How to find a grid reference

A grid reference is the most accurate way to record where you saw a plant or animal. Here is how you can find the grid reference of a location.    

For a record to be useful, we need an accurate location. A grid reference is a six-digit reference prefixed by a two-letter code. For example, SP 244 532. This reference is accurate to 100 metres.

Find grid references online

The quickest way to find a grid reference of a location is to go to the UK Grid Reference Finder and right click on the location – it’s that simple!

Find grid references with a paper map

Another way to find a grid reference is to use an Ordnance Survey map. To do that, you need to understand the National Grid. 

For accurate grid references, use a 1:25,000 (4 cm to 1 km / 2 ½ inches to 1 mile) Explorer map (identified by their orange cover).

First part of a grid reference

The Ordnance Survey divides the UK into 100 km squares. Each 100 km square has a two-letter code, which forms the first part of your grid reference.

In Oxfordshire and Berkshire, the codes are:

  • SU (Berkshire and south Oxfordshire)
  • SP (north Oxfordshire)
  • TQ (easternmost part of Berkshire)


map of oxfordshire and berkshire
Figure 1. Map showing the 100 km squares on a map of Oxfordshire and Berkshire

As an example grid reference, we will look at a location in the box labelled 'SP' in the figure 1 map. 

Second part of a grid reference

Each 100 km square is divided into 1 km squares - the lines you see on an Ordnance Survey map. Each one of these lines is labelled with two numbers (figure 2). 



grid reference for 1 km square
Figure 2. Grid showing the 100 km square divided into 1 km squares

In our example (figure 2), the 1 km square we are looking at in is filled in.

To build the code for our example, find the following: 

  • the 100 km letter code
  • the number of the vertical line running down the left-hand side of the 1 km square (the easting)
  • the number of the horizontal line running along the bottom of the 1 km square (the northing)

For our example, we can see that the grid reference for the square is SP 24 53.

Third part of a grid reference

The next step is to work out the full six-figure grid reference. 

We subdivide the 1 km square into 100 m squares (figure 3). These subdivisions are marked but not numbered on the outside edge of a 1:25,000 Explorer map. 



grid reference for 100 m square
Figure 3. Grid showing the location within the 1 km square

To get the final part of the reference:

  • count the 100 m subdivisions to the east (right) of the nearest vertical 1 km line
  • count the 100 m subdivisions to the north (above) of the nearest horizontal 1 km line

In our figure 3 example, the star is:

  • four subdivisions to the east (of 24)
  • two subdivisions to the north (of 53)

These numbers (4 and 2) form the third and sixth digits of your six-figure grid reference. 

Combining all parts, our example grid reference is: SP 244 532.

Tips for recording the correct reference

Making mistakes with grid references, such as swapping the easting and northing numbers or providing the wrong two-letter reference, is quite common. However, grid references are easy if you keep the following tips in mind:

  1. Order matters: think of it as moving through a building. First, you go "along the corridor" (which corresponds to the easting value). Then, you go "up the stairs" (which corresponds to the northing value).
  2. Double-check: always verify the 100 km two-letter reference on your map.