We have a wide collection of e-resources and databases. Following a cyber-attack in October 2023 these are not available at the moment.
Until these are reinstated, here is a list of useful resources which can be accessed for free:
Library Hub Discover
This database holds details of map and map related collections held in many national, academic and specialist libraries held in Britain and Ireland including our interim catalogue.
Home - British Library Images (bl.uk)
This is our picture library which holds a good selection of maps.
Qatar Digital Library (qdl.qa)
Some printed and manuscript maps from the India Office collection have been uploaded to this site.
Some maps, manuscript and India Office records can be seen on the Discovery catalogue.
The majority of the King’s Topographical Collection has been uploaded to this site and can be viewed and downloaded for free.
This collection can also be accessed on Flickr via Library Hub Discover and downloaded for free.
Category:Ordnance Survey Drawings - Wikimedia Commons
This site holds the majority of Ordnance Surveyors Drawings which can be downloaded for free.
Category:Goad fire insurance maps of England - Wikimedia Commons
Goad Fire Insurance maps of England, free to download.
Globes - A 3D model collection by British Library (@britishlibrary) - Sketchfab
Free access to a small selection of our miniature globes
Some British Library maps available on this site.
ESTC - Print & Probability
Search interface of the records on the English Short Title Catalogue. The ESTC describes printed items published before 1800 in the British Isles, in British colonies, or in the English Language and includes some map and map related items.
Google Books
Access over 700,000 digitised books from the British Library. Use this filtered search to find books from our collection some of which contain maps.
Europeana
Includes maps and map related material from institutions across Europe including the British Library.
This collection of blogs by Maps staff and guest writers covers all aspects of mapping from around the world.