The Ordnance Survey (OS) is the mapping agency for Great Britain. It is responsible for producing detailed digital and paper maps for businesses and individuals to use.

Key

OS maps show human and physical features using a range of different symbols. A key is used to show what the different symbols mean.

Compass Directions

North is always the top of an ordnance survey map. To find out more about directions take a look at our dedicated page on compass directions 

Scale and distance

Maps show features as being much smaller in size than they are in real life. The link between the features on a map and their real size on the ground is called the scale. Scale is shown as a ratio. For example, if a map has a scale of 1:50,000 it means that 1 cm on a map represents 50,000 cm or 500m in real life.

Ordnance survey maps come in a range of scales. Large-scale maps such as 1:1,250, 1:2,500 and 1:10,000 usually show individual towns and cities. Smale-scale maps such as 1:25,000, 1:50,000 and 1:100,000 show features smaller and often show larger areas or regions.

4 figure grid references

Grid references allow people to accurately locate places on a map. Every OS map has a grid of faint blue lines printed on it. The lines that run from top to bottom are called eastings. Those that run horizontally from left to right are called northings. To find out more about grid references take a look at our dedicated page about grid references

6 figure grid references

To find out more about 6 figure grid references take a look at our dedicated page about grid references

Contours and spot heights

Height is represented on OS maps through contour lines and spot heights. A spot height shows the height of a specific point on a map.

Contour lines are light brown lines that join up land that is the same height. Height is shown in metres above sea level. Some lines have the height of the land written on them. Using contours you can work out the height and gradient of land. Contour lines that are close together show that the height of the land increases or decreases quickly. This is steep land. Where contour lines are further apart the height of the land increases or decreases slowly. This represents gently sloping land.

A map with contour lines