Places to go
Discover some of the most amazing places in Britain to visit
Most Popular National Parks: Britain’s favourite routes
Most popular National Parks in Britain! Using real Ordnance Survey Data we compile a list of Britain's top route locations for outdoor adventures.
Britain’s weirdest local nicknames
Britain is treasure-trove of the weird, wonderful and occasionally rude place name, so we thought we'd pick out a few of our favourite of the weirdest local nicknames.
The North Highland Way
The North Highland Way will be a walking, horse riding and cycling route across the north of Scotland, connecting John O'Groats in the east to Durness in the west, a route of unimaginable beauty, wildlife, big skies and even bigger landscapes.
Visiting Skye Responsibly
The Isle of Skye is a magical place, home to a vibrant community and a diverse range of wildlife. But the ecosystems is vulnerable to disruption or damage, so here's how visitors can visit Skye responsibly and follow the ‘leave no trace’ ethos.
Try these 14 Routes with your TCS London Marathon MyWay Adventure
Complete the TCS London Marathon wherever you wish with 14 virtual OS Maps routes to try.
Best Christmas walks
Christmas and New Year offer so many reasons to put on your walking boots and head out into the great outdoors. Whether it’s to breathe in the refreshing winter air or to walk off your Christmas dinner, there’s nothing like a festive stroll. To help you find one near you, here are some of our most popular.
The nation’s favourite places
We asked the nation to share their favourite place and what it means to them. Find the best outdoor places near you!
Top 100 largest parks in Britain
Whether you seek nature, history, a place to play or just a moment of quiet, parks have something extraordinary to offer. Here are the top 100 largest parks in Britain.
10 best lochs in Scotland you must visit
From the island-rich Loch Maree and the secluded beaches of Loch Morar, OS Champion, Lisa Drewe, reveals her 10 best lochs in Scotland you must visit.
Areas of Natural Beauty
OS Champion, Anita Kerwin-Nye, set herself the challenge to visit all areas of natural beauty in England with her family. Here are 10 of her favourite areas including information on where to go and a recommended walk.
The Ridgeway
The Ridgeway National Trail is a historic footpath that stretches for 87 miles (139km) across southern England, from the World Heritage Site of Avebury in Wiltshire to the ancient hill fort of Ivinghoe Beacon in Buckinghamshire. Discover our favourite historic spots along the route, plus key information to help you walk it.
Traffic-free cycling routes in the West Midlands
British Cycling share their favourite traffic-free cycling routes within the West Midlands, all of which are available in OS Maps. These family-friendly routes are suitable for all cycling abilities and make a great day out.
South West Coast Path: 10 of the best spots
The South West Coast Path stretches from Minehead in Somerset to Poole Harbour in Dorset. Surging around the south coast, England’s longest National Trail is an awesome place in which to GetOutside. Here are 10 great spots to visit.
Best wild ruins for families to visit in the Midlands
Nikki Squires, author of Wild Guide Central England, shares her favourite wild ruins in the Midlands area and tips on how to visit. From the White Ladies Priory in Wolverhampton to the The Elephant Stone in Worcestershire, all these family-friendly locations make a great day out.
Best places to visit by train in the UK
OS Champion Fi Darby shares her favourite places in the UK to visit by train. From summits up Ben Nevis to wild swimming in Carbis Bay, there are thousands of amazing locations just a short walk from a train station.
Northumberland Coast Path
The Northumberland Coast Path offers some stunning coastal walking. The 62-mile (100km) waymarked route is the best way to experience this beautiful, varied landscape. Broken down into stages, here’s everything you need to know in order to walk the path.
Interesting facts about Blenheim Palace
Here are 20 interesting facts about Blenheim Palace you may not have known. Learn more about the palace and what to do there with this guide and make the most of your visit.
Visit Three Cliffs Bay, Gower Peninsula
Discover what you can see and do at Three Cliffs Bay (Bae y Tri Chlogwyn) in Gower, Wales. Find practical information on parking, facilities and accessibility to help you plan a great day out.
Outdoor places to visit near you
Get outside more often by exploring from your front door. Whether you like to take the kids to a park, the dog for a walk or yourself for a run, we take a look at how to find new outdoor places to visit near you.
25 island adventures in Britain for families
Having explored over 600 islands in Britain, Lisa Drewe shares some of her top family-friendly island adventures in Britain, plus recommended walking routes. Whether you are a hiker, sand-castle maker, beach lover, wildlife watcher or just have a curious mind, these family-friendly adventures will help make a great tip.
Most popular walking routes in OS Maps
OS Maps users have been busy over the last six months, following thousands of routes and saving their favourites. To help inspire your next adventure, we’re sharing the top 10 most popular walking route. All these routes are Trusted Routes, so they’ve been tried and tested by our partner experts up and down the nation, guaranteeing a great walk.
The best ‘hidden’ places to visit in Britain
Daniel Start, author of the award-winning Wild Guide guidebook series, reveals his favourite all-time hidden and wild spots to visit across Britain. Here are some ideas for the perfect adventure, pitstops included!
Things to do in Brecon Beacons National Park
Planning a trip to the Brecon Beacons? Take a look at our top things to do in Brecon Beacons National Park including some of the best waterfalls and viewpoints to visit.
Most haunted places in Britain to visit
Have your own fright night this Halloween by visiting one of Britain’s most haunted locations. We share the ghostly stories of our favourite places to go for a spooky day out. From castles to country parks, city bookshops and pubs - there's an eerie place for all.
Best UK locations to fossil hunt and spot wildlife
There are many fantastic locations in the UK for you to discover the fossilised remains of those that came before us, or admire the beauty of today's wildlife in its natural environment. Here are a few of our favourites.
Top 10 English Heritage castles
English Heritage protects and preserves some amazing historical buildings across the country. They asked their Facebook fans for their favourite British castles for a great day out. Here's the 10 best English Heritage castles to visit with the whole family.
10 best bothy walks
Author and outdoor guide, Geoff Allan shares his 10 best adventures from his book Scottish Bothy Walks.
Exploring Britain’s National Parks
OS GetOutside Champion Sean Conway runs a marathon in all 15 National Parks to highlight how incredible Great Britain is. We caught up with him to find out more about his challenge and discover what makes each National Park so special.
50 of the best day trips across GB
Whether it's a single day trip, or a series of long weekends, there's some epic things to see and do outside across Great Britain. The OS GetOutside Champions bring you 50 of the best day trip ideas!
London: staying wild in the city
Cities can often be unexpected treasure-troves of nature. Chris Platt explores London to discover where nature has taken up residence, and where you can reconnect with the wild.
10 best sunset views
We spoke to our OS GetOutside Champions about their favourite places in Britain to watch sunset. It was hard to choose a favourite so here’s ten of the best sunset views with details on how to get there.
Castles in the Brecon Beacons
The Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog) boasts a rich diversity of beautiful medieval castles offering interesting days out.
4 of the best outdoor bbq spots in the uk
The sun has finally come out which means its officially BBQ season. The sun has finally come out which means its officially BBQ season. Even if you have a back garden, venturing further afield can be an exciting experience for the whole family. Here's 4 of the best outdoors spots to BBQ this summer. Whether it's Scotland, Cornwall, The Lakes or Northumbria, there's always a spot for everyone to eat outside this BBQ season.
5 UK beaches for your bank holiday staycation
A staycation is the perfect opportunity to kick back and relax for a few days. If you’re dreaming of escaping to coastal views and brilliant surf, the great news is that you may not have to venture very far. Here are our favourite beaches across the UK.
Top 5 beaches to visit in scotland
Top 5 beaches to visit in Scotland: Co-author of the new Wild Guide Scotland, Richard Gaston, shares his top 5 Scottish beaches.
10 of the best geological features to see on the jurassic coast
The UNESCO World Heritage site of the Jurassic Coast features some of the most impressive geological features in Britain. Discover 10 of the best with GetOutside Champion, Martin Curtis.
Six views to enjoy in the loch lomond and trossachs national park
If you love photography, or enjoy beautiful views, try exploring the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. It has 720 square miles of rivers, lochs, waterfalls, hills and forests. Whatever time of year you visit, you’ll be treated to a whole host of stunning sights.
10 of the best places on the pennine way
Stretching for 267 miles and following the backbone of England, the Pennine Way is not just an arduous long distance walk that attracts crazy fell runners and determine hikers – it also links some of England's most amazing landscapes and fantastic features. So even if you don’t want to walk the whole route is worth hunting out these gems.
Wonderful waterfalls in the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park
The National Park at Loch Lomond is a 35-minute drive from Glasgow. It’s easy to get to by bus or train from Glasgow or Edinburgh or you can catch a ferry from Gourock, 28 miles outside Glasgow. The beautiful water rich landscape means you can discover some great waterfalls in the area.
Best places to go birdwatching in the broads
Find out our top recommendations for fantastic places to go Birdwatching in the Broads National Park.
Best road views in Britain
To mark the release of our brand new road maps, we discovered our favourite road views in the UK. Take a look at our top recommendations for that awe-inspiring driving view.
Visit Britain without a car
Fancy staying local this summer? Want to go on holiday or day trip but leave the hassle and stress of driving at home? Pack your bags, leave your car at home and make the most of what Britain has to offer.
Places to visit in The South Downs
The South Downs National Park is home to four bustling market towns as well as numerous picturesque villages and sleepy hamlets that make great bases for a visit.
Six easy south downs circular walks
Six easy circular walks to follow if you are visiting the South Downs. All easy to reach by bus or train if you fancy leaving the car behind.
Ten unbelievable views along the pembrokeshire coastal path
Discover 10 of the best views on offer along the 186 mile national trail, the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path.
Explore dartmoor national park
Discover the best parts of Dartmoor National Park with this guide
Spring scenery around britain
Discover some of Britain's favourite seasonal walking spots and indulge yourself with colourful spring scenery.
A guide to Scafell Pike
Guide to help you challenge yourself by hiking up Scafell Pike in the Lake District, England.
Discover more with national parks fortnight
Britain's 15 National Parks offer outdoor activities from sightseeing to extreme sports. Read our 30 second intro to each one here.
All about the south downs way
Situated between Eastbourne and Winchester, the South Downs Way is a designated National Trail which meanders 101 miles through some of Sussex and Hampshire’s most stunning countryside.
Top 5 Dark Sky locations in Great Britain
There are many dark sky locations across the UK, with most being publicly accessible and recognised as some of the best in the world. Here are our top five locations to go stargazing. So, grab your camera and enjoy the view!