Geocoding postcodes and grid reference : PostView Points by Beacon Dodsworth

Geocoding

UK postcode geocoder

PostView Points is a basic geographical lookup table which lists all the 1.8 million UK postcodes and their grid references. With this information, postcodes are plotted on a map and the crow fly distance between all UK postcodes is generated answering "Where's my nearest…from my postcode?" questions.

Postcode updates

PostView Points has recently been updated to incorporate the postcode changes in the Royal Mail Update 44. It also comes with a database of all past postcode changes so you can clean your database addresses.

Alternatively, you can buy the postcode updates file seperately. It contains all the recorded postcode changes since 1990. See below for a sample.

Search the postcode updates for changes (e.g. 'CM7 5BS', 'CM7 5', 'CM7').

What can I use PostView Points for?

Use PostView Points alongside your customer database to plot your customers on a map or work out the crow fly distance between two postcodes (e.g. their home and your store). PostView Points allows you to take a set of co-ordinates and convert them into postcodes or vice versa.

Use PostView Points in a GIS to map locations or on a website or PC as a postcode look up tool.

If you want us to do the mapping for you, see our bureau service for details.

What makes up PostView Points?

Sourced from the Royal Mail Postcode Address File (PAF®) the data making up PostView Points is the most up-to-date and complete postcode database in the UK, containing over 27 million addresses and 1.8 million postcodes. We refine and improve the file by calculating grid references for all postcodes* as the PAF® does not always provide the co-ordinates of updated or new postcodes. Longitude and Latitude fields can also be included as a free optional extra.

* excluding Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey, for which grid references do not exist   

We also sell the PAF® as sourced from the Royal Mail. Click here for more details.

PostView Points Simple

PostView Points Simple gives the grid reference and longitude and latitude co-ordinates for every UK postcode to the nearest 100m. See below for a sample.

For finer resolution, down to 1m, we can supply Ordnance Survey Code-Point.

PostView Points Complex

If you want details on the postcode area, town, locality and county that the postcode falls within, PostView Points Complex provides these details. Longitude and latitude co-ordinates can also be supplied. This information allows you to conduct postcode to town searches or find the postcode area a known place name is within. See below for a sample.

PostView Places

Use PostView Places in a GIS to plot locations or on a website or PC to identify the postcode sector a known place name is within.

Prices

The prices below are for a full UK single-user annual licence agreement. When you buy PostView Points Simple or Complex you also receive the Postcode Updates file for free. In addition to this, you will get updates of postcode changes, as and when they are released by Royal Mail, ensuring you are always working with the most up-to-date data.

For multi-user and web-licence prices or to buy any of the above data products, call us on 01904 701020 or complete our enquiry form.