Loss of OS maps in Bing

OS have had a special offer on around Xmas/N Year the last couple of years, IIRC 50% off for 12 month sub
 
nog said:
OS have had a special offer on around Xmas/N Year the last couple of years, IIRC 50% off for 12 month sub
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Thanks for the heads-up. That's pretty good - I'll look out for it. But getting it for free (desktop only) is better! I prefer paper maps for actual route-finding in the field though.
 
You can get some maps for free using the OS Maps website or their app. I’m not sure which aspects of the full maps that are not available.
 
jerry12953 said:
Thanks for the heads-up. That's pretty good - I'll look out for it. But getting it for free (desktop only) is better! I prefer paper maps for actual route-finding in the field though.
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We find them useful for locations where the path is not obvious and locating the exit without knowing where it is to be very difficult. having live GPS location is very helpful.
 
You can print your own maps from OS Maps, and download onto your phone for using offline. I'm with you on paper maps for primary navigation. The phone is a back up. The browser version is invaluable for planning.
 
jerry12953 said:
For several years I've been used to accessing OS maps through the Bing browser but that seems to have suddenly disappeared.

Anyone else had the same thing happen or know if the other browsers include OS maps?
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Yes, I noticed it disappear a while ago. I did check out an OS sub, but before I got round to doing anything about it, Bing had the maps back. Now looks like they have gone again. I could never get it on IOS, but was fine on my MBP via Safari.

I assume that this is about a contract renewal, guessing that OS wanted more than poor, cash-strapped MS were prepared to pay!
 
I run a hobby project called 'Simon Likes Maps', which is a web application that lets you do route planning on various good topo maps, including OS. I've noticed a few people arriving recently from searches similar to this post - ie, looking replacements for OS maps. Which is how I found this post so I thought I'd sign up to share info about my project. As a new member I cannot post a link (reasonably enough) but if you google 'Simon Likes Maps' you should find it.

Hopefully this is helpful. I started the app to help with my own interest in planning routes to go to interesting places and I usually lug an Olympus E-PL7 along, so to offset the spam potential somewhat here is a pic from last winter on Raise in the Lakes:

AP1GczOVZYnNC2yhyEwbnMYaIQ_02wmyit8eU6uZsE6Re0NHN1T7c_AGhbxIcXCo0IdjkuErWjZFMSLM9L_2rmVsEIS6gYajdYdsKoIvw8klbbhWn93YkBLL_0HrrVchqPs38WsOxIT5DHgiL1hZrk8M1Eot=w2880-h1470-s-no-gm
 
sfreytag said:
Hopefully this is helpful. I started the app to help with my own interest in planning routes to go to interesting places and I usually lug an Olympus E-PL7 along, so to offset the spam potential somewhat here is a pic from last winter on Raise in the Lakes:
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Thanks for gently introducing yourself to the Forum, Simon, rather than going full-on advert. And thank you too for posting that picture, which is a lovely view.
 
@sfreytag As you know you aren't allowed to post links, and seem to realise that advertising without asking is poor manners, I won't tell you off! As Toni says, you posted a nice image and your intention is clearly to be helpful, so welcome to the forum. I hope you'll continue to share your images, that's what it's about (and chatting about photography too of course!).
 
If you use the ridewithgps.com website you can select from a range of different maps in the top right. I use it for planning cycling or running routes. But it can be used for hiking too. Indeed, there is a specific one called OSM Outdoor for this.

They are not Ordinance Survey maps (OSM stands for OpenStreetMap) but they are, to my mind, just as good in terms of functionality. If slightly less beautiful

map2.jpg
 
Thanks for the welcome and not telling me off! Now I am here I can imagine posting a few more pics, I used to use 500px but gave up because it was a bit too wide open.

Re brought up on OS maps - yes, same here. I do like the extra layer of info from OSM - agree that they can be very functional. One feature on SLM that motivates me to keep working on it (ie, something not found elsewhere / I use a lot) is a mashup of the two - the ability to overlay OSM paths on OS map to augment the OS map. Add in the satellite spy tool and you get a really useful set of tools to plan routes, especially in areas you don't know too well.
 
jerry12953 said:
Thanks for the heads-up. That's pretty good - I'll look out for it. But getting it for free (desktop only) is better! I prefer paper maps for actual route-finding in the field though.
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Offer on now for £17.49

Online maps & routes for walking, cycling and running | OS Maps - OS Maps

Get inspired & explore the outdoors with unlimited maps across multiple devices. Find & create routes for walking, hiking, running, cycling & more. Try it for free.
shop.ordnancesurvey.co.uk
 
Hi, I sought out this thread because the last couple of weeks (Jan 2026) streetmap.co.uk seems to have finally gone offline. :oops: :$:eek: I'm kind of surprised, though grateful, it lasted all these decades.

I had been hobbling along with streetmap.co.uk since lockdown to find walking spots with good views, then of course I plan the walk with plotaroute.com walkingrouteplanner but suddenly I felt lost with it gone!

I just wanted to extend my thanks to @sfreytag for gently holding down the barbed wire of this forum's posting rules to let me hop across into the field he calls 'Simon Likes Maps', in which I can view Landranger 1:50,000 and Explorer 1:25,000 map tiles in a pretty neat and clean interface without having to pull out my wallet. I cannot vouch for the longevity of his project, especially if hordes of us start traipsing across his way, but for now I am grateful that the admins let his post stand.
 
Artemgy said:
Hi, I sought out this thread because the last couple of weeks (Jan 2026) streetmap.co.uk seems to have finally gone offline. :oops: :$:eek: I'm kind of surprised, though grateful, it lasted all these decades.

I had been hobbling along with streetmap.co.uk since lockdown to find walking spots with good views, then of course I plan the walk with plotaroute.com walkingrouteplanner but suddenly I felt lost with it gone!

I just wanted to extend my thanks to @sfreytag for gently holding down the barbed wire of this forum's posting rules to let me hop across into the field he calls 'Simon Likes Maps', in which I can view Landranger 1:50,000 and Explorer 1:25,000 map tiles in a pretty neat and clean interface without having to pull out my wallet. I cannot vouch for the longevity of his project, especially if hordes of us start traipsing across his way, but for now I am grateful that the admins let his post stand.
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Yes, I can no longer log in to Street Map.

The OS must be tightening up on free access to their maps. Can't say I blame them but its a shame.
 
Streetmap.co.uk back up and running.

Pete
 
To be fair to the OS the free tier in the new DataHub is surprisingly generous (well, I thought so anyway) and they don't require a payment card, so it is low-stress. If I do hit the limit, it'll warn me and otherwise just cut off the supply of tiles...

It is more generous than I remember the old OpenSpace API being, which is I think why so many sites like mine ended up using Bing's API. At the time that was generous and much easier to integrate into an app. However, having swapped over, I am appreciating the sharper map tiles and the newer mapping. It took a while for updates to filter thru to Bing - comparison here: https://bsky.app/profile/simonlikesmaps.bsky.social/post/3lf5iaaint22k

In February so far, I have had 3,197 map views. This is split between free OpenData map and the premium data (ie, the good stuff - Landranger/Explorer raster tiles). 2,729 of those views count as premium. But this is less than 1% of my free allowance.

A map view is defined as 15 tiles, so my guess is that the intent is for a 'view' to equate to filling a normal-ish screen with a map. Bigger screens obviously need more tiles. Browser caching is acceptable to the T&Cs. This means once a user logs in and loads the screen for the bit they're interested in and and maybe pans around / zooms in and out a bit, then a lengthy route planning session might only equate to 3 or 4 map views.

In that context SLM has plenty of space yet for hoards to traipse over. I guess walkingclub.co.uk and others are also appreciating this generosity. It must be what is powering StreetMap too, though they run the tiles through their own server, so it is not immediately clear where it comes from. The tiles look up to date though, so I don't think they're paying for Bing Maps (there's an 'enterprise' api where you can still get the OS maps, I think, but I assume it would still have older tiles).

Meanwhile, I need to keep my end up and post a pic as well as talk maps. We've had another winter since I first posted, so I can dig up a this-winter pic to go with the last-winter one above. This is from Ben Wyvis in January, the day was more overcast and windy than the forecast had predicted and my camera ended up in the rucksack, but we had a 30min break in the weather when it was worth getting it out again.

P1100051b-ex.jpg
 
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