It’s taken what seems like an eternity, but finally, parts of the UK are now available in Google Street View. For me, this is truly, and unbelievably awesome. Unfortunately, not everywhere has been mapped as of yet, but I can only assume that other places will be available in the future… Here’s a quick overview of where is currently available…

Unfortunately, Hartlepool has not been mapped yet, but I can only assume that an update will appear shortly. A possible sighting of the Google Maps car was spotted by the security guard at work about 18 months ago.

I’ve already spotted two great shots. the first is a view of a second GM car in Edinburgh.. If you follow the footage along the road, you’ll see that the GM car pulls out, and follows the first one along the road. This particular street ends up at a church, with a gift shop next to it called “Thistle Do Nicely”. Groan.

The second is some random kid doing a wheelie somewhere in Newcastle. Good timing.

Also in Newcastle, I located the Street View version of my favourite broken streetlight, but I didn’t bother taking a grab of that. Unfortunately, it does suffer from some of the faults that the other countries have. Road coverage ends for apparently no reason, and to advance, you have to pick up your little yellow man and move him manually across the map. It also occasionally maps car parks as part of the roads, again for no apparent reason.

London, and the surrounding boroughs are mapped also, so I was able to find the little bedsit on Oldfield Lane in Greenford where I spent two days.

For a streetlight spotter, however, this update is outstanding. I’m glad to see that the GEC Z5590 is alive and well in York.

I’d like to have a good play with it, but I’m at *that* place tonight, so unfortunately, I can’t. Oh well. Off to bed I go!