The files in this folder are QML style files for QGIS. These allow us to quickly style a layer in QGIS to create nice looking maps - instructions are provided below. If you download these QML files (e.g. via a right-click and then Save As...) you'll be able to apply them to the layers of the matching type (e.g. apply the places.qml file below to the files in the places folder). 

Once you've downloaded a layer (or layers) from the main folder you can then add them to QGIS, and then apply the QML files to each layer and they will be styled, based on a style I created. You can then modify or edit the styles as you please.

NOTE: if you just left click a QML file in a web browser it will probably just open up a new page with loads of confusing-looking text. That is because a QML file is actually just a text file full of instructions that tell QGIS how you want to style a layer. So all you need to do to avoid this is right-click and download the file. Mac users may occasionally find that when they download a QML file their computer changes the file extension by adding .txt to the end of it. If this happens, the easiest solution is just to delete the .txt bit of the file name and that will solve it.

You can do this for the individual local authority layers and/or the full GB layers. Note that there is no style file for the GB terrain layer. 

See below for how to apply a QML style file to a layer in QGIS. If you add all the layers then make sure they are in ordered as shown below - i.e. make sure the places layer is listed first in the Layers Panel, followed by the stations layer, and so on. 

1 -places
2 -stations
3 -buildings
4 -roads
5 -rail
6 -surfacewater
7 -greenspace
8 -boundaries

There is also a style file for wards. If you want to display wards as well, I recommend adding the wards layer as the top layer and then apply the wards QML file to it. When you zoom in to a scale of 1:30000 or more then the ward boundaries and labels will appear. 

Once you've done this you can apply the matching style files to each layer by going to the Layer Properties for each layer in QGIS and then

> click the Style button (at the bottom of the Layer Properties window)
> hit Load Style...
> hit the little Browse button with three dots on the smaller Database Styles Manager window
> navigate to where you saved the matching QML file, select it and then hit Open
> then hit Load Style
> then hit OK and you'll see your layer styled as per the QML file

NOTE: certain features (e.g. places, railway stations, road names) will only appear when you zoom in.

I hope you find these useful.


Alasdair Rae
Automatic Knowledge Ltd
September 2022