Query for a Place

Search for places that match a given query string. This endpoint returns a list of matching places with their associated data, sourced from Ordnance Survey's Open Names dataset.

The search performs full-text matching against the place's primary and secondary names (case insensitive), falling back to prefix matching when there is no full-text hit.

Returns a 200 response with either an empty array or up to 100 matching place entities.

Endpoint

GET https://api.postcodes.io/places?q=[query]

Example Request

https://api.postcodes.io/places?q=London&limit=3

Example Response

{
  "status": 200,
  "result": [
    {
      "code": "osgb4000000074564391",
      "name_1": "London",
      "name_1_lang": null,
      "name_2": null,
      "name_2_lang": null,
      "local_type": "Capital City",
      "outcode": "SW1A",
      "county_unitary": "Greater London",
      "county_unitary_type": "GB/GLA",
      "district_borough": "Westminster",
      "district_borough_type": "GB/LBO",
      "region": "London",
      "country": "England",
      "longitude": -0.124669,
      "latitude": 51.50092,
      "eastings": 530005,
      "northings": 179998,
      "min_eastings": 529097,
      "min_northings": 179257,
      "max_eastings": 530826,
      "max_northings": 180890
    },
    {
      "code": "osgb4000000074552240",
      "name_1": "London Colney",
      "name_1_lang": null,
      "name_2": null,
      "name_2_lang": null,
      "local_type": "Village",
      "outcode": "AL2",
      "county_unitary": "Hertfordshire",
      "county_unitary_type": "GB/COU",
      "district_borough": "St Albans",
      "district_borough_type": "GB/DIS",
      "region": "East of England",
      "country": "England",
      "longitude": -0.295621,
      "latitude": 51.724052,
      "eastings": 519047,
      "northings": 204037,
      "min_eastings": 518233,
      "min_northings": 203145,
      "max_eastings": 519846,
      "max_northings": 204923
    },
    {
      "code": "osgb4000000074553923",
      "name_1": "Londonthorpe",
      "name_1_lang": null,
      "name_2": null,
      "name_2_lang": null,
      "local_type": "Hamlet",
      "outcode": "NG31",
      "county_unitary": "Lincolnshire",
      "county_unitary_type": "GB/COU",
      "district_borough": "South Kesteven",
      "district_borough_type": "GB/DIS",
      "region": "East Midlands",
      "country": "England",
      "longitude": -0.572613,
      "latitude": 52.946381,
      "eastings": 495078,
      "northings": 338752,
      "min_eastings": 494816,
      "min_northings": 338544,
      "max_eastings": 495326,
      "max_northings": 338943
    }
  ]
}

Query Parameters

Parameter	Description	Default	Constraints
q=	The search query string	Required	String
query=	Alias for q=	-	String

Optional Query Parameters

Parameter	Description	Default	Constraints
limit=	Maximum number of results to return	10	Integer, max 100