Britons descended upon the nation’s parks and beaches today to enjoy a mini Spring heatwave as temperatures rose to highs of 65F after a chilly start to the month.
Sunbathers and surfers flocked to Bournemouth and Portsmouth earlier today as the nation continued to enjoy the easing of lockdown restrictions, with temperatures hitting 64.9F in Northolt, west London, and 64F near Heathrow Airport.
Elsewhere others were spotted enjoying the sunshine at St James’s Park and Regents Park in London as lockdown-weary Brits took advantage of the rising mercury levels.
The sunny weather is expected to last this week, with highs of 68F expected across southern England and the Midlands tomorrow.
A spokesman for the Met Office said: ‘It’s been an exceptionally dry April so far and we’ll likely see very little in the way of rain during the coming week.
A group of people enjoy the sunshine at St James’ Park, Westminster, as mercury levels begin to rise across the country today
People stand on their surf boards at Bournemouth Beach in Dorset as the country welcomes a spring heatwave after a chilly start to April
Temperatures continued to rise today, with a mini-heatwave predicted before it cools off at the end of the week. Pictured: Sun-seekers this morning by the Hot Walls in Portsmouth
People walk along the seafront in Bournemouth today as lockdown-weary Brits begin to enjoy the easing of restrictions
‘High pressure will be keeping things settled and dry for the vast majority of the country as we go right the way through this week with plenty of sunshine at times too.
‘Rain continues across the north west this morning but for the vast majority, once early morning fog has cleared it’s looking like another dry day.
‘It should be feeling much warmer as well with highs of 17 and 18 degrees inland areas.’
The scenes came after figures showed that Britons splurged billions in pubs and restaurants over the weekend as restrictions began to ease.
The hospitality sector had hoped to recoup some of its losses from the past year after outdoor service resumed in England on Monday – ahead of the rest of the UK.
It is estimated that some 50,000 pubs and restaurants selling alcohol served six million pints to mark ‘Super Saturday’ alone.
Many millions more were served on a takeaway basis by establishments without outdoor seating as queues snaked down the street.
The hospitality bookings website TheFork, formerly known as Bookatable, said pub and restaurant bookings were more than double those of July last year, which was when the first lockdown ended.
And a VoucherCodes.co.uk study with the Centre for Retail Research showed £2.8billion was spent in shops.
‘Stupor Saturday’ saw people downing pints and cocktails outside pubs and bars, with many casting aside inhibitions, masks and any notion of social distancing.
People sit on a bench at Regents Park in London as the capital sees temperatures rise to 65F after a chilly start to the month
A group of people have a picnic on the grass at Regents Park in London following the easing of Covid-19 restrictions across the nation
A person sunbathes on the grass at Regents Park in London as the Met Office predicts warm temperatures throughout the week
Revellers sit outside in the sunshine at Hyde Park in London as parts of the capital saw temperatures reach 64.9F
People soak up the sun rays on Bournemouth beach in Dorset as hundreds across the country enjoy the rising mercury levels
Managing director of TheFork, Patrick Hooykaas, said: ‘Pub and restaurant bookings soared compared to the Super Saturday weekend last year.
‘The public appetite to get back to pubs and restaurants is impressive.
‘However, a risk for restaurants right now is people simply not turning up. No-shows’ will hinder post-Covid hospitality recovery.’
And the revelries switched to parks and beaches on Sunday as people took advantage of the sun for boozy picnics and family gatherings.
From Tuesday, low cloud and fog will clear by the morning followed by dry weather with sunny spells across central and southern UK.
The country will see warm temperatures by the afternoon with some rain in the north edging south and easing, followed by sunny spells and light showers.
The sunny weather has been a boost for Brits who, this weekend, returned to pubs and beer gardens across England.
Thousands of people flooded back to bars and pubs to enjoy the first weekend since lockdown restrictions were eased, with rules stating they must eat and drink outdoors, meaning the sunny weather proved beneficial for revellers.
A woman sits on a deck chair as she soaks up the sun and enjoys the warm weather at Hyde Park in London
A person sits on Bournemouth beach in Dorset and reads a book as many regions across the country enjoy warm weather
Groups of people sit on outdoor tables placed out at Hyde Park in London today as the country enjoyed a mini heatwave
Outdoor seating in pubs and restaurants across the country – including London, Leeds and Newcastle – were swamped on Saturday night as partygoers made the most of their new-found freedoms.
Police officers were out in force across London and other cities to keep an eye on al-fresco drinkers, and even shut off Primrose Hill to avoid groups congregating for late-night parties.
The Met Office has warned that there is a risk of rain in north west England and over Scotland as a band of wet weather moves in from the Atlantic but the outlook otherwise has proven to be mainly fine.
Prior to this weekend, revellers had to wrap-up in more than just a beer jacket when they hit the pubs and bars, as they endured cool temperatures in outdoor areas under current Covid rules with temperatures in London dropping to 5C on Saturday morning.
Much of the UK is set for a mini heatwave this week with temperatures set to reach 66F this afternoon. Pictured: commuters in London enjoy a warm and sunny walk across London Bridge this morning as the UK sees clear skies and warm temperatures
Pictured: A kayaker enjoys a sunrise this morning at Tynemouth Longsands in North Tyneside as UK welcomes warm weather
Pictured: Deer are silhouetted against the mist and the early morning sun in Bushy Park, London
People enjoy the early mornings sunshine Seasonal weather, Dunsden, Oxfordshire, this morning ahead of a warm Monday
Pictured: Commuters cross London bridge in the sun this morning as the capital enjoys warm weather today
Workmen take lunch break in Victoria Embankment Gardens in Westminster, central London as the spring weather continues
Ellie Argent, aged 6 and Dexter Argent, aged 8, play on the stepping stones as they enjoy a sunny day in Box Hill