> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.os.uk/os-downloads/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.os.uk/os-downloads/products/maps-and-imagery-portfolio/os-vectormap-district/vector-simple-guide/downloading-os-opendata.md).

# Downloading OS OpenData

* Firstly OS VectorMap District (Vector) format needs to be downloaded from the OS Data Hub

{% embed url="<https://osdatahub.os.uk/data/downloads/open>" %}

* Scroll to OS VectorMap District, ensure that the data type is Vector. Select grid reference square using the two letter reference list. Southampton lies in the **SU** grid reference square, so **SU** has been selected from the reference list.

<figure><img src="/files/CxK0qBu14170Kqq6hb0o" alt="OS VectorMap District screenshot showing ESRI Shapefile supply product and SU national grid reference selected"><figcaption><p>OS VectorMap District in ESRI Shapefile supply format</p></figcaption></figure>

Here is a larger image of the National Grid Reference squares:

<figure><img src="/files/RQFSi6xefmzYiKq2yVu2" alt="Image of Great Britain National Grid Reference squares" width="336"><figcaption><p>National Grid Reference squares covering Great Britain</p></figcaption></figure>

* Tick the box for Download (as seen in download page image). Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click **Next**.
* Fill in the details required and you will receive an email with a link to download the data as a .zip file. Save to a designated folder. Once the download is complete, extract the file.

Now you should have a data folder with the all the components as SHX, SHP, PRJ and DRB files.

* As the download doesn’t come with Styled Layer Descriptors (SLDs), these need to be downloaded from the Ordnance Survey GitHub: [**https://github.com/OrdnanceSurvey/OS-VectorMap-District-stylesheets**](https://github.com/OrdnanceSurvey/OS-VectorMap-District-stylesheets)

On the webpage click **‘Download ZIP’**.

* Save the file. Once downloaded, extract the file and this will create a folder which contains both ESRI Shapefile stylesheets and GML stylesheets. Later we will be using the ESRI Shapefile stylesheets.


---

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