[barryhunter]

Google Maps have tried this, I guess it failed, because it no longer distributes such urls, but for the most part the old links still work, eg https://maps.google.com/places/ca/bc/nanaimo/wallace-st or https://maps.google.com/places/uk/london

In fact the 'example' url pretty much works

https://maps.google.com/places/united-states/california/san-...

http://www.jasonbirch.com/nodes/2009/09/24/365/google-place-...