Hundreds of people flocked to Clapham Common in South London to enjoy 75F temperatures on a day which saw traffic surge by 25% after Boris Johnson gave the green light to families kept apart by lockdown to meet again.
Dozens of revellers were seen crammed together as they enjoyed pints of beer, ice creams and chats with friends and family.
People also headed to other beauty spots around the country, including Birling Gap in Sussex and Brighton seafront as large parts of the country enjoyed bright sunshine.
Around 15,000 people flocked to Brighton and many of them were taking part in demonstrations to support Black Lives Matter. Similar scenes were visible in London’s Regents Park and smaller green spaces in the capital.
Traffic surged by up to 25 per cent on Saturday compared to a week ago as other Britons queued outside pubs to buy cold beers and other drinks.
TomTom data shows that the roads around Brighton were 25 per cent busier at 4pm on Saturday compared to the same time last Saturday, and nine per cent busier on London roads compared to last Saturday.
There was also eight per cent more traffic in Bournemouth at 4pm compared to last Saturday, and six per cent more traffic in Portsmouth..
Those who headed out taking advantage of Boris Johnson’s new ‘support bubbles’ rules, which allows people from two households to interact with each other at less than two metres apart.
Hundreds of people flocked to Clapham Common in South London to enjoy 75F temperatures on a day which saw traffic surge by 25% after Boris Johnson gave the green light to families kept apart by lockdown to meet again
Dozens of revellers were seen crammed together as they enjoyed pints of beer, ice creams and chats with friends and family
Britons also cooled down in the hot weather by flocking to pubs to buy cold beers and other refreshments. Pictured: There was a lengthy queue at this pub in Primrose Hill, north-west London
Around 15,000 people also headed to Brighton to take part in Black Lives Matter protests. Pictured: An aerial view shows the seafront packed with people
People who had flocked to Clapham Common did not seem to be taking social distancing rules into account
The spike in motor congestion comes as thousands of people take part in demonstrations across the UK, with 15,000 protestors alone gathered in Brighton along the seafront (pictured, crowds in Brighton today)
Other Britons have also taken the opportunity to travel to some of Britain’s beauty spots, including the Seven Sisters white chalk cliffs in Sussex and the Oxfordshire countryside (pictured, at Seven Sisters white chalk cliffs on the Sussex Coast)
TomTom data shows that the roads around Brighton were 25 per cent busier at 4pm today compared to last Saturday
TomTom data shows that the roads around London were nine per cent busier at 4pm today compared to last Saturday
TomTom data shows that the roads around Bournemouth were eight per cent busier at 4pm today compared to last Saturday
Today, parts of the South and South East are expected to be sunny, while the sunshine spreads up to Scotland tomorrow
The Met Office tweeted a forecast showing that the whole UK can expect hot weather and humidity today
With ‘support bubbles’ in force, people itching to socialise after being confined to their homes since the ‘stay at home’ order was given on March 23 rushed outdoors on Saturday.
Thousands flocked to Britain’s beaches as global temperatures were 1.13F (0.63C) above average, according to the EU’s climate change monitor.
London, the Midlands and the South East saw sunshine and highs of 79F as people reunited over a BBQ, while the east, north and south-west experienced humidity and showers.
On Sunday, the sunny weather will continue for most of the UK, while showers will develop and will be locally heavy and thundery across Northern Ireland and western Britain.
People in Clapham did not appear to be taking part in protests which had been seen in other parts of the capital. Instead, they sat on the grass and chatted with friends
An ice cream van was also parked in Clapham as its driver sought to take advantage of the surge in numbers of people seeking to go outside
The sun-seekers were taking advantages of temperatures as high as 75F on what was a good day for spending time outdoors
People sat in groups on the grass and talked to friends and relatives after Boris Johnson eased lockdown restrictions
The new ‘social bubble’ rules allow households containing one person or one adult and children to meet with another household which can contain any number of people. People were already to meet outside in groups of up to six, although many people in Clapham appeared to be in much larger groups
They were there to enjoy the summer weather and take advantage of the lifting of lockdown restrictions
The Londoners swiped on their smartphones and laughed as they chatted to each other while enjoying pints of beer
Thousands gathered in Brighton to take part in Black Lives Matter demonstrations and there were similar scenes elsewhere around the country
This Brewdog pub, in London, was serving takeaway drinks to Britons looking for some refreshment in the hot weather
In Newington Green, Islington, dozens of people gathered for a Black Lives Matter demonstration and many were seen breaking social distancing rules by sitting close together
Dozens of protesters were crammed into the tiny patch of grass at Newington Green as they gathered in support of Black Lives Matter demonstrations
In Chelmsford, protesters walked through the streets as they held banners in the air. One read, ‘white silence is compliance’
Brighton seafront was seen packed with people as they came together to join Black Lives Matter protests
Brighton seafront was thronged with people who were flouting social distancing rules aimed at stopping the spread of coronavirus
Many protesters in Brighton wore masks but did not seem to observe social distancing rules while they held banners and placards at the seafront
Protesters also stood on a bus shelter near the iconic Brighton Pavilion as others gathered in the road in front of them
The Brighton protesters gathered near the famous pier as others sat on the cobbled beach behind them
Despite the protests in Brighton, some locals took the opportunity to head to enjoy a drink on the beach
Tourists get too close to the edge of the crumbling Seven Sisters white chalk cliffs on the Sussex Coast today
At Birling Gap, in East Sussex sun-seekers flocked to the beauty spot to pose for pictures. Three young women, pictured above, daringly posed for pictures right on a cliff edge
These tourists got a little too close to the edge of the crumbling white chalk cliffs at Birling Gap
Boris Johnson this week gave the green light for two households to merge into ‘support bubbles’ from today, meaning they can interact indoors at less than two metres apart (pictured, Camber Sands, East Sussex today)
TomTom data shows that the roads around Bristol were five per cent busier at 4pm today compared to last Saturday
TomTom data shows that the roads around Portsmouth were six per cent busier at 4pm today compared to last Saturday
The spike in motor congestion came on the day the new ‘social bubble’ rules – which permit couples who have lived apart during lockdown to spend the night together – come into force (pictured, cyclists in Lower Shiplake, Oxfordshire on Saturday)
The Met Office said that June 13 is the only date during the summer that a temperature of 86F or more in the UK has not been recorded, tweeting: ‘It’s Stat-urday #DidYouKnow June 13th is the only date during meteorological summer (June, July, August) that we have never recorded a temperature of 30°C or more in the UK.
‘Although its warm for some today we are not going to reach that mark this year’.
Met Office spokesperson Nicola Maxey told MailOnline: ‘We are looking at a showery picture for tomorrow, including heavy thunder in some areas and rain particularly in the east, north and south-west.
‘There is a chance of sunny spells in between showers, but it’s a fairly changeable, unsettled picture as we go through the weekend and into next week.
‘Temperatures will pick up, though, and it could feel humid and close if you are under a cloud.’
During the spells of sunshine tomorrow, the mercury could rise to as high as 79F (26C) in London, and just below in many other areas including Birmingham, Manchester and York.
Temperatures are not expected to reach the 70s in Scotland, where it is likely to remain wet for most of the day.
The rain is then expected to return on Sunday, with fog also likely in some areas, particularly in the north-east, with sunny spells again coming in between scattered showers.
Despite the showers, though, some areas experienced temperatures of up to 75F (24C).
‘The picture is not really changing into early next week as the unsettled weather continues,’ Ms Maxey said. ‘We’re likely to see a mix of sunshine and strong showers, with a risk of thunderstorms for the first half of next week.’
England in particular has been beset by rainfall in recent days, with more than double the amount of water falling in the first 10 days of this month, compared to all of May.
Last month was the warmest May on record with global temperatures 1.13F (0.63C) above average, according to the European Union’s climate change monitor.
This London pub was one of many to adapt to social distancing as they served customers who were enjoying the nice weather
This pub owner set up a stall to serve takeaway beer, cider and wine. Customers were seen waiting in a lengthy queue
At this Brewdog pub in London, customers waited next to barriers to pick up a takeaway pint
Many pubs around the country, including this one in Liverpool pictured on Saturday, remain closed as a result of lockdown measures but many are expected to reopen on Monday
In Regents Park, central London, revellers sat by the lake as they enjoyed the nice weather in the capital
People queued in the park to buy takeaway ice creams from the Boathouse Cafe
The queue stretched quite a distance away from the cafe as dedicated Londoners waited for ice creams and drinks
Others sat underneath the numerous trees to take some of the glare away from the sun
Others enjoyed slices of pizza in Regents Park in scenes which were reminiscent of pre-coronavirus times
In Kennington Park, South London, people gathered in small groups and were careful to sit some distance away from others
They sat on the grass and on blankets to enjoy the sunny weather and warm temperatures in the capital
Some Londoners were enjoying the sun while protests took place in many parts of the capital and elsewhere around the country
The lifting of further restrictions this week is designed to help the UK’s ‘many lonely or isolated people’ who are seen as struggling the most during the months-long lockdown.
The PM said: ‘I know how how difficult the past months have been for people cut off from their family and friends.
‘There are still too many people, particularly those who live by themselves, who are by themselves and struggling’.
He admitted that there would be many people disappointed by the restrictions on eligibility but cautioned that the change was not an excuse for a free-for-all.
‘We are making this change to support those who are particularly lonely as a result of lockdown measures,’ he said. ‘It’s a targeted intervention to limit the most harmful effects of the current social restrictions.
‘It is emphatically not designed for people who don’t qualify to start meeting inside other people’s homes, because that remains against the law.’
Protesters also gathered in Huddersfield to take part in Black Lives Matter demonstrations
At Worcester Racecourse, protesters sat on the grass and stood close to each other, despite social distancing guidelines saying they should keep at least two metres apart
Mr Johnson also confirmed shops could reopen on Monday if they abide by social distancing rules, as well as zoos, safari parks and drive-in cinemas.
Churches and other religious buildings can also re-open for individual worship, but there was no further announcements in relation to the opening of pubs.
In Brighton, thousands of protesters gathered to stand in solidarity with Black Lives Matter demonstrations worldwide.
Hundreds of BLM and pro-statue anti-protesters also rallied in cities across the country such as Liverpool, Newcastle, Brighton and Glasgow.
Demonstrators and anti-protesters seen in videos and photographs from the rallies defied strict social distancing measures as they crowded together.
One counter-protest banner read: ‘Not far right just ordinary people of all races from Bristol, Bath, Cardiff, Newport etc. United to defend the Cenotaph to defend the memory of people who died so that we are able to have the freedom to protest.’
London, the Midlands and the South East swa sunshine and highs of 79F today as people reunited over a BBQ, while the east, north and south-west experienced humidity and showers (pictured, walkers in Lower Shiplake, Oxfordshire today)
With ‘support bubbles’ in force today, people itching to socialise are rushing outdoors (pictured, children walking through the Flax and Poppy fields in the sunshine, Lower Shiplake, Oxfordshire today)
Among those gathered was a large contingent of bikers who parked their motorbikes next to the war memorial.
Hundreds also flocked to George Square in Glasgow to ‘protect’ a war memorial.
In an event organised by a group called the Loyalist Defence League (LDL), people congregated to stop vandalism to the Glasgow Cenotaph, erected to commemorate the lives of those who died in the First World War.
In London, police were fighting to keep control of the streets as a BLM rally and a pro-statue counter protest descended into hooliganism after far-right thugs flooded into Westminster.
Mounted officers and riot squads have been desperately battling to keep the two demonstrations separate, while coming under fire from both sides.
Boris Johnson this week gave the green light for two households to merge into ‘support bubbles’ from today, meaning they can interact indoors at less than two metres apart (pictured, Camber Sands, East Sussex today)
Tourists get too close to the edge of the crumbling Seven Sisters white chalk cliffs on the Sussex Coast today
The Met Office last night tweeted a forecast for today showing sunshine in the South, South East, Midlands and parts of Wales
Smoke bombs exploded in Trafalgar Square, which first swelled with flag-waving far-right yobs before they were driven out by police and the world-famous square was occupied by anti-racist and BLM activists, who marched from Hyde Park.
The pro-statue rally included veterans dressed in military uniform as well as far-right thugs such as Britain First leader Paul Golding.
Most statues, including that of Sir Winston Churchill, have been boarded up by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan to prevent them becoming ‘flash points’ for far-right violence.
But carnage still erupted in the heart of London as far right thugs peeled off from their rally in Parliament Square and began pelting cans and bottles at the police blockading the Cenotaph. The Metropolitan police are yet to announce any arrests.
It sparked a wave of frenzied violence which saw both Black Lives Matter and hooligans caught on camera deliberately targeting constables.
Skirmishes were seen breaking out between the two groups and both sides have been prowling through central London looking for violence.
The lifting of further restrictions this week is designed to help the UK’s ‘many lonely or isolated people’ who are seen as struggling the most during the months-long lockdown (pictured, cyclist in Lower Shiplake, Oxfordshire today)
London, the Midlands and the South East can expect sunshine and highs of 79F today as people reunite over a BBQ, while the east, north and south-west experience humidity and showers (pictured, walkers in Lower Shiplake, Oxfordshire today)