UK weather: 27C and counting - in pictures

Young women soak up the sun on deck chairs near Embankment station in London Photograph: Matt Dunham/AP

Spectators relax in the sun at The Royal Crescent awaiting the Olympic flame on its torch relay leg through Bath Photograph: Ben Birchall/LOCOG/PA

A man soaks up the sun on the South Bank of the River Thames Photograph: Matt Dunham/AP

A poodle eats an ice-cream on Southsea beach in Portsmouth, Hampshire Photograph: Mike Walker/Rex Features

Squirrel Monkeys at Chessington World of Adventures Resort, Surrey Photograph: Chessington/PA

Early morning swimmers take to the Serpentine lake in Hyde Park Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty Images

Students brave the chilly North Sea as a sea mist blankets the seaside at Blackpool, immersed in fog as large parts of the UK enjoy warm weather Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Mazie Barnes flies a kite in Greenwich Park flower gardens Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

A man leaps into the sea as revellers enjoy the sunny weather near the 'hot rocks' in Old Portsmouth Photograph: Chris Ison/PA

People walk through Greenwich Park flower gardens Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Visitors to the Royal Horticultural Society's Chelsea Flower Show eat ice-creams in the sunshine Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty Images

Allan Gordon a stock man at Killochries Fold helps a Highland heffer to cool down in Kilmacolm, Scotland Photograph: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

A woman and her dog seek some shade in Hyde Park Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Baby elephant Jamilah gets cooled off with water by keepers at Chester Zoo Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

A woman relaxes on the grass in Hyde Park Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Visitors at Chelsea Flower Show wear makeshift hats from 'Love Chelsea' cloth bags Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty Images

Competitors are shielded from the sun during hot weather at the Paralympic World Cup, at the Manchester Regional Arena Photograph: Jon Super/AP

A goose goes for a paddle on the Serpentine in Hyde Park Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

The early bird catches the worm but the early swimmer misses the sun; the sun didn't break burn off the clouds until mid- to late-morning Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty Images