London has recorded its hottest June day ever, with temperatures reaching 36.4C at Heathrow, surpassing the previous record of 35.6C set in Camden in 1957. The Met Office confirmed the reading, marking the third consecutive day the June record has been broken.
A new UK June heat record was also set in Santon Downham, Suffolk, where a provisional temperature of 37.3C was recorded, beating the earlier 37.1C in Cavendish and 36.9C in Wattisham. The Met Office warned that temperatures could rise further, potentially reaching 38C in some areas.
The heatwave has caused widespread disruption across London, with hundreds of schools, shops, and offices closing. Rail services have been affected, with the Elizabeth line running a reduced service between Paddington and Heathrow due to extreme weather. Multiple train operators have urged passengers not to travel.
Labour MP Uma Kumaran, representing Stratford and Bow, appealed to Mayor Sadiq Khan to accelerate the rollout of air conditioning on the Tube, highlighting the baking conditions on public transport. She said in a video: 'Mayor of London, this is asking you, please put air con on the train.'
Saturday is forecast to remain hot with a high of 33C, though temperatures will ease slightly. Next week is expected to see highs of 25-26C as conditions cool.
