Map referencesThe National Grid provides a unique reference system, which is used on all Ordnance Survey maps of Great Britain, at all scales. It gives us the map references we need to find locations across the country. These map references are made up of letters and numbers.

The National Grid works by dividing Great Britain into 100 kilometre (km) grid squares. Each square is identified by two letters. It is important to include these letters in all map references as they define which area of the country you are dealing with.

The numbers represent grid lines which start in the bottom left hand corner of the map. One set of lines runs vertically: these are known as eastings. The other set runs horizontally and are called northings.

To find a location using a 6-figure map reference – in this example TL623317 – you need to look at the:

1. Letters: In this example TL represents a specific 100 km area of Great Britain. We find this square using this diagram of Great Britain. (Diagram A). These letters are sometimes represented by numbers, shown on the diagram in brackets.

2. Eastings: The first three numbers are the eastings. The first two numbers represent the figures running along the north or south sides of your map. The third figure is the number of tenths east of that line to the next, in this case 3. Diagram B shows you how. 3. Northings: The last three numbers are the northings. The first two numbers represent the figures running along the east and west sides of the map. The third figure is the number of tenths north of that line to the next, in this case 7. Diagram B shows you how.

4. The map reference: Putting the letters and numbers together gives us the map reference, in this case TL623317.

A 6-figure map reference will give you a location to within 100 m.

A 10-figure map reference is possible within the National Grid and defines a location to a precision of 1 m. The same letter and number configuration is used with two letters followed by 10 numbers, for example: TL62356 31722. Sometimes, for example, when using the Garmin 12™ hand held GPS, the eastings and northings are separated by the letters BNG indicating that the map reference is in the British National Grid, for example: TL 62356 BNG 31722.

Ordnance Survey and the OS Symbol are registered trademarks of Ordnance Survey, the national mapping agency of Great Britain.

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Diagram A

SZ(40)

NZ(45)

NY(35)

NX(25)

NW(15)

NU(46)

NT(36)

NS(26)

NR(16)

NO(37)

NN(27)

NM(17)

NL(07)

NK(48)

NH(28)

NG(18)

NF(08)

ND(39)

NC(29)

NB(19)

NA(09)

NJ(38)

TQ(51)

SM(12)

TL(52)

TM(62)

SN(22)

SP(42)

SO(32)

TF(53)

SK(43)

SJ(33)

SH(23)

TA(54)

SE(44)

SD(34)

SC(24)

SR(11)

SS(21)

SU(41)

ST(31)

TR(61)

SV(00)

TV(50)

SW(10)

HP(N42)

SY(30)

SX(20)

TG(63)

HZ(N40)

HY(N30)

HX(N20)

HW(N10)

HU(N41)

HT(N31)

706560 61 62 63 6964 66 67 68

35

30

31

32

33

39

34

36

37

38

40TL

TL TL

TL

south-westcorner

7 tenths

3 tenths Diagram B

Path (um)

Pond

Pond

Path(um)

TankThe Gables

Talbot's End

Pond65.1m

Townwell

1

3

7

13

19

8

2

TownwellHouse

Townwell House

Cottage

The Bungalow

Davelia

ChapelCottages

31

2

GPPath (um)

Chapel

Jasmine

HillsideHouse

B 4

058

Pat

h(u

m)

Pond

Highbury

Hospital

21

Hall

LongcrossFarm

65.4mBM 65.37m

1

6

7

10

64.4m

Chalwin House The Old Red

Longcross

8

1

61.8m

BR

IST

OL

RO

AD

Ashleigh

Well

61.4m

Pond

Nova

Wayside

Filling Station

Pond

B 4058

Path (um)

Pond

61.9m

Pond

BM 63.39m

63.8m

RE

CT

OR

YLA

NE

1

8

Court Farm

65.3m

65.2mCromhall

BM 65.73m65.8m

CHURCH LANE

BM 63.22m

Pat

h(u

m)

St Andrew'sChurch

62.4m

60.8m

60.3m

54.1m

WillowCottage

ApiaryBushrods

Pond

FB

Path (um)

Path

(um)

Sluice

The Rocks

Path (um)

PondPond

Path

(um

)

Quarry(disused)

KN

AP

LAN

E

Shelter

59.7m

GP

TCB

6

1

OrchardHouse B 4

058 The

Old Smithy

68.2m

Applegate

CornerHayes FA

RLE

IGH

LAN

E

Sodam Mill

St Andrew'sC of E School

Cliff

Slope

Water

Water

Water

Water

Water

Water

Water

Water

Water

Water

Water

Water

WaterWater

Water

Water

Path (um)

Abbotside

Dyer'sBrake

Path

(um)

Cottages

Talebrocke

Yew

Varley Farm

ETL

KimbersLea

Water

Water

Pond

PondSettling

PpgSta

RoseleighCottage

Playground

Cottage

Cromhall

BeechHouse

The Grange

Longcross View

Quarry(Stone)

El Ps

El Ps

67.4m

TH

E B

UR

LTO

NS

PondWater

Trac

kTree

House

PO

4

The Barn

PostOffice

Cottage

Gilderdale

LionLyntonHouse

Cottage

CottageWell

Cottage

1:25 000 scale (4 cm to 1 km or 2½ inches to 1 mile)

1 metre = 3.3 feet100 metres = 328 feet1 kilometre = 0.62 mile 1 mile = 1.6 kilometres

© Crown copyrightThis leaflet may be freely copied

1:50 000 scale (2 cm to 1 km or 1¼ inches to 1 mile)

Other map scales are available, more details at: www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk

1:10 000 scale (10 cm to 1 km or 6 inches to 1 mile)1:2500 scale (40 cm to 1 km or 25 inches to 1 mile)

Ordnance Survey map scales