A free mapping tool that allows you to create a thematic map of London without any specialist GIS skills or software - all you need is Microsoft Excel. Templates are available for London’s Boroughs and Wards. Full instructions are contained within the spreadsheets. Macros The tool works in any version of Excel. But the user MUST ENABLE MACROS, for the features to work. There a some restrictions on functionality in the ward maps in Excel 2003 and earlier - full instructions are included in the spreadsheet. To...

...be converted from 'shape' files. Many shape files are available to download for free from the web, including from Ordnance Survey and the London Datastore. Standard mapping packages such as QGIS (free to download) and ArcGIS can convert the files to KML format. A sample of a KML file (London wards) can be downloaded from this page, so that users can easily test the tool out. Macros must be enabled for the tool to function. When creating the map using the Excel tool, the 'unique ID' should normally be the area code, the 'Name' should be the area name and then...