The bank holiday weekend has got off to a fine and dry start as most of the UK enjoys sunshine and blue skies.



Around 10m vehicles were expected to hit the road over the next three days in what is expected to be one of the hottest May bank holidays on record.

The temperatures will peak on Monday when they are forecast to “smash” the previous record, set in 1999.

Dean Hall, a meteorologist for the Met Office, said: “It’s going to be a great May bank holiday weekend, which is notorious for usually being quite wet and miserable. Temperatures will rise day by day as we go through the weekend and into Monday, which is set to be the warmest bank holiday Monday on record.

“Most parts of the country will enjoy unbroken sunshine and very warm temperatures,” he said. “We’ll see low to mid-20s in most parts of the UK, while areas in the south-east should expect high 20s.”

The bank holiday was introduced in 1978 and the hottest weekend was in 1995, when a temperature of 28C was recorded in Cheltenham. The warmest temperature for the bank holiday Monday alone was 23.6C in 1999.

“We’ll easily smash that record on Monday,” Hall said. “It wouldn’t surprise me if we reached highs of 28C.”

Many people were expected to visit coastal towns and beauty spots to make the most of the weather.

A spokesman for the AA, Luke Bosdet, said: “This weekend is going to be like the Easter we didn’t have. Easter was early and ended up being cold so there wasn’t much fun and joy. Now we have good weather, people are taking advantage and getting out to enjoy the great outdoors.

A child plays in the fountains at Granary Square in Kings Cross, London. Photograph: Jonathan Brady/PA

Bosdet said drivers should be prepared for congestion. “There is a consequence to the good weather and that is you’re getting a lot of people on the road. On a typical bank holiday with good weather, we see in the region of 10m cars hitting the road.”

He said high traffic levels could be expected on the M23 to Brighton, the roads to Cumbria and the A303 towards the West Country.



“They tend to be the usual suspects for bad congestion and delays. My advice is for people to keep an eye on the travel updates before heading out and to be aware that trouble often hits when everyone comes back on Monday evening at the same time.”

Rail travellers could expect a miserable weekend, as Network Rail carried out hundreds of maintenance and upgrade projects. Major work between Glasgow and Edinburgh meant East Coast services would start and terminate at Edinburgh, while West Coast trains would not run north of Lancaster-Oxenholme Lake District on Sunday.

Liverpool’s mainline services were being reduced, with some replaced by buses or diverted via Manchester from Saturday to Monday. No trains would serve London Paddington on Sunday, which would also force the suspension of Heathrow Express trains.

Network Rail’s chief executive, Mark Carne, said: “While most of the network is open for business as usual, some routes are heavily affected and so we strongly advise passengers to plan ahead this May.”

For those staying closer to home the weather was also perfect for gardening, according to Guy Barter, the chief horticulturist of the Royal Horticultural Society.



“So far this spring, weather conditions will have delayed some tasks in the garden,” he said.

“With a fine forecast for the three-day weekend across most of the UK, gardeners should feel excited they will have the time to invest in their gardens and also have time to spend relaxing with families and friends enjoying the fruits of their labours. A perfect end to National Gardening Week.”

Hall warned those heading out to enjoy the sunshine to take precautions to protect their skin and eyes as UV levels were strong. Pollen levels were also high so hayfever sufferers may be affected.