Britons, eager for sunshine, have made their way to the coast as temperatures soar to 26°C, marking the year’s hottest day yet.

From Bournemouth to London, Weymouth to Maidenhead, residents are venturing outdoors to bask in the much-needed sunlight.

The surge in warm weather perfectly aligns with the Easter school holidays, offering families across the country a delightful break.

This sunny spell has surpassed Tuesday, previously the warmest day of the year so far, although it still holds the record for the hottest April 7.

Anglesey in Wales experienced the peak temperature of 24.8°C yesterday, recorded in Mona.

However, today’s warmest areas are in central and southeastern England, where lighter winds prevail, as highlighted by the latest weather map.

The Met Office said: ‘Highs in the low to mid-20s are expected widely across England and Wales today, with the warmest conditions often found in sheltered areas.’ 

The peaks of 26C seen across the country on Wednesday are ‘well above the early April average’, the forecaster added, which is typically in the mid-teens. 

The heatwave (pictured) has seen Tuesday swiftly eclipsed as the warmest day of the year so far – though it still holds its title of the hottest April 7 on record 

People throughout the country have headed outside to soak up some much-needed rays. Pictured: Sun worshippers in St James’ Park in London on Wednesday 

The warm weather has come at the perfect time for families as it coincides with the school Easter holidays. Pictured: People enjoy the warm weather in Weymouth, Dorset, on Wednesday

And the mercury is largely set to remain high, it continued, with ‘fine and sunny weather’ is set to ‘dominate’ in many areas for the next few days. 

‘We’re very likely to see higher temperatures as we move through the rest of spring and towards summer,’ the weather service concluded.   

Paul Gunderson, Met Office chief forecaster, said: ‘We’re seeing a brief but notable spell of very warm weather for early April, with temperatures more typically associated with late spring or early summer. 

‘This could be the warmest spell at this point in April since 2020, a year many will remember because of the Covid-19 lockdown.’ 

Forecasters have also warned of a ‘pollen bomb’, as levels soar across much of the country.

Brighton and Hove City Council leader Bella Sankey said: ‘There really is no place like Brighton when the sun is shining and we’re definitely seeing people keen to take advantage of the sunshine today – not just on the beach itself, but also visiting our brilliant seafront cafes and bars, or enjoying a walk along the prom.

‘Our new seafront park in Hove has been incredibly busy as well, with families making the most of the school holidays at our skatepark.

‘We’re officially the sunniest city in England and we know how to have fun when the sun it out.’

The bright spell has seen Tuesday swiftly eclipsed as the warmest day of the year so far. Pictured: People head to the beach in Bournemouth, Dorset, on Wednesday

On Wednesday, the hottest spots have been central and south-eastern England, where winds have been lighter. Pictured: Rowers on the Thames near Maidenhead, Berkshire, on Wednesday

The peaks of 26C seen across the country on Wednesday are ‘well above the early April average’, the Met Office said. Pictured: Cyclists at sunrise in Richmond Park in London on Wednesday 

The mercury is largely set to remain high, it continued, with ‘fine and sunny weather’ is set to ‘dominate’ in many areas for the next few days. Pictured: People enjoy the sunshine by the Thames near the Palace of Westminster in London on Wednesday 

Forecasters have also warned of a ‘pollen bomb’, as levels soar across much of the country. Pictured: A sunbather in St James’ Park in London on Wednesday 

Paddle boarders head out to sea to make the most of the sunshine in Bournemouth, Dorset, on Wednesday 

People walking in the sunshine on Westminster Bridge in London on Wednesday 

A surfer catches a wave off the cost in Bournemouth, Dorset, on Wednesday 

People zip line from the pier towards the beach in Bournemouth, Dorset, on Wednesday 

A spokesman for Weymouth Town Council said: ‘It’s been wonderful to see so many people choosing to enjoy the sun on Weymouth beach and we’re looking forward to welcoming more visitors to our town, so they can enjoy all the fun our resort has to offer. Roll on summer!’

A spokesman for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council said: ‘It’s great to see people enjoying BCP’s beautiful beaches in the warm weather, and we want everyone to have a safe and enjoyable visit.

‘With seafront facilities fully open, visitors can look forward to land trains, cafes and attractions across the promenade, offering plenty to enjoy for families, day trippers and holidaymakers.

‘We urge anyone considering a swim to follow the RNLI’s water safety advice, and remind beachgoers that disposable BBQs are only permitted on the beach between 6pm and 10.30pm.’

Webcams also showed crowds sunbathing at Lyme Regis beach in Dorset.

But not all areas of the country have been lucky enough to enjoy a share of the sunshine. 

Conditions were cloudier and cooler across Northern Ireland and northwest Scotland on Wednesday, with outbreaks of rain at times.  

Forecaster Mr Gundersen confirmed the warmth of the last few days may unfortunately be ‘short-lived’ for some parts of the UK. 

Sunbathers on the beach in Brighton, East Sussex, on Tuesday 

The warm weather was good news for this ice cream van at the foot of Tower Bridge in London on Tuesday 

Sun worshippers enjoy the spring sunshine in St James’s Park in London 

Londoners relax on the grass and enjoy the views of the city at Potters Fields Park on Tuesday 

Many sseekers rented pedalos and enjoyed the water at the Serpentine lake in Hyde Park in London on Tuesday 

The latter half of this week could see ‘a marked drop in temperatures’ in some regions, he said, along with ‘more unsettled conditions’. 

‘In some areas, daytime temperatures could fall by around 10C between Wednesday and Thursday,’ he said. 

The Met Office warned of a ‘big change’ on Thursday when temperatures are expected to drop to between 10C and 13C.

A spokesman said: ‘It’s all purely down to wind direction at this time of year.

‘For the next couple of days we’re dragging in that warm, southerly wind, which will allow us to see temperatures reach the mid-20s.

‘As we go into Thursday, we’ll see temperatures return to normal for the time of year as we see the weather turn more changeable with advances of rain and showers.’

Temperatures are forecast to hover around 10C in the North and 14C in the South over the weekend.

The warmer spell comes in the wake of Storm Dave, which caused widespread damage and disruption over the Easter weekend. 

The chaos saw 70mph winds batter parts of northern England, Scotland and Wales.