Climate change
International

London exceeds 38 °C and August 13 becomes the fifth hottest day in history in the United Kingdom

1 min
A man walks, with Elizabeth Tower – better known as Big Ben – visible in the background, during the fifth heatwave of the summer in London, on August 13, 2026.Isabel Infantes / Reuters

The United Kingdom has experienced the hottest day of the year today, with 38.1 °C recorded in Kew Gardens, west of London, according to the Meteorological Office. The temperature exceeds the 38 °C reached on June 26 in Norfolk and makes today the fifth warmest day in history since records began.