The latest offering from Danny Boyle, 28 Years Later, is due to be released in cinemas towards the end of the month, with TV shows and games like The Last of Us and The Walking Dead also fuelling interest in ‘the undead’.
As the anticipation builds for the release of a new post-apocalyptic horror film, research has determined the Scottish city best equipped to handle a hypothetical zombie attack.
With Danny Boyle’s upcoming film, ’28 Years Later’, ready to thrill audiences and a sustained interest in zombie-themed entertainment like ‘The Last of Us’ and ‘The Walking Dead’, Stirling emerged as the top dog in survival preparedness.
According to data for the year to April 2025, there were 584 searches per 10,000 people in Stirling for ‘survival kit’, along with 1,350 searches for related terms such as ‘Bug Out Bag’, ‘Emergency Kit’, and ‘Survival Tools’, leading the pack in the country.
Research, conducted by skip hire company LSS, also revealed that Perth secured the second spot with 410 searches, followed by Dunfermline at 348 searches per 10,000 residents.
While Glasgow may not have topped the per capita search list, it did lead in raw numbers with approximately 6,920 survival-related searches per month; closely followed by Edinburgh and Aberdeen tallying 6,460 and 3,760 searches respectively.
Across the UK, over the past year, searches for survival kits has rocketed by a whopping236-per cent.
Moreover, in a cheeky attempt to gauge preparedness for a zombie onslaught, LSS sent a Freedom of Information request to UK councils only to discover a unanimous lack of contingency plans for such an event – although one English council acknowledged the prospect “tongue-in-cheek”.
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Dorset Council stated: “The concept of a zombie apocalypse was referenced tongue in cheek in an article explaining what the emergency planning team do, which commenced ‘Have you ever wondered what the emergency planning team do? The rumours of them hiding away in a darkened bunker drawing up plans of how to respond to the end of the world or a zombie apocalypse are (largely) untrue. Although we do have a bunker!’.”
Gary Noble, from LSS, said the findings, while amusing, suggest a healthy attitude from the public towards staying safe. “A zombie apocalypse, while entertaining on screen, in books, and in video games, would be a disaster for humanity, and thankfully, will never happen,” he said.
“While the results are a bit tongue-in-cheek, it’s great to see people taking serious steps to protect themselves though, should an emergency happen.
“Having a survival kit, food supplies, medical supplies, and even a bug-out bag in case you need to dash quickly, are all sensible things to have on hand.
“While you might not need them to escape a zombie horde, they’re great to have in case of an injury, a power cut, or an emergency last-minute trip to support a loved one.”
What should you have in a Bug-Out Bag?
- Torch and spare batteries: If the power goes out, you’ll be glad you’re not fumbling about in the dark. Head torches are even better as they keep your hands free.
- First aid kit: Plasters, bandages, painkillers – if you or someone else takes a tumble, you’ll want this close at hand.
- Bottled water: At least two litres per person. You can manage without many things for a while, but water isn’t one of them.
- Long-lasting snacks: Consider protein bars, nuts, that sort of thing. Not a Sunday roast, just something to keep you going if you’re stranded for a bit. Also, keep an eye on the use-by date. While they will last, they won’t last indefinitely!
- Phone charger (battery pack): No power means no phone, and no phone means no help, no updates, no nothing. A fully charged power bank is a lifesaver.
