Get ready for mini heatwave! UK turns its back on chilly April and will bask in 66F highs from today

Britain is set for a mini heatwave as the mercury is set to hit highs of 66F today with most of the country expected to remain sunny and warm throughout the week.

After a chilly April, the sunshine returned this weekend to the delight of revellers who enjoyed the first weekend since the pubs and bars have reopened with customers required to sit outside.

The sunny weather is expected to last throughout today with highs of 18C expected in southern inland towns and cities.

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.

‘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.

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: Deer are silhouetted against the mist and the early morning sun in Bushy Park, London

‘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.

‘Feeling much warmer as well with highs of 17 and 18 degrees inland areas.’

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 this weekend.

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. 

It was estimated that the 50,000 pubs and restaurants selling alcohol would serve six million pints to mark ‘Super Saturday’.