The National Archives holds more than six million maps and plans, ranging from the 14th century to the modern day. The British Isles are well represented in our collections, among other places from all round the globe.
We hold a considerable number of early town maps of the UK, as well as colourful representations of marsh land, verdant forests and the countryside. Railway maps from the 19th century show new lines completed and in progress across the country.
Many early cartographic representations of Ireland also feature in our collections, including the famous map below of Hibernia drawn by John Goghe in 1567.
Some of our maps are signed by well-known mapmakers of the day, or even bear annotations by famous or important people such as Sir William Cecil. Christopher Wren's signature can be seen below on the plan of a house and gardens in central London, from the time when he was Surveyor General.
We have numerous maps of London and its surrounding areas, from a boundary map of the Greater London Plan Area to panoramics of the River Thames.
Find out more about our Ordnance Survey maps showing the London Underground lines and an innovative map designed to help Victorian ladies find their way to and from the Great Exhibition in our blog.
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Ashburton, Devon, 1605
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/maps/mpb1-7-ashburton-devon-1605.jpgCatalogue reference: MPB 1/7
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Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, 1639
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/maps/mpf1-287-newcastle-upon-tyne-northumberland-1639.jpgCatalogue reference: MPF 1/287
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Ireland by John Goghe, 1567
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/maps/mpf1-68-ireland-by-john-goghe-1567.jpgCatalogue reference: MPF 1/68
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Isle of Sheppey, 1572
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/maps/mpf1-240-isle-of-sheppey-1572.jpgCatalogue reference: MPF 1/240
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St Buryan, Cornwall and adjacent parishes, 1574
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/maps/mpf1-332-st-buryan-cornwall-and-adjacent-parishes-1574.jpgCatalogue reference: MPF 1/332
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Bradshaw's map of railways of Great Britain, 1839
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/maps/mps3-4-bradshaws-map-of-railways-of-great-britain-1839.jpgCatalogue reference: RAIL 1031/10
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Greater London Plan, local authority boundaries 1943
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/maps/mf1-1-(19)-greater-london-plan-1944-local-authority-boundaries-1943.jpgCatalogue reference: MF 1/1 (19)
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West coast of Britain by John Norden, c1610
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/maps/mpf1-65-west-coast-of-britain-by-john-norden-c1610.jpgCatalogue reference: MPF 1/65
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River Thames, London 1662 (left half)
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/maps/work38-331-river-thames-london-1662-left-half.jpgCatalogue reference: WORK 38/331
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River Thames, London 1662 (right half)
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/maps/work38-331-river-thames-london-1662-right-half.jpgCatalogue reference: WORK 38/331
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Hainault, King's Forest, 1791
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/maps/mpee1-21-hainault-kings-forest-1791.jpgCatalogue reference: MPEE 1/21
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Signature and seal of Christopher Wren on a London plan, 1673
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/maps/mpa1-22-signature-and-seal-of-christopher-wren-on-a-london-plan-1673.jpgCatalogue reference: MPA 1/22
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Plan of Brighton and Kemp town, 1830
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/maps/mpI1-343-new-plan-of-brighton-and-kemp-town-1830.jpgCatalogue reference: MPI 1/343
This is just a selection. Contact licensing@nationalarchives.gov.uk for more image solutions.
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