Custom Map Prints: Street Map vs Vintage vs Star Map

Quick answer: there are four main kinds of custom map print — a modern street map of any address, an Ordnance Survey style map for UK outdoor places, a vintage map showing a place a century ago, and a star map showing the night sky over a place on a chosen date. The comparison below explains which suits which gift.

Types of custom map print compared

Custom map print styles

Style	What it shows	Look	Best for
Modern custom map	Streets and landmarks of any address worldwide	Clean, contemporary, your choice of colour	New homes, wedding venues, "where we met"
Ordnance Survey map	UK terrain, paths and contours in OS Explorer style	Detailed outdoor map with grid	Walks, peaks, countryside and coastal spots
Vintage map	A UK town or city as surveyed in the 1800s–1900s	Antique, sepia, historical	Hometown, grandparents, heritage gifts
Star map	The night sky above a place on a specific date	Stars and constellations, not streets	Weddings, births, anniversaries by date

Modern custom map vs star map

These are the two most-searched options and they answer different questions. A modern custom map captures where — the streets around a first home or the venue where you married. A star map captures when — the exact pattern of stars overhead on a wedding night or the evening a baby was born. Couples often pair the two: a map of the place and a star map of the date, framed to match.

Modern vs vintage map

A modern map is precise and personalisable down to a single address, in the colour and style you choose. A vintage map trades that precision for character — it shows a town as it was drawn a century ago, which makes it a natural gift for grandparents, a retirement, or anyone with a strong tie to a UK hometown. For UK outdoor spots — a favourite hill walk or stretch of coast — an Ordnance Survey style map sits between the two, with real terrain detail.

Framed or print only

Every style is available as a print alone or hand-framed in a wood or metal frame. A framed map arrives ready to hang and makes a stronger gift; a print alone posts easily and lets the recipient pick a frame. Prints are made to order on archival, fade-resistant paper and typically dispatch within 2 to 5 working days.

Where to start

Browse all styles on our map prints page, see historical options under old OS map prints, or explore star map prints if a date matters more than a place.