Britons have taken to the beach, parks and newly reopened lidos as temperatures across the UK soar to 84F on one of the hottest days of the year.
Temperatures will stay high over the weekend despite the onset of a cold front bringing patches of rain at some points.
Delighted sunbathers were seen flocking to Lyme Regis beach in Dorset while early-morning exercise enthusiasts took to Clapham Common to make the most of the high temperatures before they drop next week.
Met Office charts show temperatures of 72F in the south by Tuesday – though its long-range forecast shows any warmer weather will be ‘short-lived’ until at least mid August.
Sunbathers and holidaymakers flock to the beach at the seaside resort of Lyme Regis in Dorset on a day of scorching hot sunshine
A couple sunbathe at the beach in Dorset while the UK experiences extraordinarily high temperatures of up to 84F today
Britons are set to bask in 84F heat while temperatures soar and are set to make a perfect weekend before the rain is due to sweep in next week. Pictured: A woman enjoys the sun on Clapham Common
A cold front is slowly sinking in, meaning patchy rain at times, despite the highs, before a drop in temperatures into next week. Pictured: A woman doing yoga on Clapham Common
Brothers Myles, 12, and James, 16, jump into Lymington Sea Water Baths on the first day of the lido reopening in Lymington, Hampshire
Finn Collingwood, 14, jumps into Lymington Sea Water Baths on Friday as the UK is set to see temperatures soar to 84F
And farmers have been making the most of the fine weather to harvest their bumper crop of lavender as the UK looks forward to a warm weekend. Pictured is a lavender field in Norfolk
Flocks of children were seen taking to Lymington Sea Water Baths in Hampshire on Friday as it reopened for the first time during coronavirus lockdown.
The lido is the oldest and largest in the UK. Swimmers have to book a time slot online and numbers have been restricted to around 100 swimmers a day, 10 per cent of its usual capacity.
A band of rain will move from Scotland and Northern Ireland into the north of England later today but sunnier skies are set to follow.
Those looking to have a Friday-night barbecue in the south of England and Wales will be in luck as it is set to see the hottest temperatures.
Met Office Nicola Maxey that those in the southeast have a ‘hot day to come’ on Friday, with highs of 84F.
Ms Maxey said despite the highs today in the south, Scotland will be a mixture of ‘sunny spells and showers’, with temperatures set at about 18C.
‘There will be showers throughout the weekend, most likely in Scotland and northern England.’
Lymington Sea Water Baths is the oldest and largest lido in the UK, and have reopened to the general public today. Pictured are brothers James, 16, and Myles, 12
A woman is spotted rowing along the River Thames in Maidenhead, Berkshire, in the sunlight on Friday morning
Other sailors and rowers were spotted taking advantage of the soaring temperatures in Maidenhead, which is currently experiencing highs of 74F
A man is spotted taking a jog without any shoes on while basking in the sunlight on Clapham Common
She said that while Friday is likely to see the hottest temperatures of the weekend, but Saturday will still be very warm at 82F.
Things will start to cool off on Sunday as a cold front pushes in from the north and sees temperatures drop to about 70F.
Rain may return tonight in central parts of the UK but it will be clearer in the north. The south of England is likely to stay dry and warm into tomorrow.
Wales, northern and central England will see more rain tomorrow while sunny skies are set to stay in the south.
Those in Scotland and Northern Ireland should expect showers with some sunny spells.
More rain will be spotted on Sunday all over the country but is likely to dry off and reveal some sunny skies afterwards.
Farmers have been making the most of the fine weather to harvest their bumper crop of lavender as the UK looks forward to a warm weekend.
Met Office charts show temperatures of 72F in the south by Tuesday – though its long-range forecast shows any warmer weather will be ‘short-lived’ until at least mid August. Pictured: A woman exercising on Clapham Common
Pictured are two women making the most of the glorious weather and taking to Clapham Common for a bit of exercise
Growers at Norfolk Lavender near Hunstanton were out in their 100 acres of lavender fields as England looks set to see highs of 84F today.
Norfolk Lavender was founded in 1932 when three men and a boy planted 13,000 lavender plants on six acres of land in 18 days for a total of £15.
The purple lavender has been harvested every year since and the oil is distilled to make perfumes and cosmetics.
Norfolk Lavender now houses the national collection of more than 100 varieties.
A woman is seen on a jog in the bright sunlight on Friday morning on Clapham Common
Lavender was first introduced to Britain by the Romans and during medieval times it was grown in the monasteries for culinary and medicinal use.
During Tudor times its popularity increased and England was covered in acres of lavender fields.
The Victorians used the plant as perfume scent and for flavouring honeys, jams and custard.
Cosmetic companies such as Yardley later fuelled the growing trend by producing hundreds of gallons of lavender oil.
Growers at Norfolk Lavender (pictured) near Hunstanton were out in their 100 acres of lavender fields as England looks set to see highs of 84F today
By World War One lavender had become the most common antiseptic and it was also used to disinfect hospital walls, but it slowly went out of fashion with scientific advancements.
Soon cheaper lavender was being imported from Provence and Britain’s fertile lavender fields were gradually flattened to make way for new buildings.
Over the last decade lavender has seen a revival in England with more people using its essential oil to treat a wide range of conditions from migraines and skin complaints to stress, depression, tension and exhaustion.