> 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/os-open-names.md).

# OS Open Names

{% embed url="<https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/products/os-open-names>" %}

OS Open Names is a comprehensive dataset of place names, roads numbers and postcodes for Great Britain. The data contains accurate and current settlement names, road names and numbers, postcodes and their locations, with additional contextual information and links to other datasets.

{% hint style="info" %}
**This product is updated quarterly in January, April, July, October.**
{% endhint %}

<figure><img src="https://1897589978-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FcNpJpLP8RROUaWVQo5ea%2Fuploads%2Flp4zsWuASZp6IQZCbl46%2Fimage.png?alt=media&amp;token=4eb7fa2a-242d-4fc0-9365-e71c36e3a1be" alt="A representation of OS Open Names data against a background map showing place names around Newcastle upon Tyne"><figcaption><p>A representation of OS Open Names data against a background map</p></figcaption></figure>

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

#### **Accurate locations of streets and postcodes**

Let your customer-facing staff find places quickly when talking to callers. OS Open Names provides the accurate locations of streets and postcodes in Great Britain.

#### **Place name data**

Quickly look up places and roads with two names. OS Open Names contains place name data in English and their Welsh, Scots or Gaelic alternatives.

#### **Comprehensive National Grid data**

OS Open Names contains over 870 000 named and numbered roads, nearly 44 000 settlements and over 1.6 million postcodes, all matched/mapped to the National Grid.
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Summary" %}

* **Access:** Download
* **Data themes:** Administrative and Statistical Units, Geographical Names, Transport
* **Data structure:** Vector
* **Coverage:** Great Britain&#x20;
* **Scale:** 1:1 250 to 1:10 000
* **Format:** CSV, GML 3.2.1, GeoPackage
* **Ordering area:** All of Great Britain
* **Publication months:** January, April, July, October
* **OS Data Hub plan:** Energy & Infrastructure Plan, OS OpenData Plan (FREE), Premium Plan, Public Sector Plan
  {% endtab %}

{% tab title="Additional Information" %}

#### **OS Open Names level of detail**

OS Open Names doesn’t go down to the level of locations of individual houses, but it does show the location of roads. It also tells your GIS how far to zoom out to show the full length of your street.&#x20;

For property locations, you will need one of the [AddressBase products](/os-downloads/~/changes/AJZwzCsyrD9hiTbOxIbO/addressing-and-location/addressbase-core-principles/addressbase-product-family.md).

#### **Need complete addresses?**

If your work requires the full postal address, we recommend [AddressBase products](/os-downloads/~/changes/AJZwzCsyrD9hiTbOxIbO/addressing-and-location/addressbase-core-principles/addressbase-product-family.md).
{% 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/OpenNames?_gl=1*1992wsk*_gcl_au*MTYwNzIzMDI0MC4xNzMwNDU4ODAw*_ga*MTI0MzgyNDcyNy4xNzMwNDU4Mzcy*_ga_59ZBN7DVBG*MTczMDQ3MjkyMy4zLjEuMTczMDQ3MzIyOC41OS4wLjA.).

## Visualise OS Open Names 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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