Historic Map Viewer

Discover Your Area's Past and Present with Our Map Tool

Unearth the history and geography of your area with our user-friendly map tool! Compare present-day maps with historical ones from across the nation or specifically in London. View the maps side by side, and utilize the slider to focus on particular regions. Search for towns, streets, or postcodes to see their appearance in the past. It's an excellent way to learn about your area's past and present, whether you're a history buff, geographically inclined, or simply curious!

Click the magnifying glass icon on the map to access the search bar. Enter a street, place, or postcode and press enter. On a mobile device, tap the 'return' key on your on-screen keyboard to begin the search. The map will display the selected area, making it simple to find locations without scrolling or zooming on the map.

The Value of Historical Maps

Historical maps serve a variety of users, such as researchers, historians, cartographers, urban planners, and archaeologists. They're also beneficial for homebuyers and property owners who want to delve into the history of their house or the surrounding area. Historical maps can help homebuyers understand neighborhood changes over time and land usage. By examining maps from various time periods, people can learn about the development of the built environment and transportation networks. For those curious about their house's history, historical maps can reveal past property owners, its purposes, and development. Furthermore, historical maps can help identify landmarks and features that may have been lost or significantly altered, making them vital tools for preserving cultural heritage.

London's Historical Maps

The Ordnance Survey Five-foot to the mile (1:1,056) map of London, UK, produced between 1893 and 1896, was a landmark achievement in British cartography.

This map, one of the most detailed ever made of London at the time, offered unparalleled accuracy and detail, including every street, building, and even individual trees, designed to assist people in navigating the rapidly expanding city. The map was crafted using cutting-edge surveying techniques and was the product of a dedicated team of expert surveyors and cartographers. Today, the Ordnance Survey Five-foot to the mile (1:1,056) map of London stands as a captivating historical artifact and a testament to the creativity and expertise of its creators.

1:10,560 County Series 1900

The Ordnance Survey six-inch to the mile (or 1:10,560) County Series maps, produced in 1900, signified a major advancement in the accuracy and detail of UK map-making. The series offered detailed and precise topographical data, including contours, roads, buildings, and boundaries, making them indispensable tools for a variety of purposes, from land management and urban planning to military strategy and geological surveying. The maps were also visually appealing, with clear and easy-to-read symbols and a range of colors to differentiate landscape features. The County Series maps quickly became an essential resource for professionals in geography, cartography, and surveying, and they continue to be an important historical record of the UK's landscape and built environment.