Thousands of Britons are flocking to beaches and beauty spots for what is set to be the hottest Bank Holiday ever – as a man died at a packed seaside resort.
The death came in Hastings, East Sussex, after a ‘medical incident’ – while a 15-year-old boy drowned at Swanholme Lakes in Lincoln on Sunday.
With temperatures predicted to soar to a ‘historic’ 35C today, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the NHS have warned Britons to keep out of the sun – especially at the hottest time of the day, between 11am and 3pm.
It has now been confirmed that the mercury today rose to 33.5C at Heathrow, west London – setting a new record both for May and for any Bank Holiday Monday.
The health warnings have not put sunseekers off, with thousands packing out Bournemouth beach and others enjoying early morning swims at Hyde Park‘s Serpentine in London as they enjoy the final day of a scorching long weekend.
Amber and yellow health alerts remain in place across England, as temperatures continue to soar on what the Met Office has described as an ‘unprecedented’ heatwave for this time of year.
For those areas under the alerts, the UKHSA has warned of ‘significant impacts’ across health and social care services – including a ‘a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions’.
Parts of the country were as hot as the Mediterranean on Sunday, with the UK enjoying its hottest May day for at least 79 years with a high of 32.3C at Kew Gardens in south-west London.
Brits were seen lounging on Bournemouth beach in Dorset early on Bank Holiday Monday
Sunseekers flock to Bournemouth Beach as temperatures reach ‘historic’ highs
But the Met Office has declared that the mercury is set to climb to a searing 35C today, which would make it Britain’s hottest bank holiday ever – including August.
At midday, the forecaster said temperatures at Bushy Park in Teddington, south-west London, hit 32.8C, provisionally equalling the all-time May record – before subsequently updating with the even higher figure from Heathrow.
The previous peaks of 32.8C were recorded in Camden Square, north London, on May 22 1922 and in Horsham, Tunbridge Wells and Regent’s Park on May 29 1944.
The hottest ever Bank Holiday Monday previously was 33.3C in August 2019 – though that record has now been broken.
The Met Office posted on X, formerly Twitter, at 1.09pm: ‘Temperatures at Heathrow have recently reached 33.5°C, provisionally beating the all-time May record.’
Tom Morgan, a Met Office meteorologist, said: ‘We rarely see temperatures above 35C, even in the summer months, so to see temperatures getting close to 35C in May is, as I say, pretty historic.’
More heatwaves are expected across the summer due to the developing ‘super El Niño’.
The phenomenon, which supercharges weather events such as making heatwaves hotter, is predicted to hit in 2027 but it is expected to begin emerging this summer.
A man tragically died in Hastings, East Sussex, on Sunday. Police said they were called to a ‘medical incident’ on the beach
People are seen soaking up the sun while sitting on Jubilee Beach in Southend on Monday
The Essex seaside setting was crammed with visitors making the most of the sunny conditions
Youngsters were seen taking a dip in the sea in Southend on Bank Holiday Monday
He said overnight temperatures could also lead to records being broken, making it ‘uncomfortable for sleeping’.
Temperatures did not fall below 19.4C at Kenley Airfield in south London overnight, provisionally breaking the previous May record of 18.9C set back in 1944.
Wales and Northern Ireland also reached 2026 record temperatures of 27.4C in Cardiff and 23.4C in Armagh on Sunday.
Scotland saw highs of 23.5C in Edinburgh on Sunday, just below the current record of 23.6C recorded in Aboyne on May 1.
The Met Office said eight regions officially entered heatwave conditions on Sunday after three days at or above the temperature threshold.
They were Heathrow in Greater London, Benson in Oxfordshire, Brooms Barn in Suffolk, High Beech in Essex, Kew Gardens in London, Northolt in London, Santon Downham in Suffolk and Writtle in Essex.
On Monday, thousands of tourists descended on the famous beauty spot of Durdle Door after the beach reopened for the first time in three months.
The iconic stone arch in Dorset can only be accessed by 143 wooden steps built into the steep 200ft cliff. Access was shut off for safety reasons in late February after winter storms destroyed the bottom 40 steps.
Sunseekers and families have been packing out beaches and parks across the Bank Holiday.
Thousands were pictured luxuriating in the heat at seafronts including in Brighton, Bournemouth, Lyme Regis and Devon – while many more swarmed at local lidos and nearby rivers over the three-day weekend.
Meanwhile, revellers did not let the heat stop them partying at Bank Holiday festivals over the weekend – including the BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend at Herrington Country Park, Sunderland, as well as star-studded events in Brockwell Park, south London.
However, tragedy struck when a man died on a packed beach in Hastings yesterday. Emergency services including an air ambulance scrambled to the scene after a ‘medical incident’.
However, the man tragically passed away at the scene, on the beach near Warrior Square in St Leonards.
A spokesperson for Sussex Police said: ‘Emergency services responded to a medical incident on the beach near Warrior Square, St Leonards, following concerns for a man’s welfare.
‘Officers assisted with the emergency response after the incident was reported at 11am on 24 May. Sadly, despite the best efforts of paramedics, the man was declared deceased at the scene.
‘His next of kin have been informed and our thoughts are with them at this difficult time. There were no suspicious circumstances and a report will be prepared for HM Coroner.’
Elsewhere, in Lincoln, the body of 15-year-old Declan Sawyer was recovered at Swanholme Lakes after he disappeared while swimming with a group of friends during the heatwave.
A Lincolnshire Police spokesman said: ‘We can update that our dive team have sadly found a body in the water at Swanholme Lakes, Lincoln. With agreement from the family, we can share that the boy who died is 15-year-old Declan Sawyer.
‘Our thoughts are with his family, and we send our condolences at this incredibly difficult time. This is such a sad incident that will no doubt also affect many of Declan’s friends and the local community as well.’
Authorities have warned about the dangers of swimming in reservoirs and lakes over the weekend.
There were also scenes of chaos on Saturday as youths were pictured inhaling so-called ‘hippy crack’ on Bournemouth beach while a girl was carried away on a stretcher.
Later on in the afternoon, six officers went onto the beach and apprehended a young man for unknown reasons before escorting him away.
He apparently resisted arrest all the way to the promenade before being placed in a police van as bystanders watched on.
Police also had to intervene when a group of girls brawled near the Red Arrows simulator.
One of the girls appeared to have her hands around another female’s neck before the skirmish was diffused.
A woman braves the searing temperatures for a morning run on Wimbledon Common
Families seen going for dips in the sea in Bournemouth on the scorching Bank Holiday Monday
Visitors queue for sunbeds at Bournemouth beach
Emergency crews scrambled to the beach in Hastings yesterday after the death of a man
Police patrol Bournemouth beach after scenes of chaos over the weekend
A wedding couple pose for pictures in the sunshine on Westminster Bridge in central London
Tourists were seen enjoying the conditions on Bank Holiday Monday on Westminster Bridge
People were also pictured along the Kennet and Avon Canal in Woolhampton, Berkshire
Although Monday is set to be hot for many parts of England, north-west Scotland will be breezier and damper with thicker clouds.
Saturday was the first time this year that the UK had passed 30C and Sunday saw the hottest recorded May temperature since 1947.
The UKHSA issued its first amber health alert of 2026 on Friday, warning that there is a risk of a significant impact across health and social care services.
The alert will remain in place until Wednesday.
The heat is considered to be dangerous for some vulnerable groups including older adults as their bodies struggle to regulate temperature.
A swimmer cools off in the sky pool in Nine Elms, south London
Animal lovers take part in Alpaca yoga at Hope Farm, Dorset
A man tells his dog to go fetch at water fountains in Battersea Park, south west London
Londoners flocked to Parliament Hill lido to enjoy the scorching heatwave over the weekend
Tourists enjoy a river cruise along the Thames in London
A man floats down the River Great Stour in Fordwich, Kent
Dr Anya Gopfert, Consultant in Health Protection at UKHSA, said: ‘We know that even moderate heat can lead to serious health problems, especially for older people and those with certain health conditions, so it’s important that everyone takes simple precautions while enjoying the warm weather over the coming days.
‘If you have friends, family or neighbours who are more vulnerable, it is important to check in on them and ensure they are aware of the forecasts and are following the necessary advice.’
Age UK recommends staying inside during the hottest hours of the day, between 11am and 3pm, and having regular cold baths or showers.
Age UK charity director Caroline Abrahams said: ‘We can all help older people stay safe during periods of hot weather by checking in on older relatives, friends and neighbours to see if they need anything or are struggling with the heat.
‘Offering to pick up shopping or medication, or even lending a fan, can make a real difference.’
