If you’re as obsessed with weather apps as I am - I check mine every morning as my flat is a well-insulated bunker with no clue what conditions are like outside until you, you know, actually go outside - then you’ll know a scorcher is about to seal itself over the capital.
Wall-to-wall sunshine and highs tickling the 30°C mark, it promises to be one of the hottest weeks of the summer.
This may sound like very exciting forecast (especially if you’re one of the few remaining Londoners who hasn’t sensibly swapped the city for a beach in another time zone), but as we’ve seen time and again, we all have a boiling point - and for some, it is alarmingly low. The best way to stay cool through the incoming high temperatures? Invest in a fan while you still can.
My favourite is Shark’s FlexBreeze Hybrid fan, which launched in spring 2024. The head detaches from the pole and turns into a desk fan, so you can use it in different settings. It came in very handy when I was travelling back from the office on a stifling bus. Although I got a few funny looks sitting there with a full-sized fan in my lap, the breeze it generated meant that I had no hoots to give. It’s been working hard for its money this summer too, keeping me comfortable despite the succession of heatwaves it has had to blast through.
Whether you’re dreaming of gentle breezes to lull you to sleep, a cooling waft to enjoy on WFH days, or just something to take the edge off the searing commute, we’ve rounded up the best hot-weather heroes worth adding to basket right now.
If you need refreshing cooling in a hurry, few retailers deliver the goods better than Amazon. The site offers next day, and in some cases same day, delivery, so whatever the heatwave throws, you’ll be ready to deal with it - no sweat.
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Shark FlexBreeze Hybrid Indoor & Outdoor Fan
For small spaces that desperately need cooling in hot weather, Shark’s FlexStyle hits the sweet spot. The multi-use model can be used wirelessly and outside, bringing cooling breezes to any part of the house, or indeed, a sweltering balcony. You can even attach a hose pipe to create a misting spray to refresh you on the hottest days,
The design turns a floor pedestal fan into a desk one, meaning you can use it on practically all surfaces and the battery life is impressive, going 24 hours on the lowest speed.
The most impressive feature? The noise - or rather, the lack of it. Even at top speed, you’d barely know this was on.
The only downside? The oscillation range, which only manages a 90° turn. That said, stick it in a corner of the room or table and it will push cool breezes in all the right places.
Buy now £219.00, Amazon
Duux Whisper Flex 2 Smart Fan
Awarded a much-coveted QuietMark, Duux offers powerful cooling quickly and quietly, lowering the temperature to make your space a far more comfortable place to be. When it says it’s whisper quiet, it means it: we’re talking 13dB, which is slightly louder than relaxed breathing.
Add to that the fact that there are 30 settings to pick from, and you can’t fail to find exactly the right kind of breeze to suit. It oscillates both horizontally and vertically to leave no hot spots uncovered.
Buy now £166.64, Amazon
BONECO F220 Air Shower floor-standing fan 85cm
Settings: 4
Some days are so screamingly warm, they make you want to stand inside a wind tunnel. Boneco’s Swiss-made design answers that breezy daydream, with 270-degree manual rotation, multiple speed levels and a max of 33W power usage.
Thanks to the deep blades, the flow will flood your indoor spaces and circulate air effectively around the entire room, bringing the temperature back down to reasonable levels.
If you’ve got high ceilings or multiple floors that you want to cool, the Boneco F220 is ideal: it will pour cool air in, just like a shower, to help you regulate temperatures quickly and quietly.
Was: £189.99
Buy now £79.99, Amazon
Airmate Pedestal Fans for Bedroom
Designed for the bedroom, this pedestal fan’s loudest noise is 25dB, a level considered to be very quiet. It means no whirring din when you’re trying to sleep; just cool breezes singing you a lullaby.
The electric model offers no less than 12 speeds, and it comes with a remote control so you can operate it without getting out of bed. Forget about the fan entirely if you engage the timer, which can run for 12 hours.
Buy now £129.99, Amazon
Dimplex Ion Fresh cooling fan
Settings: 3
While this fan can’t be controlled by anything other than the included remote and control system, it’s smart thanks to a feature called the Ioniser. This optional mode washes the air clean of dust particles, which is particularly helpful if you live with someone with allergies or your home is by a busy street. So, rather than pushing air around the room, it will flood your space with fresh air - a healthier prospect all around.
The tower design comes in a black and copper colour scheme and also has a tilt feature and 70-degree oscillation so you’ll always find the right angle to enjoy cooling breezes, wherever you are in the room. Meanwhile, a natural mode mimics outdoor wind and the sleep mode gradually cuts the fan’s speed before shutting down completely, a godsend when you’re trying to catch your 40 winks. Comes with a three-year manufacturer guarantee.
Buy now £111.10, Amazon
Meaco MeacoFan 1056 Air Circulator, White
As well as a blissfully low operation, Meaco’s small fan is highly energy-efficient too, meaning less of a pearl-clutching moment when the bills arrive. Highly rated by customers, the ultra-quiet fan has been awarded a Quiet Mark and can be placed on a bedside table for targeted cooling relief when you need it.
It’s an excellent choice for the bedroom in particular, with an ECO mode that automatically adjusts the fan speed after reading the room temperature and Sleep mode that will adjust the cooling rate so you won’t wake up shivering in the early hours. The control display can also be turned off to stop the light from interrupting you as you nod off.
All this on the back of a super low power consumption of just 10 watts.
Was £104.99
Buy now £99.99, Amazon
GEOSMART PRO AirLit Smart Pedestal Fan with Beauty Mirror - White
Settings: 4
Answering the age-old question - "Can a fan be a multi-hyphenate?" - Geosmart knocks versatility from a single appliance out of the park. It’s not just a fan, this device is also a ring light, a smartphone holder and a mirror, making it a summer dressing table must-have.
Set it on your desk, or extend the stand to raise it from the floor. In terms of features, choose from four fan speeds, tilt and oscillate. It’s USB-charged with a full battery giving you 15 hours of run time, making it perfect for taking on trips away. Download the app to increase its potential; as well as controlling it from afar, you can set automatic schedules too. And it’s Google and Alexa voice assistant compatible too. All at this bargainous price. Phew!
Buy now £69.99, Amazon
Portable Neck Fan with 78 Ventilation Holes
Best for: effortlessly cool
This bladeless fan has been doing the rounds on social media - and no wonder. They look like headphones but have a sole purpose: to cool the worst of your sweat before those beads have a chance to drip.
Reasonably priced and with three wind speeds to help you battle the heatwave, it projects enough air to keep your neck, face and head at a comfortable temperature, even in the human soup that is the London Underground in the summertime. It charges with a USB port, so you can wear it at work and plug it into your computer to charge up for the journey back home. Mind you, it's not just for the commute; the hands-free design makes it perfect for using while cooking up a storm in the kitchen as well as strenuous outdoor sports.
Was: £36.99
Buy now £28.11, Amazon
yokye Desk Fan
She may look small, but oh, she is mighty. This USB-powered fan comes with an LED display and - are you sitting down? - 100 fan speeds to choose from. While it doesn't oscillate, the head has an adjustable tilt, which is useful for blasting hot, still air from the top ends of the room to keep fresh breezes swirling.
Plus, the 5400mAh battery is long-lasting and means the fan can be used cord-free. Take it from room to room or further afield without tangling yourself in wires.
Buy now £22.99, Amazon
HandFan Handheld Fan Misting
Best for: misting and cooling
Converting water into mist for an immediately cooling effect, this fan makes an ideal sidekick for scorching summer days. Three settings include fan only, mist only or a combination of both.
The large hole also makes this fan very easy to hang. Available in three colours.
Buy now £16.14, Amazon
TriPole Handheld Fan
Best for: hot flushes
There’s a reason why this fan is a best-selling model on Amazon. The powerful device is compact, and lightweight and gives an impressive cooling effect with a mist addition. There are three settings, USB charging, and up to 30 hours of battery life.
Buy now £11.94, Amazon
Bladeless Fan Handheld Fan
Best for: technological features
Admittedly, it's not the strongest breeze, but if you’re concerned about little one’s fingers this is a safe design. Offering three speeds, this fan is charged through a USB port and can be fitted into a circular base to create a desk fan. Available in three colour combos.
Buy now £8.99, Amazon
Morphy Richards Airflex Circulating Desktop Fan
Sweating into your laptop isn't going to do your tech any favours. Keep breezes circulating with this fan, now half price on Amazon. The desk design is compact and portable, with a timer and 60° oscillation to get breezes moving around your space when you need them.
Buy now £39.99, Amazon
