govuk

MCP server for GOV.UK — search, content drill-down, organisations, and postcode lookup.

CommunityOnlineNo sign-inGlobalFreeCan modify data

What it can do

  • Govuk Search: Search GOV.UK's 700k+ content items using the official Search API. Returns a list of matching content items with title, description, link, format, owning organisation(s), and last update
  • Govuk Grep Content: Find body sections in a GOV.UK content item matching a pattern. Returns a list of `{anchor, heading, snippet, match}` hits — small per-section snippets centred on the match — so th
  • Govuk List Organisations: List all UK government organisations registered on GOV.UK. Returns a paginated list of organisations including their slug, acronym, type, and status. Use this to browse the f

What data it sees

Do you need an account

No: the server works without sign-in

MCP server for GOV.UK — search, content drill-down, organisations, and postcode lookup.

How to connect

How to connect govuk to Claude

The server address to paste into Claude settings:

https://govuk--bouch.run.tools

  1. Open Claude (claude.ai or the desktop app).
  2. Go to Settings → Connectors.
  3. Click Add custom connector.
  4. Paste the server address copied below into Remote MCP server URL and click Add.
  5. In a chat, click + → Connectors and switch the new connector on.

Custom connectors are available on Free, Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise plans (Free is limited to one). On Team and Enterprise an organization Owner adds the connector first under Organization settings → Connectors.

Authorization

After you click Add, a sign-in window for the service opens. Sign in with your own account and approve access. Claude never sees your password.

How to connect govuk to ChatGPT

The server address to paste into ChatGPT settings:

https://govuk--bouch.run.tools

  1. Open ChatGPT in a browser (chatgpt.com). A Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise or Edu plan is required.
  2. Turn on developer mode once: Settings → Apps → Advanced settings → Developer mode.
  3. Open Settings → Connectors and click Create.
  4. Fill in the form: Name (anything), Description (one line about what the service does), MCP server URL (copy it below).
  5. Under Authentication choose OAuth if the service requires sign-in, otherwise None. Click Create.
  6. In a new chat open + → Apps/Connectors and enable the connector.

OpenAI has renamed this section before (Connectors → Apps/Plugins). If the label differs, search settings for "developer mode". On Business/Enterprise workspaces an admin must allow custom connectors first.

Authorization

On first use ChatGPT opens the service's sign-in window. Sign in and approve access.

How to connect govuk to Cursor

The server address to paste into Cursor settings:

https://govuk--bouch.run.tools

Fastest: click Open in Cursor below and confirm the prompt.

Manually:

  1. In Cursor open Settings → Cursor Settings → MCP and click Add new global MCP server.
  2. Paste the JSON copied below into ~/.cursor/mcp.json (per project: .cursor/mcp.json in the repo root).
  3. Save the file. The server appears in the MCP list; authorize it there if asked.

Authorization

If the service needs sign-in, an authorize button appears next to the server in the MCP list.

Server tool list (7)

Raw names from tools/list. Only developers need these.

govuk_searchSearch GOV.UK's 700k+ content items using the official Search API. Returns a list of matching content items with title, description, link, format, owning organisation(s), and last updated timestamp. Use filter_format to narrow to specific content types (e.g. 'transaction' for citizen-facing services, 'guide' for guidance, 'publication' for official documents). Use filter_organisations to restrict to a department.
govuk_grep_contentFind body sections in a GOV.UK content item matching a pattern. Returns a list of `{anchor, heading, snippet, match}` hits — small per-section snippets centred on the match — so the LLM can decide which full sections to read via govuk_get_section. Use this when answering content-based questions ("what does this guide say about X?", "find the bit about eligibility") rather than navigating by section number. Pattern is regex; if it doesn't compile, falls back to literal substring.
govuk_list_organisationsList all UK government organisations registered on GOV.UK. Returns a paginated list of organisations including their slug, acronym, type, and status. Use this to browse the full government structure or discover slugs for use with govuk_get_organisation or govuk_search filters.
govuk_lookup_postcodeLook up a UK postcode to retrieve its local authority, region, constituency, and other administrative geography. Useful for determining which council area, parliamentary constituency, or NHS region a postcode falls within. Commonly used to direct users to the correct local service on GOV.UK (e.g. council tax, planning, waste). Uses the postcodes.io public API (no key required).
govuk_get_contentGet metadata and navigable section index for a GOV.UK page. Returns the page title, document type, publication dates, and a list of sections with their anchor IDs and headings. Use govuk_get_section to read the body of a specific section, or govuk_grep_content to search within the page body.
govuk_get_sectionGet the HTML content of one named section of a GOV.UK page. Use govuk_get_content first to get the list of available section anchors, then call this with the anchor of the section you want to read.
govuk_get_organisationGet the profile of a UK government organisation by its slug. Returns name, acronym, type, status, web URL, and parent/child organisations. Use govuk_list_organisations to browse all organisations and discover slugs.