UK recorded over 300 earthquakes in 2025, British Geological Survey reports

The United Kingdom has recorded over 300 earthquakes in 2025, according to a year‑end report by the British Geological Survey. As of mid‑December, seismologists have documented 309 seismic events across Britain, many of which were too minor to be felt but were detected by the BGS network of 80 monitoring stations.

Most Active Seismic Regions

The report identified Perthshire and the western Highlands in Scotland, southern Wales, and the Yorkshire and Lancashire areas of England as the most seismically active regions this year. The BGS received 1,320 reports from members of the public who felt earthquakes, indicating that a number of tremors were perceptible at the surface.

Notable Seismic Events

The two strongest onshore earthquakes occurred hours apart on October 20 near Loch Lyon in Perth and Kinross, Scotland, with magnitudes of 3.7 and 3.6. Between October and December, 34 of the year’s recorded earthquakes were clustered in the Loch Lyon area, highlighting localized seismic activity.

Monitoring and Public Awareness

While most recorded quakes were of low magnitude, the BGS emphasized that its monitoring network provides exceptional accuracy in tracking subsurface movements. The data helps improve understanding of UK seismic hazards, which are generally low compared to more tectonically active parts of the world but remain a subject of ongoing scientific observation.