Boundaries

Free to use georeferenced boundaries of Edinburgh. Shapefiles to use in GIS Applications and KML to view in Google Earth. View licence and terms of use.

These boundaries are available in both the British National Grid, OSGB 1936 (EPSG:27700) coordinate system and WGS84 coordinate system (EPSG:4326). The versions in the WGS84 coordinate system are compatible with both our 'Build Map' and Ext Map. Detailed information about working with different coordinate systems is available in our help guide page on Coordinate Reference Systems.

  • To use the Shapefiles, save the .zip file to your computer and extract the enclosed files.
  • To then add these as layers in your own project, follow the instructions for the specific Georeferencing software you are using. Please read our instructions detailing how to do this for ArcGIS and Quantum GIS.
  • To use the Google Earth KML, click the link and open in Google Earth or save to your computer.
    You will need to download the Google Earth Software.

For further information about which maps were used to capture these boundaries a Spreadsheet of the Edinburgh Municipal Ward and District Boundary changes can be viewed.

Boundary Shapefile
British National Grid
(EPSG:27700)
Shapefile
with Ext Map data
(EPSG:4326)
Google Earth
KML
The Ancient and Extended Royalties of the City
The Several Extensions of the Police and Municipal Boundaries
1685 - 1885
Shapefiles - KML
Bartholomew
Chronological Map of Edinburgh
Showing the Expansion of the City
1919
Shapefiles - 2D | 2D Timeline
3D | 3D Timeline
Edinburgh Cooperative Building Company
Edinburgh Colonies
1863 - 1907
Shapefiles Shapefiles

KML

Ainslie
Edinburgh and Leith
- Showing Property and Land Owners -
1804
Shapefiles -

KML

Kirkwood
Edinburgh and its environs...
- Showing Property and Land Owners -
1817
Shapefiles -

KML

Police Boundaries
Edinburgh
1822
Shapefiles - KML
Police Boundaries
Edinburgh
1848
Shapefiles - KML
Sanitary Districts
Edinburgh
1864 - 1884
Shapefiles Shapefiles

KML

Municipal Ward Boundaries
Edinburgh
1852 - 1853
Shapefiles -

KML

Municipal Ward Boundaries
Edinburgh
1865
Shapefiles Shapefiles

KML

Municipal Ward Boundaries
Edinburgh
1882
Shapefiles Shapefiles

KML

Municipal Ward Boundaries
Edinburgh
1885
Shapefiles Shapefiles

KML

Municipal Ward Boundaries
Edinburgh
1890
Shapefiles Shapefiles

KML

Municipal Ward Boundaries
Edinburgh
1896 - 1897
Shapefiles Shapefiles

KML

Municipal Ward Boundaries
Edinburgh
1900 - 1901
Shapefiles Shapefiles

KML

Municipal Ward Boundaries
Edinburgh
1902
Shapefiles Shapefiles

KML

Registration Districts
Edinburgh
1865
Shapefiles Shapefiles

KML

Registration Districts
Edinburgh
1882
Shapefiles Shapefiles

KML

Registration Districts
Edinburgh
1885
Shapefiles Shapefiles

KML

Registration Districts
Edinburgh
1890
Shapefiles Shapefiles

KML

Registration Districts
Edinburgh
1896 - 1897
Shapefiles Shapefiles

KML

Registration Districts
Edinburgh
1900 - 1901
Shapefiles Shapefiles

KML

Registration Districts
Edinburgh
1902
Shapefiles Shapefiles

KML


Licence and terms of use

Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence icon

These georeferenced maps are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can also read the full legal code of the licence.

The maps are provided under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can embed the maps in your own website, display your own markers or mapping data on top of it, use it for research purposes, or create derivative work from it.

The only condition is that you must display an attribution to the Visualising Urban Geographies project, together with a link to our website, whenever our maps are used. If you create derivative work, the documentation of your work must contain this attribution.