Safest places in the UK in the case of a nuclear attack have been revealed

Full list of the safest places in the UK in case of a nuclear attack

Many people have been wondering where in the UK the safest place would be when confronted with a nuclear attack.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has issued a stark warning of "everlasting consequences" after US President Donald Trump claimed "great American Warriors" had executed a "very successful attack" on Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan sites.

This has resulted in rising concerns about a nuclear disaster striking in the UK and hypotheses over where the safest place in the country would be in case of such an event.

Iran's Foreign Minister went on to write on X: "Each and every member of the UN must be alarmed over this extremely dangerous, lawless and criminal behaviour. In accordance with the UN Charter and its provisions allowing a legitimate response in self-defence, Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interests, and people."

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has since made his stance on the matter clear: "Iran's nuclear programme is a grave threat to international security. Iran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon, and the US has taken action to alleviate that threat.

"The situation in the Middle East remains volatile, and stability in the region is a priority. We call on Iran to return to the negotiating table and reach a diplomatic solution to end this crisis," per Express.

The best way to protect yourself and your loved ones before, during, and after a nuclear attack is "getting inside the centre of a building or basement," according to the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP).

They said: "On August 6, 1945, Mr Eizo Nomura was in the basement of a building in Hiroshima, about 170 meters from ground zero. He survived the atomic bombing and died in 1982 at the age of 84. Most people within a few hundred metres of a nuclear detonation are not likely to survive, especially if unprepared.

"Be inside before the fallout arrives. After a detonation, you will have 10 minutes or more to find an adequate shelter before fallout arrives. If a multi-story building or a basement can be safely reached within a few minutes of the explosion, go there immediately. The safest buildings have brick or concrete walls. Underground parking garages and subways can also provide good shelter."

Taking this advice into account, it would seem logical for Londoners to seek refuge in its extensive underground network, with the tube tunnels providing shields from the blast. This is also where Londoners took cover during the Blitz in World War II, per the Mirror.

However, some people claim that modern nuclear weapons are much more powerful than the bombs of World War II, suggesting that even the 58-metre-deep Hampstead station might still be too close to the surface.

There are many factors to bear in mind, including radiation, fireball, air blast, and thermal radiation, with varying radii of up to 153 km2, 197 km2, 1,420 km2, and 12,960 km2 respectively. While these distances are subject to change depending on weather conditions, property researchers have identified 20 locations that might be safer than major UK cities, as listed by EMoov in 2017.

The safest location in the UK is believed to be the remote island of Foula in the Shetland Isles in the event of a nuclear attack.

Below is the full list of the safest places in the UK:

1. Cornwall
2. Weymouth
3. Folkestone
4. Dover
5. Margate
6. Clacton-on-Sea
7. Felixstowe
8. Brixworth
9. Bideford
10. Aberystwyth
11. Skegness
12. Isle of Anglesey
13. Barrow in Furness
14. Lancaster
15. Whitby
16. Carlisle
17. Dumfries
18. Berwick-upon-Tweed
19. Inverness.