Grid references on OS maps

How to give four figure grid references

A grid reference is a way of giving a position on a map

31 32 33 34 35 36

31 32 33 34 35 36

Grid lines called Eastings are from top to bottom

Grid line numbers are at the top and bottom

So this is Easting 35

Say it as ‘three five’, not as thirty five.

27

26

25

24

23

22

27

26

25

24

23

22

Grid lines from side to side are called Northings

Grid line numbers are along both sides

So this is Northing 24

Say it as ‘two four’, not twenty four

A

27

26

25

24

23

22

27

26

25

24

23

22

31 32 33 34 35 36

31 32 33 34 35 36

What is the four figure grid reference for this square?

A

31 32 33 34 35 36

31 32 33 34 35 36

Find the line along the left of the square.

This is Easting 34

A

27

26

25

24

23

22

27

26

25

24

23

22

This is Northing 25

Find the line along the bottom of the square.

A

25

34 The four figure grid reference is 3425

Easting 34

Northing 25Say it as ‘three four two five’

• Find the square

• Look at the line on its left (Easting)

• Find its number from the top or bottom

• Look at the line along its bottom (Northing)

• Find its number from either side

• Write the Easting number, then the Northing number

Remember

27

26

25

24

23

22

27

26

25

24

23

22

31 32 33 34 35 36

31 32 33 34 35 36

What are the four figure grid references for the squares with these symbols?

3124

3223

3525

3522

3325

All right?

Some wrong?

Double click icons

How to give a

six figure grid

reference

27

26

25

24

23

22

27

26

25

24

23

22

31 32 33 34 35 36

31 32 33 34 35 36

The church is in square 3224, but where exactly is it?

27

26

25

24

23

22

27

26

25

24

23

22

31 32 33 34 35 36

31 32 33 34 35 36

It is nearer to 33 than to 32

It is nearer to 24 than to 25

But how ‘near’ is nearer?We need to look more closely.

Look closer at one grid square

320 330

32 33

240 24

250 25

328

243

A six figure reference at 328243

Draw lines between the main grid lines

Say it as ‘three two eight, two four three’

• Find the point in the square

• Find the four figure grid reference

• See how far the point is from the line on the left of the square to the line on the right

• See how far the point is from the line along the bottom of the square to the line along the top

Remember

320 330

320 330

240 240

250 250

330248

325243

326247

327240

322246

Where are these symbols?

All right?

Some wrong?

Double click icons

This line first

Then this line

32

24

3224

Remember

32

24

327

This line first

Then this line

246

Church at 327246

Remember