Hundreds of people in Bournemouth, Dorset, took to the beach to cool off as the heatwave continued.
According to Met Office deputy chief forecaster, temperatures in central and southern England and Wales are expected to remain above 30C for several more days, with low to mid-30s expected through the weekend.
The focus of the heat will gradually shift towards western parts of the UK, bringing slightly cooler and cloudier conditions to eastern coastal areas than in recent days.
However, a cold front is expected to bring rain, cloud, and heavy downpours to northern Scotland on Friday, although conditions are expected to improve over the weekend.
A possible increase in thunderstorms is forecast for parts of the south from Monday, but most areas are expected to remain dry, sunny, and very warm into the coming week.
The Met Office has confirmed a new record after temperatures peaked at 35.2C at Coton in the Elms, Derbyshire, on Friday afternoon, surpassing the previous record of 35C on separate days held by 1976 and 2020.
The UK has also broken the record for the most temperatures of 34C or higher in a single summer, with nine so far this year, and has become the first year to see temperatures of 35C or higher in three calendar months.
As a result of the heatwaves, water firms have imposed hosepipe bans in the east of England, Cambridge, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, and areas of Kent, due to increased strain on water supplies.
The strain on water supplies has intensified following a record warm spring for England and Wales, compounded by population increases and under-investment in infrastructure, including the lack of new reservoirs built in 30 years and leaking pipes.
The hosepipe restrictions have come into force in various areas, with Southern Water customers in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight affected, as well as Anglian Water customers in the east of England and Cambridge customers.
