United KingdomBGSTo 28 Sep 2026
The latest earthquakes in the U.K.
The British Geological Survey located 224 earthquakes in and around the United Kingdom in 2026 through September 28, 2026, against 309 a year on average in 2016-2025; the largest this year were M3.3: Southern North Sea on September 18, 2026 and Pubil, Perth & Kinross on April 16, 2026.
The latest, magnitude 1.5 or more
0in the last 24 hours
0in the last 7 days
6in the last 30 days
BGSM2.724 Sep 2026
M2.7 earthquake, Talyllyn, Gwynedd
At 15:00 UTC, 24 Sep 2026
BGSM1.522 Sep 2026
M1.5 earthquake, Silverdale, Lancashire
At 11:46 UTC, 22 Sep 2026
BGSM2.721 Sep 2026
M2.7 earthquake, Silverdale, Lancashire
At 08:38 UTC, 21 Sep 2026
BGSM3.318 Sep 2026
M3.3 earthquake, Southern North Sea
At 13:04 UTC, 18 Sep 2026
BGSM1.515 Sep 2026
M1.5 earthquake, Stoke-On-Trent, Staffs
At 18:38 UTC, 15 Sep 2026
BGSM2.213 Sep 2026
M2.2 earthquake, Sedbergh, Cumbria
At 03:48 UTC, 13 Sep 2026
BGSM2.225 Aug 2026
M2.2 earthquake, Grimsby, Lincolnshire
At 18:47 UTC, 25 Aug 2026
BGSM2.15 Aug 2026
M2.1 earthquake, Southern North Sea
At 05:12 UTC, 5 Aug 2026
Source: British Geological Survey. Earthquake parameters © UKRI (British Geological Survey).
How many earthquakes a year since 2000?
Every earthquake in the British Geological Survey's catalogue. The current year is an outline. Denser seismic networks locate more small earthquakes, so the count of M3 or more (7 a year in 2016-2025) is the steadier series.
The numbers
| Year | Earthquakes | M3 or more | Largest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to 28 Sep 2026) | 224 | 5 | M3.3 |
| 2025 | 327 | 12 | M3.7 |
| 2024 | 275 | 6 | M3.9 |
| 2023 | 298 | 8 | M3.9 |
| 2022 | 288 | 7 | M5.2 |
| 2021 | 320 | 4 | M3.8 |
| 2020 | 430 | 8 | M4.0 |
| 2019 | 453 | 4 | M4.2 |
| 2018 | 287 | 5 | M4.6 |
| 2017 | 209 | 8 | M4.7 |
| 2016 | 205 | 3 | M3.9 |
| 2015 | 258 | 7 | M4.2 |
| 2014 | 232 | 9 | M4.3 |
| 2013 | 147 | 6 | M3.8 |
| 2012 | 110 | 3 | M4.0 |
| 2011 | 144 | 8 | M3.9 |
| 2010 | 94 | 4 | M3.5 |
| 2009 | 85 | 5 | M3.7 |
| 2008 | 93 | 4 | M5.2 |
| 2007 | 103 | 10 | M4.8 |
| 2006 | 63 | 3 | M3.5 |
| 2005 | 110 | 6 | M3.3 |
| 2004 | 131 | 8 | M3.5 |
| 2003 | 145 | 5 | M3.9 |
| 2002 | 233 | 15 | M4.7 |
| 2001 | 138 | 11 | M4.2 |
| 2000 | 153 | 7 | M4.6 |
Source: British Geological Survey earthquake database. Data as of September 28, 2026. Earthquake parameters © UKRI (British Geological Survey).
Where do they happen? 2016-2025
| Area (BGS) | Earthquakes | M3 or more |
|---|---|---|
| Highland | 378 | 3 |
| Argyll & Bute | 343 | 3 |
| Cornwall | 296 | 0 |
| Lancashire | 222 | 1 |
| Surrey | 154 | 2 |
| Cumbria | 131 | 1 |
| Perth & Kinross | 112 | 3 |
| Irish Sea | 107 | 0 |
| Southern North Sea | 55 | 9 |
| Dumfries & Galloway | 55 | 0 |
| Shropshire | 54 | 1 |
| Powys | 51 | 0 |
Source: British Geological Survey earthquake database. Data as of September 28, 2026. Earthquake parameters © UKRI (British Geological Survey).