 2025
        • 29 April 2025
        • 23 April 2025
        • 15 April 2025
        • 08 April 2025
        • 01 April 2025
        • 25 March 2025
        • 18 March 2025
      • AddressBase Core Overview
        • Data capture and sources
        • GeoPlace
        • Unique Property Reference Number (UPRN)
        • Coordinate reference systems
        • Classification
        • Currency, completeness and precision
        • Product supply
      • AddressBase Core Getting Started Guide
        • Downloading a dataset
        • Working with CSV data
        • Working with GPKG data
        • Working with COU data
        • Working with tiled data
      • AddressBase Core Technical Specification
        • Data formats
        • Supply and update
        • Attributes
        • Enumerations
        • Example records
      • AddressBase Core Downloads
      • AddressBase Core Known Data Issues
    • AddressBase Plus
      • Release Notes
      • AddressBase Plus Getting Started Guide
      • AddressBase Plus Technical Specification
        • Data formats
        • Supply and update
        • AddressBase Plus structure
        • Feature types
          • Address
          • AddressBase Supply Set
        • Code lists and enumerations
        • CSV to GML mapping
        • Example records
          • CSV
          • GML
      • AddressBase Plus Downloads
      • AddressBase Plus Known Data Issues
    • AddressBase Plus Islands
      • Release Notes
      • AddressBase Plus Islands Getting Started Guide
      • AddressBase Plus Islands Technical Specification
        • Data formats
        • Supply and update
        • AddressBase Plus Islands structure
        • Feature types
          • Address
          • AddressBase Supply Set
        • Code lists and enumerations
        • CSV to GML mapping
        • Example records
          • CSV
          • GML
      • AddressBase Plus Islands Downloads
      • AddressBase Plus Islands Known Data Issues
    • AddressBase Premium
      • Release Notes
      • AddressBase Premium Getting Started Guide
        • Prerequisites
        • Data supply
        • Working with CSV data
        • Working with GPKG data
        • Working with GML data
        • Working with COU data
        • Creating a single-line or multi-line address
        • Searching for addresses
      • AddressBase Premium Technical Specification
        • Data formats
        • Supply and update
        • AddressBase Premium structure
        • Feature types
          • Street – (Type 11 Record)
          • BLPU – (Type 21 Record)
          • AddressBase supply set
          • Feature with lifecycle
        • Structured data types
          • Street Descriptor – (Type 15 Record)
          • Application Cross Reference – (Type 23 Record)
          • LPI – (Type 24 Record)
          • Delivery Point Address – (Type 28 Record)
          • Successor Cross Reference – (Type 30 Record)
          • Organisation – (Type 31 Record)
          • Classification – (Type 32 Record)
          • Entity with lifecycle
        • Dataset metadata
          • Metadata – (Type 29 Record)
          • Header – (Type 10 Record)
          • Trailer – (Type 99 record)
        • Code lists and enumerations
        • Attribute format comparison
        • Example records
          • CSV
          • GML
      • AddressBase Premium Downloads
      • AddressBase Premium Known Data Issues
    • AddressBase Premium Islands
      • Release Notes
      • AddressBase Premium Islands Getting Started Guide
      • AddressBase Premium Islands Technical Specification
        • Release Notes
          • June 2024
        • Data formats
        • Supply and update
        • AddressBase Premium Islands structure
        • Feature types
          • Street – (Type 11 Record)
          • BLPU – (Type 21 Record)
          • AddressBase supply set
          • Feature with lifecycle
        • Structured data types
          • Street Descriptor – (Type 15 Record)
          • Application Cross Reference – (Type 23 Record)
          • LPI – (Type 24 Record)
          • Delivery Point Address – (Type 28 Record)
          • Successor Cross Reference – (Type 30 Record)
          • Organisation – (Type 31 Record)
          • Classification – (Type 32 Record)
          • Entity with lifecycle
        • Dataset metadata
          • Header – (Type 10 Record)
          • Metadata – (Type 29 Record)
          • Trailer – (Type 99 record)
        • Code lists and enumerations
        • Attribute format comparison
        • Example records
          • CSV
          • GML
      • AddressBase Premium Islands Downloads
      • AddressBase Premium Islands Known Data Issues
    • Boundary-Line
      • Release Notes
        • May 2025
        • October 2024
        • June 2024
      • Boundary-Line Overview
        • Data overview
        • Product supply
      • Boundary-Line Product Information
        • Relationships of administrative areas
        • Structure of Boundary-Line
        • Boundary-Line principles and features
        • Case studies
        • Metadata
        • Glossary
        • Exception areas
        • The coastline and associated items
      • Boundary-Line Technical Specification
        • Shapefile, TAB and GKPG
          • Features - Shapefile, TAB and GPKG
            • Area - GB
            • Area - English region
            • Area - Wales region
            • Link feature type
            • Area - Polling districts England
            • Historical and ceremonial boundaries features
          • Layers - Shapefile, TAB and GKPG
            • Shapefile
            • TAB
            • GKPG
          • Code lists - Shapefile, TAB and GKPG
            • AreaCode
            • TypeCode
        • GML
          • Features - GML
            • AdministrativeUnit
          • Code lists - GML
            • AdministrativeHierarchyValue
            • NationalClassificationValue
          • Example record - GML
        • Vector tiles
      • Guide to Ceremonial County Boundaries
      • Additional Product Details
      • Boundary-Line Downloads
      • Boundary-Line Known Data Issues
    • Code-Point
      • Code-Point Overview
        • Product details
        • Product supply
      • Code-Point Products Comparison
      • Code-Point Getting Started Guide
        • Product supply
        • Data structure
        • CSV file processing
        • Data measures
        • Metadata
        • Glossary
      • Code-Point Technical Specification
        • Product structure
        • Supply formats
      • Code-Point Downloads
      • Code-Point Known Data Issues
    • Code-Point Open
      • Code-Point Open Overview
        • Product details
        • Product supply
      • Code-Point Open Products Comparison
      • Code-Point Open Getting Started Guide
        • Requirements for using the data
        • CSV file processing
        • Data measures
        • Loading the data into a GIS
        • Glossary
      • Code-Point Open Technical Specification
        • Product structure
        • Supply formats overview
      • Code-Point Open Downloads
      • Code-Point Open Known Data Issues
    • Code-Point with Polygons
      • Release Notes
        • January 2025
      • Code-Point with Polygons Overview
        • Product details
        • Product supply
      • Code-Point with Polygons Products Comparison
      • Code-Point with Polygons Getting Started Guide
        • Using the vertical street lookup
        • Creating single-space postcodes
        • Data measures
      • Code-Point with Polygons Technical Specification
        • Data supply
        • Specification
      • Code-Point with Polygons Downloads
      • Code-Point with Polygons Known Data Issues
    • 🆕OS Emergency Services Gazetteer
      • 🆕OS ESG Overview
        • 🆕Product supply
        • 🆕Planned enhancements
      • OS ESG Getting Started Guide
      • OS ESG Technical Specification
        • Feature type
          • BLPU (Type 21 Record)
        • Structured data types
          • LPI (Type 24 Record)
          • Classification (Type 32 Record)
        • 🆕Code lists
          • AddressbasePostalCode
          • BLPUStateCode
          • ChangeTypeCode
          • 🆕ClassificationCode
          • CountryCode
          • FileTypeCode
          • LanguageCode
          • LogicalStatusCode
          • OfficialFlagCode
          • RPCCode
          • USRNMatchIndicatorCode
        • Dataset metadata
          • Header (Type 10 Record)
          • Metadata (Type 29 Record)
          • Trailer (Type 99 Record)
      • 🆕OS ESG FAQs
      • 🆕OS ESG Downloads
      • OS ESG Known Data Issues
    • OS Open Built Up Areas
      • Release notes
        • April 2024
      • OS Open Built Up Areas Overview
        • Product details
        • Product supply
      • OS Open Built Up Areas Technical Specification
        • Feature types
          • Built Up Areas
          • Built Up Extents
          • Non Built Up Extents
        • Structured data types
          • MultiSurfaceWithAreaType
          • NameType
        • Code list
          • LanguageValue
        • Supply formats
      • OS Open Built Up Areas Known Data Issues
    • OS Open Names
      • Release Notes
        • April 2025
        • January 2025
        • October 2024
        • July 2024
      • OS Open Names Overview
        • Product applications
        • Product details
        • Product supply
      • OS Open Names Getting Started Guide
        • Obtaining OS Open Names data
        • CSV file processing
        • Loading the data in a GIS
      • OS Open Names Technical Specification
        • Source of OS Open Names
        • Viewing resolution
        • Product structure
        • Feature type
          • NamedPlace
        • Code lists
          • LanguageValue
          • NamedPlaceTypeValue
          • LocalTypeValue
        • Structured data types
          • GeographicalName
          • Identifier
        • Local Type
        • Supply formats overview
        • Attribute naming format comparison
        • LocalType code list
      • OS Open Names Downloads
      • OS Open Names Known Data Issues
    • Points of Interest
      • Release Notes
        • March 2025
        • December 2024
        • September 2024
        • June 2024
      • Points of Interest Product Information
        • Using Points of Interest
        • Data measures and data sources
        • Classification scheme
        • Points of Interest Provenance
        • Glossary
        • Points of Interest symbology
      • Points of Interest Technical Specification
        • Using Points of Interest
        • Pipe delimited text (PDT) file format
          • Record structure
        • Code lists
          • Positional Accuracy
          • Match Indicator
        • Example records
        • Glossary
      • Points of Interest Classification Scheme
        • Accommodation, eating and drinking
        • Commercial services
        • Attractions
        • Sport and entertainment
        • Education and health
        • Public infrastructure
        • Manufacturing and production
        • Retail
        • Transport
      • Points of Interest Class Count
        • Accommodation, eating and drinking
        • Commercial services
        • Attractions
        • Sport and entertainment
        • Education and health
        • Public infrastructure
        • Manufacturing and production
        • Retail
        • Transport
      • Points of Interest Downloads
      • Points of Interest Known Data Issues
  • Contextual or derived mapping
    • Contextual or Derived Mapping Portfolio Information
    • Colour Raster Map Fundamentals
      • Colour Raster Map Overview
        • Metadata
        • Data compression
        • Data measures
        • Product supply
      • Colour Raster Map Technical Specification
        • Georeferencing
        • Image file directory (TIFF)
        • Abbreviations used on OS 1:25 000 and 1:50 000 scale mapping
        • Product glossary
    • 1:25 000 Scale Colour Raster
      • 1:25 000 Scale Colour Raster Overview
        • Product details
        • Features depicted in the product
        • Georeferencing
      • 1:25 000 Scale Colour Raster Technical Specification
      • 1:25 000 Scale Colour Raster Downloads
      • 1:25 000 Scale Colour Raster Known Data Issues
    • 1:50 000 Scale Colour Raster
      • 1:50 000 Scale Colour Raster Overview
        • Product details
        • Features depicted in the product
        • Georeferencing
      • 1:50 000 Scale Colour Raster Technical Specification
      • 1:50 000 Scale Colour Raster Downloads
      • 1:50 000 Scale Colour Raster Known Data Issues
    • 1:250 000 Scale Colour Raster
      • 1:250 000 Scale Colour Raster Overview
        • Product details
        • Georeferencing
        • Gazetteer
      • 1:250 000 Scale Colour Raster Technical Specification
      • 1:250 000 Scale Colour Raster Downloads
      • 1:250 000 Scale Colour Raster Known Data Issues
    • GB Overview Maps
      • GB Overview Maps Downloads
      • GB Overview Maps Known Data Issues
    • MiniScale
      • MiniScale Product Guide
        • Supply and formats
        • Georeferencing
        • Depiction of roads and towns
        • Data compression
        • Features, layers and styles
      • MiniScale Technical Specification
        • National Grid
        • MiniScale file management
      • MiniScale Downloads
      • Miniscale Known Data Issues
    • OS Open Zoomstack
      • OS Open Zoomstack Getting Started Guide
        • Zoomstack vector tiles
        • Zoomstack GeoPackage format
      • OS Open Zoomstack Technical Specification
        • List of Layers
        • Description of the cartographic styles
        • Sea Extent and Name Languages
        • Vector Tiles Schema
        • GeoPackage Schema
      • OS Open Zoomstack Known Data Issues
    • OS OpenMap – Local
      • Release Notes
        • April 2025
      • OS OpenMap – Local Overview
        • Product applications and uses
        • Product details
        • Product supply
      • OS OpenMap – Local Getting Started Guide
        • Loading raster data
        • Loading vector data
        • Loading and displaying GML Data
        • POSTGIS
        • Loading and displaying Shapefile supply
        • Viewing the data in QGIS
        • Using shapefiles in PostGIS
        • Using MapInfo Professional
      • OS OpenMap – Local Technical Specification
        • Data structure
        • Feature types
          • Building
          • ElectricityTransmissionLine
          • Glasshouse
          • RailwayStation
          • RailwayTrack
          • RailwayTunnel
          • Road
          • RoadTunnel
          • Roundabout
          • MotorwayJunction
          • CarChargingPoint
          • Foreshore
          • SurfaceWater_Area
          • SurfaceWater_Line
          • TidalBoundary
          • TidalWater
          • Woodland
          • FunctionalSite
          • ImportantBuilding
          • NamedPlace
        • Code lists
          • RailwayStationClassification
          • RailwayTrackClassification
          • DrawLevelValue
          • OverrideValue
          • RoadClassification
          • RoundaboutClassification
          • CarChargingType
          • RatedVoltage
          • ChargeMethod
          • TidalBoundaryClassification
          • BuildingTheme
          • BuildingClassification
          • SiteClassification
          • FontHeightClassification
          • NamedPlaceClassification
      • OS OpenMap – Local Downloads
      • OS OpenMap – Local Known Data Issues
    • OS VectorMap District
      • OS VectorMap District Overview
        • Generalisation
        • Feature types
        • Style definition
        • Product supply
      • OS VectorMap District Technical Specification
        • GML Overview
        • Raster Specification
        • Georeferencing
        • Feature types
          • Building
          • ElectricityTransmissionLine
          • Glasshouse
          • RailwayStation
          • RailwayTrack
          • RailwayTunnel
          • MotorwayJunction
          • Road
          • RoadTunnel
          • Roundabout
          • Foreshore
          • SurfaceWater_Area
          • SurfaceWater_Line
          • TidalBoundary
          • TidalWater
          • Ornament
          • Woodland
          • FunctionalSite
          • NamedPlace
          • SpotHeight
          • AdministrativeBoundary
        • Code lists
          • RailwayStationClassification
          • RailwayTrackClassification
          • RoadClassification
          • RoundaboutClassification
          • DrawLevelValue
          • OverrideValue
          • TidalBoundaryClassification
          • FunctionalSiteClassification
          • NamedPlaceClassification
          • FontHeightClassification
          • AdministrativeBoundaryClassification
        • Attributes
        • Feature Codes
        • Styling of Land and Sea
      • Vector Simple Guide
        • Downloading OS OpenData
        • Opening OS OpenData in QGIS
        • Styling vector data
        • Opening and saving maps in Composer
      • Raster Simple Guide
        • Downloading OS OpenData
        • Opening OS OpenData in QGIS
        • Opening and saving a map in composer
      • OS VectorMap District Downloads
      • OS VectorMap District Known Data Issues
    • OS VectorMap Local
      • Release Notes
        • January 2025
      • OS VectorMap Local Overview
        • Product details
        • Features represented in the product
        • Product style definition
        • Product supply
        • National Grid coverage for OS VectorMap Local
      • OS VectorMap Local Technical Specification
        • GeoPackage overview
        • GML overview
        • Raster data
        • Feature types
          • Area
          • Line
          • VectorMapPoint
          • RoadCLine
          • RailCLine
          • Text
        • Code lists
          • DrawLevelValue
          • AnchorPositionValue
          • TextFontValue
        • Structured data types
          • textRenderingType
        • Feature codes and descriptions
        • Vector tiles overview
        • Important Buildings classification
      • OS VectorMap Local Downloads
      • Supporting documents
        • OS VectorMap Local Cartographic Style Definitions
      • OS VectorMap Local Known Data Issues
  • Networks
    • Networks Portfolio Information
    • OS Detailed Path Network
      • OS Detailed Path Network Overview
        • Product details
        • Attribution
        • Product supply
        • Coordinate reference system
      • OS Detailed Path Network Getting Started Guide
        • Downloading the data
        • Loading GML data
      • OS Detailed Path Network Technical Specification
        • OS Detailed Path Network structure
        • Feature types
          • Route
          • RouteLink
          • RouteNode
        • Structured data types
          • VerticalGainType
        • Code lists
          • LevelCodeValue
          • PotentialHazardValue
          • RightOfWayValue
          • RouteDescriptiveGroupValue
          • RouteDescriptiveTermValue
          • RouteLinkDescriptiveTermValue
          • RouteNodeDescriptiveTermValue
          • SurfaceTypeValue
        • Data quality
        • GML overview
        • GeoPackage overview
          • Route
          • RouteLink
          • RouteNode
        • Vector Tiles overview
          • Route
          • RouteLink
        • GML examples
      • OS Detailed Path Network Downloads
      • OS Detailed Path Network Known Data Issues
    • OS MasterMap Highways Network Fundamentals
      • Release Notes
        • May 2025
        • April 2025
        • March 2025
        • February 2025
        • January 2025
        • December 2024
        • November 2024
        • October 2024
        • September 2024
        • August 2024
        • July 2024
        • June 2024
      • OS MasterMap Highways Network Product Family
      • OS MasterMap Highways Network Overview
        • Standards
        • Coordinate reference system
        • Feature types
          • Road Link (present in Roads & RAMI products)
          • Road Node (present in Roads & RAMI products)
          • Path Link (present in Paths product)
          • Path Node (present in Paths product)
          • Connecting Link (present in Paths product)
          • Connecting Node (Present in Paths product)
          • Road (present in Roads & RAMI products)
          • Path (present in Paths product)
          • Street (present in all OS MasterMap Highways Network products)
          • Road Junction (present in Roads & RAMI products)
          • Ferry Link (present in all OS MasterMap Highways Network products)
          • Ferry Node (present in all OS MasterMap Highways Network products)
          • Ferry Terminal (present in all OS MasterMap Highways Network products)
          • Access Restrictions (present in RAMI product)
          • Turn Restrictions (present in RAMI product)
          • Restrictions For Vehicles (present in RAMI product)
          • Hazards (present in RAMI product)
          • Structures (present in RAMI product)
          • Maintenance (present in RAMI & Paths products)
          • Reinstatement (present in RAMI & Paths products)
          • Highways Dedication (present in RAMI & Paths products)
          • Special Designations (present in RAMI & Paths products)
        • Product supply
        • Product packaging
        • File naming
        • Feature validation data set
        • Volume feature count
        • OS Open Roads Lookup Table
      • OS MasterMap Highways Network Getting Started Guide
        • What do I need to use this data?
        • Product supply
        • Coverage
        • Product packaging
        • File naming
        • Unzipping GML, GeoPackage, and vector tiles files
        • Loading OS MasterMap Highways Network products into a GIS
        • Relationships between Highways tables
      • OS MasterMap Highways Network Playbook
        • Connecting to Address Data
        • Identifying Change in the Network
        • Highlighting Roads Under Construction
        • Creating a Map of Winter Gritting Routes
        • Adding Road Names and Numbers to a Map
        • Merging Tables and Dropping Geometry
        • Creating a Routable Network
      • OS MasterMap Highways Network Downloads
      • OS MasterMap Highways Network Known Data Issues
    • OS MasterMap Highways Network – Roads
      • OS MasterMap Highways Network Overview
      • OS MasterMap Highways Network – Roads Technical Specification
        • Specification changes
        • Structure
        • How the product fits together
        • Change-Only Update (COU) supply
        • Feature types
          • RoadLink
          • RoadNode
          • Road
          • Street
          • RoadJunction
          • FerryLink
          • FerryNode
          • FerryTerminal
        • Structured data types
          • identifier
          • OperationalStateType
          • DesignatedNameType
          • ResponsibleAuthority
          • CycleFacilityType
          • ElevationGainType
          • RoadWidthType
        • Code lists and Enumerations
          • ChangeValue
          • RoadClassificationValue
          • RoadFunctionValue
          • MatchStatusValue
          • OperationalStateValue
          • ProvenanceSourceValue
          • RoadStructureValue
          • LinkDirectionValue
          • FormOfWayValue
          • CycleFacilityValue
          • RoadWidthConfidenceLevelValue
          • FormOfRoadNodeValue
          • RoadNodeClassificationValue
          • AccessPointValue
          • StreetTypeValue
          • JunctionTypeValue
          • ConnectionTypeValue
          • FormOfWaterwayNodeValue
        • GML overview
        • GeoPackage overview
          • ferry_link
          • ferry_node
          • ferry_terminal
          • road
          • road_junction
          • road_link
          • road_node
          • street
        • Vector tiles overview
          • ferry_link
          • ferry_node
          • ferry_node
          • road_link
          • road_node
          • street
        • GML examples
      • OS MasterMap Highways Network Getting Started Guide
      • OS MasterMap Highways Network Known Data Issues
    • OS MasterMap Highways Network – Routing and Asset Management Information
      • OS MasterMap Highways Network Overview
      • OS MasterMap Highways Network – Routing and Asset Management Information Technical Specification
        • Specification changes
        • How the product fits together
        • Routing and Asset Management feature information
          • Data types
            • NetworkReference
            • NodeReference
            • LinkReference
            • PointReference
            • Multiple Link Reference
            • Point Reference
        • Common attribution
        • Rights and Restrictions
          • Feature types
            • AccessRestriction
            • HighwayDedication
            • TurnRestriction
            • RestrictionForVehicles
        • Advisory information
          • Feature types
            • Hazard
            • Structure
        • Asset management
          • Feature types
            • Maintenance
            • Reinstatement
            • Special Designation
        • Change-Only Update (COU) supply
        • Code lists and enumerations
          • ChangeValue
          • UseTypeValue
          • VehicleTypeValue
          • LoadTypeValue
          • NamedDateValue
          • NamedDayValue
          • NamedPeriodValue
          • NamedTimeValue
          • AccessRestrictionValue
          • DedicationValue
          • TurnRestrictionValue
          • RestrictionTypeValue
          • HazardTypeValue
          • StructureTypeValue
          • ReinstatementTypeValue
          • SpecialDesignationTypeValue
          • LinkDirectionValue
          • MaintenanceValue
        • Data types
          • TemporalPropertyType
          • DateRangeType
          • DayPropertyType
          • TimePropertyType
          • TimeRangeType
          • TrafficRegulationOrderType
          • VehicleQualifier
          • ResponsibleAuthority
          • Identifier
        • GML overview
        • GeoPackage overview
          • Access Restriction
          • Highway Dedication
          • Turn Restriction
          • Restriction for Vehicles
          • Hazard Point
          • Hazard
          • Structure Point
          • Structure
          • Maintenance
          • Maintenance Point
          • Maintenance Line
          • Maintenance Area
          • Reinstatement
        • GML examples
      • OS MasterMap Highways Network Getting Started Guide
      • OS MasterMap Highways Network Known Data Issues
    • OS MasterMap Highways Network – Paths
      • OS MasterMap Highways Network Overview
      • OS MasterMap Highways Network – Paths Technical Specification
        • Specification changes
        • Structure
        • How does the product fit together?
        • Change-Only Update (COU) Supply
        • Feature types
          • PathLink
          • PathNode
          • ConnectingLink
          • ConnectingNode
          • Path
          • Street
          • FerryLink
          • FerryNode
          • FerryTerminal
          • Maintenance
          • Reinstatement
          • SpecialDesignation
          • HighwayDedication
        • Structured data types
          • Identifier
          • CycleFacilityType
          • ElevationGainType
          • OperationalStateType
          • DesignatedNameType
          • ResponsibleAuthority
          • TemporalPropertyType
          • DateRangeType
          • DayPropertyType
          • TimePropertyType
          • TimeRangeType
        • Data types
          • NetworkReferenceLocation
          • Temporal Properties
        • Code lists and Enumerations
          • ChangeValue
          • FormOfWayValue
          • SurfaceTypeValue
          • MatchStatusValue
          • ProvenanceSourceValue
          • CycleFacilityValue
          • FormOfRoadNodeValue
          • RoadNodeClassificationValue
          • OperationalStateValue
          • StreetTypeValue
          • ConnectionTypeValue
          • FormOfWaterwayNodeValue
          • DedicationValue
          • ReinstatementTypeValue
          • SpecialDesignationTypeValue
          • MaintenanceValue
        • GML Overview
        • GeoPackage overview
          • connecting_link
          • connecting_node
          • ferry_link
          • ferry_node
          • ferry_terminal
          • highway_dedication
          • maintenance
          • path
          • path_link
          • path_node
          • reinstatement
          • special_designation
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        • Code lists
          • FunctionValue
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        • Geometry
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        • Vector tiles
      • OS MasterMap Sites Layer Downloads
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      • Release Notes
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      • Product Refresh Dates
      • OS MasterMap Topography Layer Overview
        • Product purpose
        • Product applications
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        • Styling
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        • Coordinate reference systems
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          • Product supply mechanism and options
          • GML supply options
          • Updating data holdings
        • Change management and data association
      • OS MasterMap Topography Layer Getting Started Guide
        • QGIS
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      • OS MasterMap Topography Layer Getting Started with Styling Guide
        • Styling method overview
        • How to use the SQL scripts
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        • Cartographic styling
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          • TopographicArea
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        • Shared symbol geometry
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        • Pattern definitions
        • Line styles
        • Cartographic descriptive term style definitions
      • OS MasterMap Topography Layer Technical Specification
        • File naming
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          • Administrative Boundaries
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          • Structures
          • Terrain and Height
          • Water
        • Feature types
          • TopographicPoint
          • TopographicLine
          • TopographicArea
          • BoundaryLine
          • CartographicSymbol
          • CartographicText
        • Complex attributes
          • ChangeHistoryType
          • HeightAboveDatumType
          • HeightAboveGroundLevelType
          • TextRenderingType
        • Enumerations
          • ThemeValue
          • DescriptiveGroupValue
          • AccuracyOfPositionValue
          • ReasonForChangeValue
          • PhysicalPresenceValue
          • MakeValue
          • DescriptiveTermValue
        • Geometric data types
        • Topology
        • Seamless data supply
        • Feature lifecycles and tracking change
          • Polygon feature lifecycle rules
          • Line feature lifecycle rules
          • General point feature lifecycle rules
        • GML overview
          • GML examples
        • GeoPackage overview
        • Vector tiles overview
        • Attribute mapping
        • Geometry mapping
        • COU overview
        • Feature code lookup table
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        • Administrative boundary alignments
      • OS MasterMap Topography Layer Downloads
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    • OS Open Greenspace
      • Release Notes
        • April 2025
        • October 2024
      • OS Open Greenspace Overview
        • Product details
        • Data creation
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      • OS Open Greenspace Getting Started Guide
        • QGIS
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        • Cadcorp Map Modeller
      • OS Open Greenspace Technical Specification
        • Data structure
        • Feature types
          • GreenspaceSite
          • AccessPoint
        • Code lists
          • AccessTypeValue
          • FunctionValue
        • GML overview
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        • Vector tiles overview
        • Attribute mapping
      • OS Open Greenspace Downloads
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  • Identifiers
    • Identifiers Portfolio Information
    • OS Open Identifiers Family Information
    • OS Open Linked Identifiers
      • Release Notes
        • May 2025 – Epoch 43
        • March 2025 – Epoch 42
        • February 2025 – Epoch 41
        • January 2025 – Epoch 40
        • November 2024 – Epoch 39
        • October 2024 – Epoch 38
        • August 2024 – Epoch 37
        • July 2024 – Epoch 36
      • OS Open Linked Identifiers Overview
        • Uses of OS Open Linked Identifiers
        • Product details
      • OS Open Linked Identifiers Getting Started Guide
        • Linked identifiers
        • Instructions to install/load into a database application
      • OS Open Linked Identifiers Technical Specification
        • Product structure
        • Linked Identifier data (CSV) attributes
        • Product Version Information file (JSON)
        • RoadLink_TOID_TopographicArea_TOID_2
        • Road_TOID_TopographicArea_TOID_3
        • Street_USRN_TopographicArea_TOID_4
        • BLPU_UPRN_TopographicArea_TOID_5
        • RoadLink_TOID_Road_TOID_7
        • RoadLink_TOID_Street_USRN_8
        • BLPU_UPRN_RoadLink_TOID_9
        • Road_TOID_Street_USRN_10
        • BLPU_UPRN_Street_USRN_11
        • ORRoadLink_GUID_RoadLink_TOID_12
        • ORRoadNode_GUID_RoadLink_TOID_13
      • OS Open Linked Identifiers Known Data Issues
    • OS Open TOID
      • Release Notes
        • May 2025 – Epoch 43
        • March 2025 – Epoch 42
        • February 2025 – Epoch 41
        • January 2025 – Epoch 40
        • November 2024 – Epoch 39
        • September 2024 – Epoch 38
        • August 2024 – Epoch 37
        • July 2024 – Epoch 36
      • OS Open TOID Overview
        • Product supply
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        • Feature type
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        • Product supply
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What are vector tiles?

A vector tile represents a specific area of the earth’s surface and contains geographic information about the coverage area. Each tile can contain many layers of features such as buildings, roads, rivers, greenspaces, etc. They are packets of geographic data, packaged into tiles for transfer over the web. The information they contain can be used to deliver styled web maps to the end-user.

What are the benefits of vector tiles?

Vector tiles offer users the following benefits:

  • Styling - customise your map with full and dynamic design control.

  • File size - lightweight tiles that are efficient and super-fast to render in the client.

  • Pixel perfect - high resolution, beautiful mapping for all devices.

  • Smooth - an improved, seamless user experience when zooming in and out of maps.

  • Advanced features - Vector Tiles contain actual geographic data (not just images) which can be interrogated and analysed.

  • Offline maps - store the tiles locally to take your maps offline.

With Zoomstack vector tiles you get one single MBTiles file that is around 3GB in size. It is light enough to be fast on the web and suitable for offline use. OS has pre-selected the right content for each zoom level and supply stylesheets to give you a great starting point. This can save a considerable amount of time and effort.

The instructions that follow are for installing Zoomstack Vector Tiles in Mapbox Studio, Cadcorp SIS Desktop, and QGIS. Please refer to the relevant section based on the GIS software you’re using. Note that the GIS software packages above were used for demonstrative purposes in this guide and that many other GIS software applications can be used with the Zoomstack product.

Mapbox Studio

The following instructions demonstrate how to install Zoomstack Vector Tiles using Mapbox Studio:

If you don’t have a Mapbox Account, then create one by clicking on ‘Sign up for Mapbox’.

A Pay-As-You-Go account will be fine for this purpose – it is free to get started and doesn’t require any payment details.

  1. Once signed in, click on Studio in the top right corner.

  1. Click on the Tilesets tab in the top right corner.

  1. Click on the New Tileset button.

  1. Click on Select a file.

  1. Navigate to the OS_Open_Zoomstack.mbtiles file and click Open and then click Confirm.

Mapbox Studio will then begin to upload and process your data and you will see a progress notification in the bottom right corner.

This will take a while, but you must stay on the page while it's processing.

You will see a notification in the bottom right. First it will say Uploading and then move on to Processing.

You may need to refresh the page eventually for it to complete the processing. We would recommend waiting 30 minutes before refreshing.

Once uploaded, it will appear in your list of Tilesets.

Using OS styles to get started in Mapbox Studio

OS has supplied Mapbox GL Styles created by our cartographic designers for use in Mapbox Studio. These stylesheets allow you to add colours to features contained in the Vector Tiles to produce a far more vivid and visually appealing map.

The steps that follow guide you through setting up Mapbox GL Styles in Mapbox Studio.

  1. Copy the Map ID for your new Tileset by doing the following:

    • In Mapbox Studio, click on the Tilesets tab in the top right corner.

  1. Scroll down until you see your new Tileset and click on the Menu button.

  1. Click on the clipboard icon to copy the Map ID.

  1. Open the folder of stylesheets that you downloaded in step 1 and navigate to Vector Tiles → Mapbox GL

Styles where you'll find four styles (Road, Outdoor, Light and Night).

  1. Choose the style that you want to use and open the .json file (e.g. Outdoor.json) in a text editor.

  2. Find this block of code near the top of the file (line 46) and paste your Map ID where it says ADD-SOURCE- URL-HERE:

  1. Save the .json file.

  1. Go back to Mapbox Studio and click on the Styles tab.

  1. Click on the New style button.

  1. Navigate to your newly saved style.json file (e.g. OS Outdoor.json) and click Open. The style will then load up in the Mapbox Studio style editor.

  • This is an example of what your map will look like if you chose the Outdoor style.

You may notice at this point that the symbols for Airports and Railway Stations aren’t appearing, so now we need to add them to our new map.

  1. Open the folder of stylesheets that you downloaded in step 1 and navigate to Vector Tiles → Mapbox GL Styles where you'll find a folder called os-open-zoomstack-symbols.

  2. Open this folder, then drag and drop the 7 SVG files into Mapbox Studio (directly into your browser window).

  3. Click Confirm on the Upload images dialogue box.

  1. Mapbox Studio will recognise the images and you should now see Airport and Railway Station symbols.

Cadcorp SIS Desktop 9

These instructions are based on Cadcorp SIS Desktop 9, released in November 2018.

  1. Rename one of the downloaded Mapbox GL Style files to style.json and place it, and the sprites.json and sprites.png files, alongside the downloaded MBTiles file (OS_Open_Zoomstack.mbtiles).

  2. Open Cadcorp SIS Desktop.

  3. The easiest way to load the data is to simply drag-and-drop the MBTiles file into Cadcorp SIS Desktop.

  4. Because the tiles use the WGS 84 Pseudo-Mercator coordinate reference system the default extents are much bigger than GB, so you'll have to zoom in.

  • Example view of Cambridge, using the Light style:

QGIS

These instructions are based on QGIS 3.4 – a Long Term Release version.

  1. In QGIS, install the Vector Tile Reader Plugin.

Some versions of QGIS has a Vector Tiles Reader plugin that allows you to read Vector Tiles from a server, directory or local MBTiles file. Install the plugin as follows:

  • Load QGIS desktop.

  • From the top menu, click Plugins and then

Manage and Install Plugins…

  • In the dialogue box, search for Vector Tiles Reader, select it and click Install plugin.

  1. This section shows you how to load Vector Tiles in QGIS.

  • After you’ve installed the Vector Tiles Reader plugin, go to the top menu, click Vector → Vector Tiles Reader → Add Vector Tiles Layer…

  • In the dialogue box, select the MBTiles tab and then click Browse.

  • Navigate to your data, OS_Open_Zoomstack.mbtiles, and click Open.

  • Then hold the CTRL key and select all the layers, select Base map defaults and click Add.

The data will then appear in your Layers Panel and render in your map window. This plugin is new, and you may find it a little slow - it helps the performance if you zoom in to street level as this will limit the number of features in your map window.

  1. In the Layers Panel, drag and drop the layers into the following order as this is the order in which QGIS will draw them:

Host your own Vector Tiles

Using OS Styles on Vector Tiles You Created

It is possible to use OS styles on Vector Tiles you’ve created. Follow the steps below to do this.

  1. Once you’ve downloaded and unzipped the folder of stylesheets, navigate to Vector Tiles → Mapbox GL Styles where you will find four styles.

Choose the style that you want to use and open the .json file (e.g. OS Outdoor.json) in a text editor.

  1. Find this chunk of code near the top of the file and paste your data source where it says ADD-SOURCE- URL-HERE:

  1. Save the .json file.

OS supplies data in the Mapbox Vector Tile Specification, packed in a single file (which is based on the SQLite database).

Open standard - created under a

is a web application for creating custom maps. It allows you to manage and create datasets, tilesets, and map styles to produce maps with the features and the look and feel you want.

We recommend using for the best results.

Download the

Go to and sign in.

Download and unzip the OS Open folder. You can also on GitHub.

Click on the Upload button.

From this point on you can customise the content and style of your map (for example, you can turn layers on/off, delete them from your map, add new ones and change any of the style elements). You can learn more about how to use the Mapbox Studio style editor in this

Once you are happy with your map, click Publish in the top right corner and your map is ready to use. For more detailed information, take a look at

Download the and the accompanying You will need the style files from the Mapbox GL Styles folder and the sprites.json and sprites.png files, from the sprites sub-folder.

Download the

You'll find more on GitHub.

There are many choices of tools and resources for hosting and serving your own Vector Tiles. An updated list of resources for working with Vector Tiles is available on the mapbox GitHub repository. A list of .

Here is a for Vector Tiles and relating specifically to MBTiles.

If you want to export the MBTiles file to a directory of files, then you can use or .

You will need to the folder of stylesheets. You can also on GitHub.

You can find more information on the different source types

This style is now ready to use. If you want to customise the style, then is a good open source map editor for this job.

  1. Contextual or derived mapping
  2. OS Open Zoomstack
  3. OS Open Zoomstack Getting Started Guide

Zoomstack vector tiles

PreviousOS Open Zoomstack Getting Started GuideNextZoomstack GeoPackage format
  • What are vector tiles?
  • What are the benefits of vector tiles?
  • Host your own Vector Tiles
  • Using OS Styles on Vector Tiles You Created
MBTiles
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 US License.
Mapbox Studio
Google Chrome
Vector Tiles (MBTiles).
Mapbox.com
Zoomstack Stylesheets
view the stylesheets
manual.
Mapbox Studio tutorials.
Vector Tiles (MBTiles),
Mapbox GL Styles.
Vector Tiles (MBTiles).
information and help with the plugin,
resources for working with MBTiles specifically is available under the mapbox mbtiles-spec repository
list of the available options
some more here
Tippecanoe
MBUtil
download
view the stylesheets
here.
Maputnik
Representation of Zoomstack data in Vector Tile format
Mapbox sign in page
Mapbox menu
Mapbox studio toolbar
Uploaded Open zoomstack data
Map ID data shown in the dropdown menu
Vector .json file
Outdoor map style
Upload images dialog box
Map image showing airport and railway symbols for London Heathrow Airport
Cadcorp SIS Dektop 9 with a map of Cambridge in the main view
Vector Tiles reader plugin shown in the plugin dialog
Add Vectror Tiles Layer in the Vector Tiles Reader menu
Add MBTiles file tab in the Add Layer dialog
Add Layer(s) from a Vector Tile Source window
Add layer button
Layers panel showing the available layers for OS Open Zoomstack data
Vector source .json file
Upldoad file Mapbox dialog
File upload notification
Map representation of an area containing geographic information layers including buildings, roads, rivers, and greenspaces
Mapbox sign in page showing an empty login form
Mapbox user meny showing Account, Studio, and Documentation page buttons
Tilesets tab menu
Open zoomstack data shown in your menu
Map ID shown in the menu
Screenshot of the Map ID composite attribute
A screenshot of the outdoor map style showing an area of roads, rivers, and built up areas
Mapbox data styled
Example view of Cambridge using the light style in Cadcorp SIS Desktop 9
Add Vector Tiles Layer menu shown as an option in the Vector Menu under Vector Tiles Reader
Window allowing the user to add MB Tiles Layers to a vector map
Add layer button highlighted in the dialog
Layers panel showing the available layers for OS Open Zoomstack data
Source composite URL snippet within a Vector source .json file