Early maps of London and other cities and towns

What you can find in the Library

You’ll find a large collection of early maps of London and other British cities and towns in our collection.

Detail from a map in The A to Z of Georgian London

John Rocque et al, Plan of the cities of London and Westminster, and borough of Southwark & Guildhall Library (London, England) The A to Z of Georgian London, 1981, detail, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn291177

Henry Austen et al, Liverpool with its Parliamentary and municipal boundaries, together with part of the river Mersey and the opposite Cheshire Coast, 1854, detail, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-232464598

This excerpt from a map of the city of Liverpool, published in 1854, shows details of the city on the banks of the River Mersey, including docks, warehouses, public baths, and a gaol.

Henry Austen et al, Liverpool with its Parliamentary and municipal boundaries, together with part of the river Mersey and the opposite Cheshire Coast, 1854, detail, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-232464598

This excerpt from a map of the city of Liverpool, published in 1854, shows details of the city on the banks of the River Mersey, including docks, warehouses, public baths, and a gaol.

How to search, find and access items

Search the catalogue

Search the catalogue for the city or town name (for example, Liverpool). Including the word "city" in your search may be useful in some cases.
From the Limit your search options on the right-hand side, select Format, then Maps.
Tip: If the same city name is in different countries, Limit your search by Geographic to select the correct country.
Sort the results by Date Old to New.

Tip: Many maps have been digitised and can be viewed online and downloaded. To see just these, from the Limit your search options on the right-hand side, select Access, then National Library (digitised item).

Reproduction atlas search

There are also several detailed reproduction atlases of London available, such as The A to Z of Georgian London.

To find and request these:

Search for the name of the city or town AND facsimiles (for example, London facsimiles)
From the Limit your search options on the right-hand side, select Format, then Maps.

Subject search

Subject headings can be useful when searching for places on maps and atlases.

Go to the catalogue.
Select Subject from the All fields dropdown menu to the left of the search box.
Search for a place name (for example, London)
From the Limit your search options on the right-hand side, select Format, then Maps.

Request to view a map at the Library

If the map or atlas you want is not digitised, you can request to view the map at the Library in one of our reading rooms.

Open the catalogue record
Click Request
Click Select
Complete the rest of the details of the form and submit your request.

How to order copies of maps

Once you have identified maps of interest, you can order copies of material that is out of copyright using our Copies Direct service.

If the item you wish to order is a single map:

Click on Order a Copy at the top of the catalogue record
Select Whole item and complete the order.

If the item you wish to order is a map within an atlas:

Click on Order a Copy at the top of the catalogue record
Select Part(s) of item and specify the page or plate required in the Sheet/Plate number field and complete the order.

Get help with your research

Our specialist staff can help you with your research, to locate resources and use our microform and scanning equipment but they cannot undertake extensive or ongoing genealogical, historical or other research on your behalf.

Find out more in our Information and research services policy.

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