Digital boundaries

We maintain digital boundaries for a range of geographies to support the production of statistics. More information on the geographies can be found in the metadata that accompanies the download files and in the Beginner's Guide section of the website.

Product Details

Digital boundaries are produced as Shape files (a format produced by ESRI), with accompanying metadata in HTML format which can be displayed in any internet browser. Boundaries can be supplied in Mid/Mif (a format produced by MapInfo) on request. Please contact us for details.

Boundaries for each geography are created at full resolution and in a generalised format. We offer two coastal extents for the full and generalised sets, 'extent of the realm' and 'clipped to the coastline'.

The four boundary types produced are designed to be used in different contexts (such as analysis or visualisation). It is important that users understand which boundary type they require by reading the boundary guidance document contained in the Downloads section.

Availability

Most Great Britain coverage boundaries are now freely available under the OS OpenData agreement.

To obtain boundaries, please complete a boundary request form from the Downloads section and email it to ONS Geography .