I mean, without actually using an OS map? I have the usual apps but I can’t see how to do it. What am I missing?

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Type it in to the OS Maps search box.

If you don’t know the grid letter system off-by-heart (obviously nobody does), it’s easiest to use another website to convert to lon-lat which you can put in Google maps, or What3Words or the nearest address/postcode… https://gridreferencefinder.com/

Os Locate is a very useful app for this…it does take about 20 seconds to locate but it then present a grid reference for you.

Os Locate is a very useful app for this…it does take about 20 seconds to locate but it then present a grid reference for you.

I read it as having the grid ref and wanting to see where it actually is?

Otherwise yeah OS locate is good for the other way round.
Actually just looked and it doesn’t give you an OS Grid ref, I thought it used to?

As Konagirl suggested https://gridreferencefinder.com/ I use this a lot at work as it gives W3W, Grid Reference, and Post Code.

Check your settings in Os Locate…you can set it to give different positional readings, might need reset to give is grid references.

As Konagirl suggested https://gridreferencefinder.com/ I use this a lot at work as it gives W3W, Grid Reference, and Post Code.

Thanks all. This worked a treat! Crazy that Google maps doesn’t do it!!

I use grid reference finder at work loads.

Last time I looked they only did an apple app. I still have the android app on my phone though

Crazy that Google maps doesn’t do it!!

Not really, OS grid references are only really useful in the UK, latitude and longitude on the other hand…

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/search/coed+y+brenin+mtb/@52.8251715,-3.8970048,17.5z?entry=ttu

Yes the problem is Google Maps is global and I can imagine they don’t want to have to add a way to determine which country / Grid Reference system you mean by the text you have entered – it over complicates their interface. Much easier when you are sticking with one NGR/country with one projection for geographical to projected coordinate system.

I have a dim memory of Google maps actually having an overlay for the OS grid, but can’t remember where I saw it. I’ll check my old bookmarks

I use streetmap a bit for this kind of thing, the “smart search” box takes lat/long, os grid, landranger grid, post code, place name, and as I just discovered even area dialling codes for telephone landlines

https://streetmap.co.uk/map?x=553550&y=143350&z=0&sv=tq535433&st=5&mapp=map&searchp=ids

@drj what are the usual apps.

Back country navigator does exactly what you want with an OS map overlay for good measure.

Unless you are on apple of course!

Crazy that Google maps doesn’t do it!!

global mapping company allows a competitor location device to work in one small geographical area. Yeah, I can see that being top of their list of things to do.

@drj what are the usual apps.

Google Maps, Apple Maps, Guru Maps, Outdooractive, Komoot, Strava, Tom Tom umm .. probably more 🙂

I use streetmap a bit for this kind of thing, the “smart search” box takes lat/long, os grid, landranger grid, post code, place name, and as I just discovered even area dialling codes for telephone landlines

https://streetmap.co.uk/map?x=553550&y=143350&z=0&sv=tq535433&st=5&mapp=map&searchp=ids

That’s a great shout – never considered it!

Glad to help

What am I missing?

As pointed out the use of region specific co-ordinates on apps designed for global use is probably the issue