St James's Park in central London records highest reading, health warnings in place for Midlands, East and South of England
The Met Office has confirmed that temperatures in the UK have reached their highest point for the year, with 31.9°C recorded in St James's Park in central London.
The high temperatures, which were recorded mainly in the eastern half of the country, came after most schools in England and Wales closed for the summer.
The previous highest temperature in the UK in 2024 was 30.5C (86.5F), recorded on 26 June in the Wisley in Surrey.