A Plus Code is a free and open-source system for identifying any location on Earth, including places that do not have a traditional street address. Developed by Google, it uses a short sequence of letters and numbers that can be derived from latitude and longitude coordinates. For example, a typical Plus Code might look like '9C3XGV52+QF' or, when combined with a town name, 'GV52+QF London'. The system is designed to be easy to share and use on maps, even in rural or informal urban areas where addresses are not available.
How Plus Codes fit into the UK address system
The United Kingdom already has one of the most detailed and well-established postal address systems in the world, built around the Royal Mail postcode. A full postcode, such as 'SW1A 1AA', pinpoints a small group of addresses or a single large user. Plus Codes operate at a different level of granularity. While a postcode and street address identify a specific building or delivery point, a Plus Code can locate any point on the ground, such as a park bench, a field entrance, or a remote bus stop. In this sense, Plus Codes do not replace postcodes but complement them, offering a location reference that is independent of the administrative boundaries or postal delivery routes that define postcode geography.
Relationship to postcodes and addresses
In the UK, a street address is tied to a physical property and a postcode that groups properties for mail delivery. A Plus Code, however, is purely geometric and geospatial. It can be assigned to any spot, including places without a building or a named road. For instance, a farmer might use a Plus Code to direct deliveries to a specific gate in a field, where a postcode would only cover the farmhouse. Furthermore, Plus Codes are hierarchical: the first four characters (e.g., '9C3X') define a large area roughly 100 by 100 kilometres, while the remaining characters narrow it down to a precise point of about 14 by 14 metres. This makes them useful for navigation apps, emergency services, and humanitarian projects, especially in areas where postcodes are sparse.
Why Plus Codes matter for area research
For someone researching a location in the UK, Plus Codes provide a consistent way to refer to places that lack a conventional address. They are particularly valuable for exploring rural areas, common land, or public spaces such as beaches and nature reserves. Because Plus Codes are open and free to use, they do not rely on commercial mapping data and can be generated offline. This makes them a useful tool for documenting local features, sharing meeting points, or recording fieldwork locations. In summary, while the UK postcode remains essential for mail delivery and official databases, Plus Codes offer a flexible, universal location identifier that works everywhere, including places the postcode system does not reach.