Open Government, UK
APIFree UK government open data API for public sector datasets
Overview
The Open Government UK API grants access to over 45,000 public datasets from UK government departments and agencies (e.g., NHS, Department for Transport). It offers RESTful endpoints for searching, filtering, and retrieving datasets by category (health, transport, education), organization, or keyword. Responses are available in JSON, CSV, and XML formats. Use cases include researchers analyzing policy outcomes, developers building public service apps (e.g., real-time traffic stats), journalists verifying government claims, and citizens accessing transparent public data. Pagination and sorting support help handle large datasets efficiently for integration into visualizations or custom tools.
Example Integration (JavaScript)
fetch('https://data.gov.uk/')
.then(res => res.json())
.then(data => console.log(data))
.catch(err => console.error(err)); Key Features
- RESTful
- Multiple data formats (JSON/CSV/XML)
- No auth required
- Search & filter capabilities
- Pagination support
Frequently Asked Questions
? Is Open Government UK API free to use?
Yes, it is completely free for both public and commercial use without any subscription fees.
? Does it require an API Key?
No, the API does not require authentication or an API key for access to public datasets.
? What is the response format?
Responses are available in JSON, CSV, and XML formats, depending on the specific dataset.
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Tool Info
Pros
- ⊕ Free access for all users
- ⊕ Extensive dataset coverage across sectors
- ⊕ Regularly updated data
- ⊕ Multiple format options for flexibility
Cons
- ⊖ Variable data quality across datasets
- ⊖ Some datasets may be outdated
- ⊖ No official SLA for uptime
- ⊖ Limited advanced query options