> 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/~/changes/AJZwzCsyrD9hiTbOxIbO/addressing-and-location/boundary-line.md).

# Boundary-Line

{% embed url="<https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/products/boundary-line>" %}

Boundary-Line provides a representation of the hierarchy of administrative and electoral boundaries and their names for England, Scotland and Wales. Boundary-Line for England and Wales was initially digitised from Ordnance Survey’s boundary record sheets at 1:10 000 scale (or, in some cases, at larger scales).

{% hint style="info" %}
**This product is updated twice a year in May and October.**
{% endhint %}

<figure><img src="https://1897589978-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FcNpJpLP8RROUaWVQo5ea%2Fuploads%2F8e7SPNmsHPZfH2XFt8kP%2Fimage.png?alt=media&amp;token=877b8aaa-eb6d-417e-b7c7-a0aee8d66104" alt="A representation of Boundary-Line data showing the boundary lines surrounding Newcastle Upon Tyne"><figcaption><p>A representation of Boundary-Line data showing boundary lines within Great Britain</p></figcaption></figure>

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Features" %}

#### **Highlight social and economic trends**

Public bodies release a wealth of data via data.gov.uk, census results and other sources. By illustrating your analysis on maps created with Boundary-Line, you'll be able to highlight the social and economic trends shaping changes in how we live and work.

#### **View historical county boundaries**

As an addition to the core Boundary-Line product, which is updated twice a year, you can download data showing historical county boundaries from the late 19th Century. This is ideal for historians who need to analyse old census records and archives.

#### **A robust framework**

Monitoring outcomes by area is key for public bodies. Boundary-Line gives you a robust analytical framework to ensure the right communities get the right resources.

#### **Professional quality, free of charge**

Mapped at a scale of 1:10 000, Boundary-Line is quality-assured to the same standard as our premium products. But since it's covered by the Open Government Licence (OGL), you can download it for free and use it in a wide range of ways.
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Use Cases" %}

#### **Bring statistics to life, for academics or policy-makers**

Boundary-Line brings the statistics in your reports to life. It lets you show differences between regions or councils using easy-to-read shaded maps.

#### **Individual properties**

When you're consulting on **updating boundaries** to take account of population change, Boundary-Line lets you show on a map where the line's being drawn, right down to the level of individual properties.

#### Decision making applications

Boundary-Line can be used for GIS analysis to support a wide range of business decision-making, such as:

* Political analysis
* Environmental analysis
* Statistical analysis for social or marketing decision-making
* Geo-demographic analysis
* Asset management
* Planning applications
* Legal work
* Reference and research
* Customised graphic output
  {% endtab %}

{% tab title="Summary" %}

* **Access:** Download
* **Data theme:** Administrative and Statistical Units
* **Data structure:** Vector – Polygons
* **Coverage**: Great Britain
* **Scale:** 1:10 000
* **Format:** Vector tiles, GeoPackage, ESRI Shapefile, MapInfo TAB, GML 3.2.1
* **Ordering area:** All of Great Britain
* **Publication months**: May, October
* **OS Data Hub plan**: OS OpenData Plan (FREE), Public Sector Plan, Premium Plan, Energy & Infrastructure Plan
  {% endtab %}
  {% endtabs %}

## How to get this product

Access to this OS OpenData product is free [through the OS Data Hub](https://osdatahub.os.uk/downloads/open/BoundaryLine?_gl=1*1donudt*_gcl_au*MTYwNzIzMDI0MC4xNzMwNDU4ODAw*_ga*MTI0MzgyNDcyNy4xNzMwNDU4Mzcy*_ga_59ZBN7DVBG*MTczMDQ3MjkyMy4zLjEuMTczMDQ3MzA4Ni41OS4wLjA.).

## Visualise Boundary-Line data online

This product is available to try out online using one of our three sets of sample data (Exeter, Newport and Inverness) through the OS MasterMap Product Viewer:

<table data-view="cards" data-full-width="false"><thead><tr><th></th><th></th><th data-hidden></th><th data-hidden data-card-cover data-type="files"></th><th data-hidden data-card-target data-type="content-ref"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>OS MasterMap Product Viewer</strong></td><td>Interactive demonstrator of <mark style="color:purple;">OS MasterMap Generation</mark> data</td><td></td><td><a href="https://1897589978-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FcNpJpLP8RROUaWVQo5ea%2Fuploads%2Fuld7V42IKrB8ovpC1JXB%2FVectorMap-Local-1.png?alt=media&amp;token=cb3e8ae9-d669-4bc9-b7a7-5f479d780447">VectorMap-Local-1.png</a></td><td><a href="https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/20981dabcb14402687dccb437a4a78fb/">https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/20981dabcb14402687dccb437a4a78fb/</a></td></tr></tbody></table>


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