Map Collections and Online Map Catalogues
(See also Information Sheets 2A and 2B. Also, many of the library catalogues listed on the University Library's Library Catalogues page will contain map records).
NB Only a small part of Cambridge University Library's map collection is catalogued online. This is the same in many other libraries so bear this in mind when searching their online catalogues. Although now a little outdated the article here may be of interest.
Also see the Map Collections pages on the Map History / History of Cartography site.
Directory of UK Map Collections
Aerial Photograph Collections. See the relevant section of our Cartographic Resources LibGuide page.
Archives Collections and Catalogues, some of which will include maps:
- Access to Archives (A2A). Catalogue describing archives held locally in England and Wales and dating from the eighth century to the present day. The resources described for the A2A project can now be searched via The National Archives Discovery catalogue.
- ArchiveSearch. Online catalogue of archives held throughout Cambridge University.
- Archives Hub. Brings together descriptions of thousands of the UK’s archive collections - a national gateway to descriptions of archives in UK universities and colleges.
- ARCHON Directory. Includes contact details for record repositories in the United Kingdom.
- Cambridge Archivists Group. For archivists and others who are interested in the profession in Cambridge. Find details of local events taking place, as well as news features on projects in the city.
- Cambridge Archives and Collections Fair. Guide to library and archive collections in Cambridge that might provide original source material for your dissertation. Includes tips on using archives.
- Historic England. The public archive of Historic England provide information on the archaeology and architecture of England. Includes aerial photographs (including USAAF reconnaissance photography during the Second World War), photographs, plans, drawings and documents. Also try the Heritage Gateway for listing information and local historic environment records.
- The National Archives (TNA). One of the largest archival collections in the world, spanning 1000 years of British history including many maps some of which can be located via their online Discovery catalogue. Their Research Guides are also useful, for example: Maps and Plans ; Sea Charts ; Valuation Office Survey 1910-1915 ; Overseas Maps and Plans. See also the help with your research pages. The National Digital Archive of Datasets (NDAD) preserves and provides online access to archived digital datasets and documents from UK central government departments may also be of interest.
- National Records of Scotland (NRS). Formed on 1 April 2011 from the merger of the National Archives of Scotland with the General Register Office for Scotland.
Bodleian Library Map Room. Map records are included in their online catalogue and their old card catalogue used to be searchable via the Maps Flip-Book Catalogue. See also the Selden Map of China. Bodleian Map Room Blog. Maps and atlases in Digital Bodleian. The Oxford Seminars in Cartography (TOSCA) on YouTube. Gough Map of Great Britain online
British Geological Survey (BGS) Library. The Survey's library includes geological mapping from all over the World. BGS website includes links to scanned records.
British Library Map Library. The largest publicly accessible map collection in the country. See the Cartographical Collections guide and the more detailed Collection Guides. Includes the map collection of the India Office Records. BLs Maps and Views blog. Catalogue records for items in the collections can be found via Explore the British Library (note that the India Office Records are not included). Digital Collections (scroll to bottom of page). Maps and views from King George III Topographical and Maritime Collection can be seen on Flickr ; useful tips on searching for the maps on Flickr. The Ordnance Surveyors’ Drawings, 1789-c1840, are manuscript maps from which the earliest 1:63,360 (1” to 1 mile maps) maps were derived. CUL Map Department has black and white facsimiles of some of these. The originals are in the British Library and colour images can be seen on Wikimedia Commons. Have a look at the Cambridge sheet and the Ely sheet. Goad Fire Insurance Plans can be viewed on Wikimedia Commons
British Museum. Online catalogue of its collections including prints, drawings and views. Note that the catalogue is not yet complete. Includes images of some items.
Cambridge University Library. One of the six Legal Deposit Libraries. iDiscover is the Library's online catalogue. Tips on searching iDiscover for maps and atlases. More information on the Map Department collections. [If iDiscover is unavailable use Library Hub Discover where you can limit your search to University of Cambridge Libraries by clicking on 'More search options' and selecting 'University of Cambridge Libraries' from the 'Library' section].
Cartesius Project. Search for maps digitised by various institutions in Belgium - city scapes, aerial photos, orthophotos, sketches and drawings. More information available here
CartoMundi. A collaborative project producing a union catalogue of maps and plans of all parts of the world though originally concentrating on Mediterranean countries. Includes written descriptions of maps and map series, graphic indexes and, in the Digital Map Library section, some map images.
COPAC (see Library Hub Discover)
Early English Books Online. Search for maps using the Advanced Search option. (May not be available outside 'cam' domain).
Enclosure Maps. Electronic catalogue of enclosure maps of England and Wales (click on the 'search catalogue' button on the left hand side) to accompany the printed book by Roger J. P. Kain, John Chapman, and Richard R. Oliver, The Enclosure Maps of England and Wales, 1595-1918 (Cambridge University Press, 2004). CUL classmark S696.b.200.131.
Eighteenth Century Collections Online. In Advanced Search look for items containing maps. (May not be available outside 'cam' domain).
Geological Society. Extensive collection of geological maps and related documents.
Guildhall Library - print and map collections. See London Metropolitan Archives.
Hydrographic Office Archive (UKHO). Supports the day-to-day operations of the UKHO and is also a place of deposit under the Public Records Act. It contains hundreds of thousands of hydrographic records in varying formats and in different languages. No Online catalogue though scans of some old Admiralty chart catalogues are available (and Cambridge University Library has paper copies of many at classmark Atlas.1.06). Thousands of documents have been transferred to The National Archives.
International Boundaries Research Unit (IBRU), Durham. Research centre on international boundary making and dispute resolution.
Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining (IOM3) Library. Rich and diverse map collection (in Grantham, Lincolnshire), primarily serving IOM3 members but welcome external researchers, etc. Open access online catalogue.
KVK catalogue. A world-wide union library catalogue, including maps.
Library Hub Discover A union catalogue providing free access to the merged online catalogues of major university and research libraries in the UK and Ireland. Includes map records where available. Note that the online catalogues of the individual libraries will, inevitably, be slightly more current than Library Hub Discover. Tips on searching Library Hub Discover. A list of contributing libraries.
Library of Congress Geography & Map Reading Room. Vast map collection with many map records available in their online catalogue. Also an online Map Collection with map images and a Geospatial application through which to explore the "incredible stories of Library of Congress collections through immersive narratives, multimedia, and interactive maps".
The London Archives Large collection of maps, views, etc. of London with online catalogue for part of collection. London Picture Archive, their image database, includes some maps and views.
Manchester University - John Rylands Research Institute and Library Collection of paper maps but see also the map images available online in their digital library, including the Mapping Manchester collection
National Collection of Aerial Photography (NCAP). Aerial imagery from around the world some of which is available online.
National Library of Scotland. Extensive collection particularly strong on Scottish mapping. Some map records are included in the online catalogue. Their website includes some useful links and some excellent images of maps of Scotland including the Roy Military Survey of Scotland, 1747-1755 (although not a NLS website see also the Roy's Roads website which includes a tracing of his roads on a modern map) and some Georeferenced maps including Scottish coastal charts, Ordnance Survey 1944-1950 Air Photo Mosaics, smaller scale maps of England, Wales, Ireland and Belgium, and their holdings of British trench maps of the Western Front at scales of 1:20,000 (GSGS 2742), 1:10,000 (GSGS 3062) and larger. They have scanned, and made available online, out-of-copyright Ordnance Survey maps at various scales. To get the most from the map images, see these tips on using the site. National Library of Scotland is also an Ordnance Survey Licensed Partner, and is able to provide copies of in-copyright superseded Ordnance Survey maps for commercial and non-private uses. Is also home of the Bartholomew Archive. The Library's Digital Gallery may also be of interest. Among the National Library of Scotland's greatest treasures are the earliest surviving detailed maps of Scotland, made by Timothy Pont over 400 years ago, in the 1580s and 1590s. See also, for example, Maps of Jamaica by James Robertson, 1804. Their Research Guides are really useful, their Projects page, or explore the Maps and Spatial Data page, including the GB1900 gazetteer the new interface for which is at OS 1900
National Library of Wales. Extensive collection with a particular strength in the mapping of Wales. Search for (some of their) maps in their online catalogue. Check out their Welsh Tithe Maps - Places of Wales website which incorporates tithe map and apportionment document data collected as part of the Cynefin : Mapping Wales’ sense of Place project. Digital Gallery.
National Maritime Museum - Royal Museums Greenwich. Strong on charts, maritime atlases and globes. Some online images.
Natural History Museum. Extensive collection of geological maps and related documents. World wide coverage. Online catalogue records are also available on Library Hub Discover.
Royal Geographical Society. Excellent map collection. Many map records are included in their online catalogue. Also try Wiley Digital Archives: Royal Geographical Society for images of some of the RGS collection, including some maps.
ShareGeo. Was a repository of geospatial data.
Sir John Soane's Museum Online Catalogue. Of particular interest may be the drawings catalogue which includes some plans of buildings, etc. The catalogue includes scanned images of many of the items.
Trinity College Library Dublin. One of the six Legal Deposit Libraries. The excellent map collection is, naturally, strong in Irish materials. Some maps can be found via their online catalogue.
Town Maps of Great Britain. Electronic catalogue of British town maps. Each entry has detailed bibliographic information plus a diagram showing the area covered by the map. Accompanied by a printed book of the same title by Roger J. P. Kain and Richard R. Oliver, The Town Maps of Great Britain.
UK Data Service. A national data service providing access and support for an extensive range of key economic and social data, both quantitative and qualitative, spanning many disciplines and themes. Data catalogue. Includes catalogue entry for Historic Parishes of England and Wales : an Electronic Map of Boundaries before 1850 with a Gazetteer and Metadata.
World Soil Survey Archive and Catalogue (WOSSAC). Project aiming to provide a secure home for soil survey reports, maps, imagery and photographs produced by British companies and surveyors overseas over the last 80 years in 250 territories, with a view to ensuring their enduring availability and protection.