A record-breaking heatwave is gripping the UK as temperatures in Gosport, Hampshire, hit 36.1°C — the highest ever recorded in June since 1976. The Met Office has issued a red warning for extreme heat across wide areas of southern England, with temperatures potentially reaching 40°C in the coming days.
Over 1,000 schools across southern England have closed early or entirely this week. A school in Taunton, southwest England, told parents that weather conditions made it “increasingly difficult” to “guarantee the health, comfort and safety” of students and staff.
London’s transport network has also been severely affected. Transport for London (TfL) has warned of disruptions to tube and rail services, while Network Rail urged passengers in red warning areas to travel only if absolutely necessary, as high temperatures threaten overhead power lines and signaling systems. The London Ambulance Service has deployed more than 400 additional ambulance crews on the streets this week.
Major events have also been impacted. The University of Bath postponed its 60th anniversary celebration at Bath Abbey due to the heat and transport disruption risk. A workshop on how cities can adapt to extreme temperatures, part of Climate Action Week in London, was canceled after organizers found the venue at the London School of Economics lacked air conditioning.
Bijal Shah, a London pharmacist, shared: “Last night at midnight, the temperature in my house was 31°C, I couldn’t control it.” He has spent the last two weeks searching for a portable air conditioner or even an industrial fan to cool his 5-month-old nephew, who is ill. Some cooling items have delivery waits of 2–3 weeks.
Glendon Alflat, a 64-year-old bus driver with 35 years of experience, said passengers asked him to turn on the air conditioning, but the company had disabled the central control to save money. He uses a wet towel on his head to cool down. “It’s at least 5°C hotter on the bus because of the glass, especially at the back where the engine is,” he said.
Meanwhile, Peter Wride, a gardener, recalled the 1976 heatwave. “We survived that June at school. No lessons were canceled, schools didn’t close,” he said. He believes this year’s reaction is somewhat excessive, bordering on panic.
Shah argued the issue is a lack of advance warning. “We never prepare for this, and as the fifth or sixth richest country in the world, we are never ready for these kinds of events that will probably become the new normal,” he said. He wants the government to issue clear, early warnings so people have time to buy fans, install sun blinds, check on vulnerable people, and plan for summers that are no longer exceptional.
