Sizzling conditions sent temperatures up into the 30s in some parts of the country today on what is now the hottest day of the year so far.
The scorching temperatures mean parts of Britain are experiencing hotter weather than Ibiza, with highs of 28C (82F) expected on the Spanish island.
A yellow weather warning remains in place until tomorrow, with the highest temperatures being seen in London, the south east and east of England, as well as the east Midlands.
It comes as a welcome break for many Britons after a wet start to July saw the country already being hit by 97 per cent of the month’s average rainfall.
The south-east of England and London has borne the brunt of the heat with the mercury reaching 31.2C (88F) at Heathrow airport today.
BRIGHTON: Women dive into the sea to escape the heat on the UK’s hottest day of the year so far
BRIGHTON: A woman takes to the refreshing haven of the waves to cool down in the stifling heat
KENT: While many Brits were keen to kick back and relax, one individual took the chance to flyboard in Dover
DORSET: Weymouth beach is busy with sunbathers enjoying the scorching hot afternoon sunshine
SOUTHEND-ON-SEA: Revellers on the Essex coast make the most of the warm sunshine
SOUTHEND-ON-SEA: A woman attempts to cool down by taking a gulp from a cold drink
SOUTHEND-ON-SEA: Two women gaze at their surroundings while sat on beach towels
SOUTHEND-ON-SEA: A man ensures he has some respite from the heat by erecting a parasol to shade his spot on the beach
SOUTHEND-ON-SEA: A couple sat on deckchairs are fully prepared for the heat, seen applying suncream, along with a cooler box of food and drink
BROADSTAIRS: Temperatures are set to rocket this weekend, bring a close to a miserable week of rain
BRIGHT0N: One woman appeared to have found a novel way of working remotely, as she is seen perusing her laptop with intense while lying on a sun lounger on Brighton Beach
BRIGHTON: Sun-seekers enjoy a day out on Brighton beach
BROADSTAIRS: Two women got their tan on in Broadstairs, east of England, yesterday ahead of a mini-heatwave
BROADSTAIRS: RNLI lifeguards were hard at work as families gingerly stepped into the sea
A weather map from the Met Office shows the searing temperatures across the UK today
DORSET: A beachgoer in Weymouth ensures their dog is able to have some respite from the heat, as they treat it to a ride on a paddleboard
DORSET: Sunbathers on the beach enjoying the scorching hot afternoon sunshine on Weymouth beach
DORSET: The busy beach at Weymouth as sunseekers finally got to enjoy some summer weather
DORSET: Many children had the chance to enjoy a day out at the beach following the start of the summer holidays. Pictured: a child riding a donkey in Weymouth
DORSET: People eager to make the most of the hottest day of the year so far flocked to popular seaside towns such as Bournemouth (pictured), Brighton and Dover
DORSET: People enjoy the hot weather on the beach in Bournemouth
NEWQUAY: People are seen on Fistral Beach in Cornwall
NOTTINGHAM: A cricket fan wears a Union Jack-themed hat on the second day of the second Test match between England and West Indies at Trent Bridge
PORTSMOUTH: People soak up the sun and heat at the Hot Walls by the entrance to Portsmouth Harbour
Milder weather is predicted to return by Sunday with Met Office spokesman Nicola Maxey warning that night-time temperatures could stay in the low 20Cs for parts of south-east England.
They are officially classified as ‘tropical nights’ if they do not drop below 20C (68F) with possible health implications for the elderly or infirm.
The government agency warned of ‘minor impacts across the health and social care sector’ which could ‘increase the risk of mortality among vulnerable individuals’.
KENT: A couple enjoy the warm weather on the beach in Dover
KENT: A woman can be seen venturing into the shallows from the shore as she prepares to paddleboard
KENT: One couple take a dip in the sea together, as they were seen conversing with one another on lilos
The predicted forecast has sparked the UK Health Security Agency to sound a 54 hour heat health alert for large swathes of Britain
Ms Maxey said there was still uncertainty over how soon the milder conditions would come in, with the possibility that the south-east could retain its heat a little longer than elsewhere.
Meanwhile, parts of the UK have already well-exceeded July’s average rainfall figures despite only being halfway through the month.
LONDON: People enjoying the sunshine in Granary Square on a hot and humid day in the capital
LONDON: People take a photo together, as they enjoy the hot weather together in London Bridge
LONDON: People swim during hot weather at the Embassy Gardens Sky Pool
LONDON: Another individual is seen taking a dip during hot weather at the Embassy Gardens Sky Pool
LONDON: A sunbather enjoys the hot weather at Green Park in central London
LONDON: A man enjoys the hot weather from a deckchair in Green Park
LONDON: People enjoy the hot weather during their lunch break
LONDON: A sunbather enjoys the hot weather lying on his back with a football behind him
LONDON: Brits looking to cool down in the excruciating heat of the capital took a dive in Hampstead Heath ponds to freshen up
OXFORDSHIRE: People swim at Banbury Lido at Woodgreen Leisure Centre. South-eastern England is likely to see the UK’s hottest day of the year by far on Frida
HAMPSHIRE: A woman relaxes on a lounger while soaking up the sun at Petersfield Open Air Pool on Friday
England had 97 per cent of July’s average rainfall between July 1 and 15, while Wales had 65 per cent, Scotland 49 per cent and Northern Ireland 47 per cent.
London has had 154 per cent of its July average already and Dorset 120 per cent. Edinburgh has had only 40 per cent and Dundee 33 per cent.
Ms Maxey said: ‘There are quite big regional differences but overall it’s looking like a wet month so far.
‘There is a caveat that, with a dry couple of weeks, by the end of the month things could even themselves out.’
She said that two or three heavy downpours often caused much of a location’s July rainfall totals, rather than a prolonged period of wet weather.
St Swithin’s Day on Monday – traditionally said to predict the next 40 days of weather – was another wet one for much of England and Wales.
