Volcanic Activity in the United Kingdom

There are currently not any active volcanos in the United Kingdom. There has not been an active volcano in the UK for over 50 million years. But there are many inactive volcanoes. 

There is rich geography and landscape including mountains and hills that are said to be from extinct volcanoes. 

This map by Heritage Daily shows 68 volcanoes that once were active in the UK. They include areas such as Lake District, Snowdonia, Northern Ireland, Southern and Western Scotland, Central England and Northumberland. 

                                     Volcanic map of the United Kingdom (heritagedaily.com)

According to the UK's government, "There are a number of volcanoes across Europe that could affect the UK, such as Santorini in the Aegean Sea and Vesuvius in Italy. However, volcanoes in Iceland (such as Bárðarbunga and Eyjafjallajökull) are of most concern because they are close to the UK, and the high volume of air traffic across Europe that could be impacted". 

Because of this concern, the UK has warnings in place. Per the Parliament of the UK's Volcano Warnings: Volcanoes differ from many other natural hazards in that their location is fixed and usually known before they erupt. Public warnings are extended to cover larger regions around the volcano as the perceived hazard increases. To issue meaningful and informative public warnings, assessments and forecasts of volcanic behaviour are combined with knowledge about: • how topography and winds will affect flows, ash clouds, and fallout; • how rainfall, unstable slopes, and water or ice bodies may cause secondary disasters. The quality and completeness of this knowledge varies in different countries and at different volcanoes.

References: 

Volcanic eruption  (cabinetoffice.gov.uk)

Microsoft Word - Rosie's PN David's edits 04-05-05.doc (parliament.uk)