• SEARCH
  • LIST
  • DETAILS
  • HUMAN

How to find UK government datasets with your AI

Connect your AI to the ONS catalog once. From there, your agent handles the searching and data discovery for you.

Ask AI about this page

Short answer

How can I find specific ONS datasets using AI?

Your AI uses the UK ONS Discovery MCP to scan the official catalog for specific topics or keywords. It pulls the exact dataset information you need so you don't have to manually browse the ONS website. You'll get specific metadata and dataset lists directly in your chat.

The results you get

Where your data discovery lands.

The AI handles the heavy lifting of navigating the ONS catalog.

SEARCH

Targeted topic searches

The AI scans the entire ONS catalog using keywords. You get a filtered list of relevant statistical datasets without clicking through menus.

LIST

Dataset catalogs

Your agent can pull lists of datasets within specific categories. This helps you see the breadth of available data for a single subject.

DETAILS

Deep metadata access

The AI pulls specific information about a dataset, including its description and structure. You get the context needed to decide if the data is useful.

HUMAN

Manual data analysis

The AI finds the data, but you decide how to use it. You'll need to download or process the actual files once the AI identifies the right source.

The workflow

What your AI does when you ask for data.

The AI acts as a bridge between your chat and the ONS database.

  1. Finding topics

    Your agent looks for datasets that match your specific research questions or keywords.

    search_datasets

  2. Browsing categories

    The AI can pull a broader list of datasets to show you what's available in a specific area.

    list_datasets

  3. Checking details

    Once a dataset is found, the AI pulls the specific metadata to confirm it's what you need.

    get_dataset_info

  4. Refining results

    If the first search is too broad, the AI uses the search tool again with more specific terms.

    search_datasets

Try it

Copy these to start.

Use these prompts to begin your search.

Starting points

Replace the bracketed text with your actual research topics or specific keywords.

UK ONS Connector

You're all set. Choose your MCP client and follow the setup instructions.

Connector linkhttps://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_fvId9Opua7L9Nik9gCqSg8golmJupaDzpV9JVlBd/mcp

Claude Desktop

Follow the steps below to connect in seconds.

  1. 1In Claude Desktop, open Settings → Connectors.
  2. 2Click “Add custom connector” and paste the connector link above as the remote MCP server URL.
  3. 3Click Add and start a new chat — UK ONS capabilities are ready to use.
Configuration · claude_desktop_config.jsonCopy
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "uk-ons-discovery-search-337-statistical-datasets-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_fvId9Opua7L9Nik9gCqSg8golmJupaDzpV9JVlBd/mcp"
    }
  }
}
Copy into chat04

  • Search the ONS catalog for datasets related to [UK inflation rates].

  • List all datasets available under the [employment] category.

  • Get the details for the dataset titled [Consumer Price Index].

  • Find datasets about [population density in London] from the ONS.

  • Claude
  • ChatGPT
  • Cursor
  • VS Code
  • Windsurf
  • Claude Code
  • JetBrains
  • Cline

Start here

Connect UK ONS Discovery once, then ask.

Just click the link to connect the MCP to your client. Your credentials stay encrypted and you can start searching immediately.

Connect UK ONS Discovery to your AI

FAQ

How the search behaves

  • 01

    Can the AI download the actual CSV files?

    No. The AI can find the datasets and provide their information, but you must download the files yourself from the ONS website.

  • 02

    Can the AI change or edit ONS data?

    No. This MCP is read-only. It can only search and retrieve information from the ONS catalog.

  • 03

    Does the AI search all UK government data?

    No. It specifically searches the ONS (Office for National Statistics) catalog.

  • 04

    Can I ask for datasets from a specific year?

    Yes, you can include specific years in your search prompts to narrow down the results.

  • 05

    How does the AI know which dataset is which?

    The AI uses the metadata provided by the ONS to distinguish between different datasets and their specific contents.

  • More questions about UK ONS Discovery? The Connector page answers them. See everything the UK ONS Discovery Connector can do

Connect UK ONS to Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT & more