UK Maps API
Maps That Work.
Without the Google Tax.
A complete maps API for Great Britain. Drop-in compatible with the Google Maps URL structure. Geocoding, routing, isochrones, navigation — everything your application needs, at a fraction of the cost.
Stop Paying Google by the Thousand Requests
Google Maps Platform charges per API call. It starts cheap, scales fast, and the bill surprises you. Dearthwood Maps is a flat monthly subscription — predictable monthly cost. No per-call billing, no surprise invoices.
| Feature | Dearthwood Maps | Google Maps Platform |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | ✓ Flat monthly subscription | Pay-per-request (from $2–$10 per 1,000 calls) |
| Geocoding (address → lat/lng) | ✓ Included in monthly plan | $5 per 1,000 requests |
| Directions / routing | ✓ Included in monthly plan | $10 per 1,000 requests |
| Travel time zones (isochrones) | ✓ Included | ✗ Not available in Maps API |
| Distance matrix | ✓ Included | $10 per 1,000 elements |
| Nearby amenity search | ✓ Included | $32 per 1,000 requests (Places API) |
| Vector map tiles | ✓ Included, no per-load fee | $7 per 1,000 map loads |
| Your data stays yours | ✓ UK-hosted, zero telemetry | ✗ Google processes all request data |
| URL compatibility | ✓ Drop-in Google Maps URL structure | — |
| Surprise bills | ✓ Never — flat subscription | ✗ Yes, if you exceed free tier |
Built for Real Applications
A full-stack maps platform with features you won’t find on Google’s API at any price.
Forward & Reverse Geocoding
Address to coordinates, coordinates to address. Full UK postcode support. Works with street addresses, landmarks, and partial postcodes.
Turn-by-Turn Routing
Drive, walk, or cycle. Full maneuver instructions with distance and duration per step. Multi-waypoint routes. Response matches Google’s Directions API format exactly.
Travel Time Zones (Isochrones)
Show everywhere reachable within 15, 30, 45, or 60 minutes from any point — for driving, walking, or cycling. GeoJSON output, render directly on your map. Not available in Google Maps API.
Distance Matrix
Travel time and distance from multiple origins to multiple destinations simultaneously. Perfect for “which of our sites is closest?” queries. Up to 5×5 pairs per request.
Nearby Amenity Search
Find the nearest hospital, pharmacy, GP, supermarket, pub, school, parking, and 13 more categories — within any radius from any point.
Vector Tiles
Vector map tiles for Great Britain. Render and style them however you like. No per-map-load fees, ever.
Elevation Profile
Elevation data returned along every route. Visualise rise and fall for cycling and walking applications. Total ascent, descent, max and min elevation included.
Place Text Search
Free-text search for places, businesses, and points of interest anywhere in Great Britain. No Google Places billing, ever.
API Key Authentication
Per-site API keys with usage logging. See which key is making which requests. Rate limiting included. Revoke individual keys without affecting others.
Drop-In Map Component Included
Every plan includes a production-ready, self-contained HTML map page. Drop it on any website. Point it at your API key. Done.
Live GPS Navigation
Full turn-by-turn navigation mode. Map follows and rotates with your heading. 45° tilt perspective view while driving.
Voice Guidance
British English voice instructions via the Web Speech API. Reads each maneuver as you approach it. Mute toggle. Zero dependencies.
Off-Route Detection
Silently reroutes if you stray more than 50m from the planned route. Announces “Recalculating” and redraws instantly.
Speed Display
Live speed readout in km/h from the GPS signal. Amber warning if you exceed a configurable threshold per travel mode.
Draw Radius
Draw precise radius circles in miles, km, or metres from any searched location. Shows enclosed area in km². Stack multiple rings.
Measure Distance
Click multiple points on the map to measure total distance. Running total in km, miles, and metres. No API call needed.
Drop & Export Pins
Drop named pins anywhere on the map. Export the complete set as a CSV with label, latitude, longitude, and notes.
Heatmap Layer
Paste in a list of coordinates, hit Draw. Instant density heatmap rendered on the map. Useful for visualising client or delivery locations.
Share Route Link
Generate a shareable URL that reloads any route with origin, destination, and travel mode. No database required.
Export Map as PNG
One-click export of the current map view as a timestamped PNG. Captures everything visible including routes, pins, and zones.
Right-Click Location Info
Right-click anywhere on the map for the address, exact coordinates, and an Open Location Code (Plus Code) — computed offline, no extra API call.
Find Nearest
One-tap search for the nearest hospital, pharmacy, GP, dentist, nursing home, supermarket, fuel station, and more — plotted directly on the map.
🔒 Your Users’ Location Data Stays Private
When a user searches an address or requests directions on Google Maps, Google knows. They log it, profile it, and sell against it. Dearthwood Maps runs entirely on UK infrastructure. No request data leaves the UK. No tracking. No profiling. No third-party analytics. Your users’ movements are nobody’s business but yours — and even you only see what you choose to log.
Simple, Honest Pricing
One flat monthly fee. No per-request billing. No surprise invoices. Cancel any time. API keys issued within 24 hours of payment.
- 1 API key
- 5,000 requests / month
- Rate limit: 60 requests / minute
- Geocoding & reverse geocoding
- Directions (drive, walk, cycle)
- Nearby search
- Vector tiles
- Travel time isochrones
- Ready-made map component
- No distance matrix
- Community support only
Equivalent Google spend: ~£30–£60/mo
- 3 API keys
- 50,000 requests / month
- Rate limit: 300 requests / minute
- All geocoding endpoints
- Directions — all modes
- Nearby amenity search
- Distance matrix (5×5)
- Travel time isochrones
- Elevation profile data
- Vector tiles
- Ready-made map component
- Email support
Equivalent Google spend: ~£150–£400/mo
- 10 API keys
- 250,000 requests / month
- Rate limit: 1,000 requests / minute
- All endpoints, all modes
- Distance matrix
- Travel time isochrones
- Elevation data
- Full vector tile access
- Priority email support
- Usage dashboard (coming soon)
- SLA: 99.5% uptime commitment
Equivalent Google spend: ~£800–£2,000+/mo
Application
- Unlimited API keys
- Unlimited requests
- Rate limit: negotiated / no cap option
- Dedicated infrastructure
- On-premise deployment option
- Custom SLA negotiated
- Dedicated account contact
- Custom data imports
- Priority feature requests
- Phone & email support
- NDA & data processing agreements
Typically 70–85% below equivalent Google spend
Currently Being Developed
We build in the open. Here’s what’s actively being worked on right now — all of these will be available to existing subscribers at no extra cost.
Self-Service API Key Purchase
Buy a subscription, get your API key instantly. No waiting, no contact forms. WooCommerce integration with automated key generation and delivery.
Usage Dashboard
See your request counts per endpoint, per key, per day. Know exactly what your application is calling and how close you are to your plan limit.
Public Transport Route Rendering
Bus routes, rail lines, and tube lines rendered on the map from OSM data. Visual overlay on top of existing map styles. No routing yet — just display.
Public Transport Routing
Full A-to-B routing using public transport via OpenTripPlanner and GTFS feeds. “Take the 73 bus to Oxford Street, then walk 4 minutes.”
UK Postcode Boundary Overlays
Draw the actual polygon boundary of any UK postcode area or local authority. OS Open Data sourced. Useful for catchment area analysis.
Cycling Layer
Dedicated map style layer emphasising cycle lanes, tracks, and recommended cycling routes. Styled separately from the base road network.
Static Map Image Endpoint
Generate a PNG image of any map view — useful for email templates, PDFs, and applications that can’t render an interactive map.
Offline Map Caching
Service Worker integration to cache map tiles for offline use. Particularly useful for field work in areas with poor connectivity.
Elevation API
Query elevation in metres at any lat/lng coordinate or along a polyline. Separate endpoint matching the Google Elevation API structure.
💡 Got a Feature Request?
We build what our users actually need. If there’s a mapping feature your application requires that isn’t listed here, get in touch. Paying subscribers get their requests prioritised.
Ready to Ditch the Google Tax?
Get in touch to get your API keys set up. We’ll have you making live API calls within 24 hours.
No contracts. Cancel any time. 24-hour setup. UK-hosted.