As tensions escalate between Iran, the US and Israel, concerns have grown over the safety of British interests. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has ruled out UK involvement in aerial operations but has permitted the use of British bases for defensive purposes. Warship HMS Dragon and helicopters with counter-drone technology have been deployed to Cyprus after a drone strike on a UK airbase.
According to the International Commission on Radiological Protection, the best protection during a nuclear blast is to get inside the centre of a building or basement. Multi-storey buildings with brick or concrete walls, underground parking garages and subways offer good shelter. London's Underground network, which sheltered thousands during the Blitz, is considered by some as a potential safe haven.
However, experts caution that modern nuclear weapons could penetrate deeper than Second World War bombs. Professor Andrew Futter of the University of Leicester suggests the London Underground may not be deep enough to withstand a direct hit. Staying well outside the blast zone is crucial for survival.
Property analysts have identified 20 locations that may offer better protection than built-up areas, based on 2017 research by EMoov. The remote island of Foula in the Shetland Isles is considered potentially the safest place in Britain during a nuclear attack, though radiation carried by wind patterns could still pose a risk.
