TODAY was officially the third-hottest day in the UK EVER as temperatures hit a sweltering 37.8C in London.
But beachgoers were told to stay away from the shores as the coastline in Bournemouth and Brighton were packed to capacity.
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Beaches in Southend-on-Sea were packed today as temperatures hit sweltering heightsCredit: JOHN McLELLAN
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Beachgoers Ella Lawrence and Kimia Kazerouni make the most of the weather and top up their tansCredit: Bournemouth News
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Bournemouth beach was packed to capacityCredit: Hyde News & Pictures Ltd
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Lads jump into the River Wey as temperatures soar to 36C in Surrey townCredit: North Downs Picture Agency
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Sisters Lucia, Nancy and Annabelle Sutcliffe, from Leeds, gave fun at St Annes BeachCredit: Dave Nelson
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Three pals soak up the sunshine in South Queensferry, close to Edinburgh, which saw highs in the mid 20s todayCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council said on its beach-check app people should avoid the sands, and Sussex Police said: "Camber is now full".
Seafront car parks in Bournemouth were packed from 10am, while traffic jams snaked back 15 miles along the A338 and A31 heading into the resort, as Brits crammed onto the shores.
Dorset Police described parts of Bournemouth beach as being "rammed" by 1pm, and could be seen patrolling the seafront.
Pictures show seafronts packed with people as miles of sand were littered with beach towels, parasols and wind breaks.
An ambulance was also spotted at Bournemouth beach after a man was treated for sunstroke.
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This map shows expected temperatures in the UK from around 4pm, with scorching highs across most of the country
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A 500-mile wide plume of warm air blowing in from the continent is sizzling the country
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A yellow weather warning for thunderstorms has been issuedCredit: MET Office
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A sign at Bournemouth beach read 'head home' after thousands headed out to the jam-packed sandsCredit: PA:Press Association
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Sun worshippers at Bournemouth beachCredit: w8media
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Brighton beach is packed out with sun loversCredit: �2020 Stephen Lock / i-Images
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Sunseekers enjoy a game of volleyball in BrightonCredit: Stephen Lock / i-Images
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A woman suns herself on the shingles of Brighton beachCredit: Stephen Lock / i-Images
Barry Island beach in Wales looks idyllic in the sunshineCredit: PA:Press Association
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Two sun lovers relax in deckchairs in BrightonCredit: AP:Associated Press
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Swimmers at Brighton beachCredit: Rex Features
Brighton and Hove City Council raised concern over visitor numbers, urging people to NOT travel to the iconic seaside city because it was "impossible" to maintain social distancing.
As things stand, today is the third-hottest day ever recorded in the UK, behind 2003 when the mercury hit 38.5C in Faversham and last year's all-time best of 38.7C in Cambridge.
The shock highs come after forecasters predicted some parts of the country could see spikes of 36C.
But by lunchtime, Heathrow had already hit 35C - wiping last month's hottest day record off the charts, before climbing to a sweltering 37.8C.
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Brighton council bosses have asked people NOT to travel there as the beaches are packed outCredit: DFphotography
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A beach-checker app showed Bournemouth beach was 'packed out' by 1pmCredit: Hyde News & Pictures Ltd
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A red line was shown on the Bournemouth beach check app
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Swimmers at Bournemouth beachCredit: Hyde News & Pictures Ltd
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Every inch of Brighton's pebbles was rammed with sunseekersCredit: London News Pictures
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There was a police presence at Bournemouth beach after concerns were raised about the number of peopleCredit: Bournemouth News
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Packed sands in ScarboroughCredit: London News Pictures
Traffic snaked around the country in huge queues as many headed to beaches and beauty spots to catch a few rays.
Britain's roads were packed out as staycationers headed for the coast and beauty spots to soak up the weather, the warmest this year so far.
The A23 into Brighton, and M27 and A31 into Bournemouth saw huge traffic jams - with congestion in the Dorset town up 18 per cent on normal 2019 levels.
Rows of cars 12-miles long were reported in some parts, and KentOnline reports 7.5-mile queues on the M2 coastbound, after staycation traffic ran into the aftermath of an accident.
Long lines of traffic snaked across the country today as staycationers flocked to the beachCredit: Alamy Live News
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A group of daredevils jumping off Southend pierCredit: Alamy Live News
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Fitness fanatics worked out in the sands, despite the high tempsCredit: w8media
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A woman takes a cheeky morning paddle at Branksome beach, BournemouthCredit: w8media
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A woman soaks up the sun with her nose in a bookCredit: Alamy Live News
Nicky Maxey warned however it will be a hot night for Brits in the warmest areas like London, Cambridge and Norwich, with the cities "hanging on" to the heat and staying at around 19 or 20C as Brits head off to sleep.
John Hammond, chief meteorologist for , told The Sun Online: "It's a hot end to a cool July. In fact it blows out of the water anything we’ve seen previously this summer!"
But Mr Hammond warned: "Blink and you’ll miss it! Gone by tomorrow BUT there’s emerging signs of heat returning later next week."
Two women apply sun cream in BrightomCredit: Alamy Live News
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Gondolas on the River Cam in CambridgeCredit: PA:Press Association
The Met Office also issued a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms in the East of England between 4 pm and midnight, which could cause travel disruption, some damage to buildings and possible flooding.
But any thunderstorms will quickly be followed by cooler weather caused by a weather front moving in from the West, dashing any chances of a UK heatwave.
The Met said the front will result in temperature drops of up to 10C overnight with highs of 26C and 21C in London and Manchester respectively, on Saturday.
The massive spike of hot weather comes at the end of a below average July temperature-wise.
And staycationers will be happy to learn popular tourist spots on the continent including Ibiza, Lisbon and Berlin fell short of the UK high today, reaching 33C, 30C and 25C respectively.
