While the UK has experienced scorching temperatures in recent days, one American from Texas has explained why the heat here can feel more oppressive than in his home state. Darrell Fishback, known as Some Bald Guy on TikTok, where he has over 66,000 followers, regularly compares life in the US and UK. In a recent video, he detailed why British heat 'hits differently'.
Fishback noted that most UK homes lack air conditioning and are built to retain heat, making it difficult to escape high temperatures. He recalled his first trip to England in August 2018, one of the hottest summers on record at the time, saying he was 'miserable at night' despite using a fan. While Texas summers can exceed 40°C, widespread air conditioning in homes and public spaces makes the heat more bearable there.
The UK's hottest summer record was set in 2025 with an average temperature of 16.1°C, surpassing the previous joint record of 15.76°C from 1976, 2003, 2006, and 2018. This year, May 25 became the hottest May day ever recorded, with London reaching 34.8°C, also making it the hottest bank holiday on record.
Fishback advised Americans visiting the UK to 'talk to a local' to gauge the true heat, as temperature readings can be misleading. He joked that while you can add layers in cold weather, in heat 'you can only take so much off until the police get involved'. Viewers shared their own experiences, with one noting that the British version of air conditioning is 'going to Tesco and standing in the freezer section'. Another suggested freezing a hot water bottle and placing it under a pillow to keep cool at night.
