United Kingdom Volcanoes
United Kingdom has 13 Holocene volcanoes. Note that as a scientific organization we provide these listings for informational purposes only, with no international legal or policy implications. Volcanoes will be included on this list if they are within the boundaries of a country, on a shared boundary or area, in a remote territory, or within a maritime Exclusive Economic Zone. Bolded volcanoes have erupted within the past 20 years. Suggestions and data updates are always welcome ().
Volcano Name | Location | Last Eruption | Primary Volcano Type |
---|---|---|---|
Ascension | Atlantic Ocean (central) | 1508 CE | Stratovolcano |
Bristol Island | South Sandwich Islands (UK) | 2016 CE | Stratovolcano |
Candlemas Island | South Sandwich Islands (UK) | 1911 CE | Stratovolcano |
Hodson | South Sandwich Islands (UK) | Unknown - Evidence Credible | Stratovolcano |
Leskov Island | South Sandwich Islands (UK) | Unknown - Unrest / Holocene | Stratovolcano |
Montagu Island | South Sandwich Islands (UK) | 2007 CE | Shield |
Nightingale Island | Atlantic Ocean (southern) | 2004 CE | Stratovolcano |
Protector Seamounts | South Sandwich Islands (UK) | 1962 CE | Submarine |
Saunders | South Sandwich Islands (UK) | 2023 CE | Stratovolcano |
Soufriere Hills | Montserrat | 2013 CE | Stratovolcano |
Southern Thule | South Sandwich Islands (UK) | 1975 CE | Stratovolcano(es) |
Tristan da Cunha | Atlantic Ocean (southern) | 1962 CE | Shield |
Zavodovski | South Sandwich Islands (UK) | 2016 CE | Stratovolcano |
Chronological listing of known Holocene eruptions (confirmed or uncertain) from volcanoes in United Kingdom. Bolded eruptions indicate continuing activity.
Volcano Name | Start Date | Stop Date | Certainty | VEI | Evidence |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bristol Island | 2016 Apr 24 | 2016 Jul 19 | Confirmed | 1 | Observations: Reported |
Zavodovski | 2016 Mar 30 | 2016 May 16 ± 15 days | Confirmed | 1 | Observations: Reported |
Saunders | 2014 Nov 12 | 2023 Mar 13 (continuing) | Confirmed | 1 | Observations: Reported |
Soufriere Hills | 2005 Apr 15 | 2013 Feb 5 | Confirmed | 3 | Observations: Reported |
Nightingale Island | 2004 Jul 29 | 2004 Jul 30 | Confirmed | 0 | Observations: Reported |
Soufriere Hills | 2004 Mar 3 | 2004 May 2 | Confirmed | 3 | Observations: Reported |
Montagu Island | 2001 Oct 1 ± 20 days | 2007 Sep 20 | Confirmed | 1 | Observations: Reported |
Saunders | 2000 May 13 | 2013 Nov 16 | Confirmed | 0 | Observations: Reported |
Saunders | 1999 Jan 19 | 1999 Jan 19 | Confirmed | 0 | Observations: Reported |
Montagu Island | [1996 Sep 1 ± 180 days] | [Unknown] | Uncertain | ||
Soufriere Hills | 1995 Jul 18 | 2003 Oct 8 | Confirmed | 3 | Observations: Reported |
Saunders | 1995 Apr 16 (?) ± 15 days | 1998 Feb 16 (in or after) ± 15 days | Confirmed | 0 | Observations: Reported |
Saunders | 1989 Jan 30 | 1990 Mar 22 | Confirmed | 0 | Observations: Reported |
Southern Thule | 1975 Jul 2 ± 11 years ± 182 days | Unknown | Confirmed | 1 | Observations: Reported |
Protector Seamounts | 1962 Mar 5 | Unknown | Confirmed | 0 | Observations: Reported |
Tristan da Cunha | 1961 Oct 10 | 1962 Mar 15 | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Bristol Island | 1956 Jan 11 | 1956 Jan 19 (?) | Confirmed | 3 | Observations: Reported |
Candlemas Island | [1953 Dec 31 ± 365 days] | [Unknown] | Uncertain | ||
Bristol Island | 1950 Mar 27 | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Bristol Island | 1936 Dec 18 | 1937 Jan 1 (?) | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Bristol Island | 1935 Dec 31 | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Hodson | [1930] | [Unknown] | Uncertain | ||
Candlemas Island | 1911 Nov 6 | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Zavodovski | [1908 Nov] | [Unknown] | Uncertain | ||
Saunders | 1900 ± 10 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 0 | Correlation: Tephrochronology |
Hodson | [1830 Sep 22] | [Unknown] | Uncertain | ||
Zavodovski | [1830 Sep] | [Unknown] | Uncertain | ||
Zavodovski | [1823] | [Unknown] | Uncertain | ||
Candlemas Island | 1823 | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Saunders | [1823] | [Unknown] | Uncertain | ||
Bristol Island | 1823 | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Saunders | 1819 Dec 29 | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Zavodovski | 1819 Dec | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Observations: Reported |
Tristan da Cunha | 1700 ± 50 years | Unknown | Confirmed | Correlation: Tephrochronology | |
Soufriere Hills | 1550 ± 50 years | Unknown | Confirmed | Isotopic: 14C (calibrated) | |
Ascension | 1508 ± 180 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 0 | Isotopic: Ar/Ar |
Soufriere Hills | 1480 ± 50 years | Unknown | Confirmed | Isotopic: 14C (calibrated) | |
Ascension | 1468 ± 120 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 0 | Isotopic: Ar/Ar |
Soufriere Hills | 1180 (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated) | |
Ascension | 0378 ± 370 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 0 | Isotopic: Ar/Ar |
Candlemas Island | 1250 BCE (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | Sidereal: Ice Core | |
Soufriere Hills | 2460 BCE ± 70 years | Unknown | Confirmed | Isotopic: 14C (calibrated) | |
Soufriere Hills | 4050 BCE (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | Correlation: Tephrochronology | |
Soufriere Hills | 8050 BCE ± 2000 years | Unknown | Confirmed | Isotopic: 14C (calibrated) |
United Kingdom has 5 Pleistocene volcanoes. Note that as a scientific organization we provide these listings for informational purposes only, with no international legal or policy implications. Volcanoes will be included on this list if they are within the boundaries of a country, on a shared boundary or area, in a remote territory, or within a maritime Exclusive Economic Zone. Suggestions and data updates are always welcome ().
Volcano Name | Location | Primary Volcano Type |
---|---|---|
Centre Hills | Montserrat | Lava dome(s) |
Gough Island | Atlantic Ocean (southern) | Shield |
Inaccessible Island | Atlantic Ocean (southern) | Stratovolcano |
Pitcairn | Pacific Ocean (central) | Shield |
Silver Hills | Montserrat | Lava dome(s) |
There are 59 photos available for volcanoes in United Kingdom.

Photo by Cynthia Gardner, 1995 (U.S. Geological Survey).

Photo by Paul Cole, 1997 (Montserrat Volcano Observatory).

Photo by Paul Cole, 1997 (Montserrat Volcano Observatory).

Plate from Thomson, 1878 (courtesy of NOAA Photo Library).

Photo by Richard Fiske, 1985 (Smithsonian Institution).

Photo by Peter Francis, 1997 (Open University).

Photo by Cynthia Gardner, 1995 (U.S. Geological Survey).

Photo by Mark Davies, 1997 (Montserrat Volcano Observatory).

Photo by Jon Davidson (University of Durham).

Photo by Lydia Mihelic Pulsipher, 1997 (University of Tennessee).

Photo courtesy of Dave Hall, Frikkie Viljoen and Ian Hunter, 2006 (SA Argulhas and South African Weather Service.

Photo by HMS Endurance (courtesy of John Smellie, British Antarctic Survey).

Photo by Micole and Adam Dennis, 1995.

Photo by Peter Francis, 1997 (Open University).

Photo by Lydia Mihelic Pulsipher, 1994 (University of Tennessee).

Photo by Richard Herd, 1997 (Montserrat Volcano Observatory).

Photo by Vicky Hards, 2004 (British Geological Survey, copyrighted NERC).

Photo by Richard Fiske, 1977 (Smithsonian Institution).

Satellite image courtesy of Planet Labs Inc., 2020 (https://www.planet.com/).

Photo by Cynthia Gardner, 1995 (U.S. Geological Survey).

Photo by Vicky Hards, 2004 (British Geological Survey, copyrighted NERC).

Photo by John Smellie (British Antarctic Survey).

ASTER satellite image courtesy of Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and Planetology (HIGP) Thermal Alerts Team, 2005.

Photo by HMS Endurance (courtesy of John Smellie, British Antarctic Survey).

Copyrighted photo by Stephen O'Meara, 1997.

Satellite image courtesy of Copernicus Sentinel Data, 2019.

Photo by Mark Davies, 1997 (Montserrat Volcano Observatory).

Photo by Tom Casadevall, 1995 (U.S. Geological Survey).

Photo by Tom Casadevall, 1995 (U.S. Geological Survey).

Photo by Peter Francis, 1997 (Open University).

Photo by Mark Davies, 1997 (Montserrat Volcano Observatory).

Photo by Peter Francis, 1997 (Open University).

Photo courtesy of Dave Hall, Frikkie Viljoen and Ian Hunter, 2006 (SA Argulhas and South African Weather Service).

Photo by Mark Davies, 1997 (Montserrat Volcano Observatory).

Photo by Cynthia Gardner, 1995 (U.S. Geological Survey).

Photo by Richard Fiske, 1977 (Smithsonian Institution).

Photo by Mark Davies, 1997 (Montserrat Volcano Observatory).

ASTER satellite image, 2003 (National Aeronautical and Space Administration, courtesy of ASTER science team).

Photo by Richard Herd, 1997 (Montserrat Volcano Observatory).

Photo courtesy of Montserrat Volcano Observatory, 2005.

Photo by Cynthia Gardner, 1995 (U.S. Geological Survey).

Photo by Cynthia Gardner, 1995 (U.S. Geological Survey).

Satellite image courtesy of Planet Labs Inc., 2021 (https://www.planet.com/).

ASTER satellite image, 2002 (National Aeronautical and Space Administration, courtesy of ASTER science team).

ASTER satellite image, 2001 (National Aeronautical and Space Administration, courtesy of ASTER science team).

Photo courtesy of Montserrat Volcano Observatory, 2005.

Photo by Richard Herd, 1997 (Montserrat Volcano Observatory).

Satellite image courtesy of Planet Labs Inc., 2018 (https://www.planet.com/).

Photo by Paul Cole, 1997 (Montserrat Volcano Observatory).

Photo by Lydia Pulsipher, 1994 (University of Tennessee).

Photo by Cynthia Gardner, 1995 (U.S. Geological Survey).

Photo by Cynthia Gardner, 1995 (U.S. Geological Survey).

ASTER satellite image, 2002 (National Aeronautical and Space Administration, courtesy of ASTER science team).

Photo by Mark Davies, 1997 (Montserrat Volcano Observatory).

Photo by Vicky Hards, 2004 (British Geological Survey, copyrighted NERC).

ASTER satellite image, 2003 (National Aeronautical and Space Administration, courtesy of ASTER science team).

Photo by Lee Siebert, 1977 (Smithsonian Institution).

Photo by Richard Fiske, 1985 (Smithsonian Institution).

Photo by Mark Davies, 1997 (Montserrat Volcano Observatory).
This is a compilation of United Kingdom volcano information sources, such as official monitoring or other government agencies.
Volcano Observatories | |
---|---|
Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO) | ![]() ![]() |
Volcanic Ash Advisory Center | |
---|---|
London Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC) | ![]() ![]() |
- London VAAC Archive | |
- London VAAC Notices |