Sun-starved Britons have flocked to the seaside as temperatures reach 26C on the hottest day of the year so far. 

People throughout the country, from Bournemouth, to London, Weymouth and Maidenhead, have headed outside to soak up some much-needed rays. 

The warm weather has come at the perfect time for families as it coincides with the school Easter holidays, providing a welcome respite for parents across the nation. 

The bright spell 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. 

The Welsh island of Anglesey saw the highest temperature across the country on Tuesday, with 24.8C recorded in Mona.

But on Wednesday, the hottest spots have been central and south-eastern England, where winds have been lighter, as the latest weather map reveals.

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. 

People throughout the country have headed outside to soak up some much-needed rays. Pictured: People enjoy the warm weather in Weymouth, Dorset, on Wednesday

The warm weather has come at the perfect time for families as it coincides with the school Easter holidays. Pictured: Sunbathers flock to the beach at Lyme Regis in Dorset to make the most of the warm weather on Wednesday 

The bright spell (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 

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.’

Holidaymakers pack out the beach at Lyme Regis on Wednesday 

The seafront in Lyme Regis busy with holidaymakers on Wednesday 

Britons flood to the coast in Lyme Regis to make the most of the hot weather on Wednesday 

Beachgoers in Lyme Regis soak up the sunshine on Wednesday 

Sun-bathers take to the grass in St James’s Park in central London on Wednesday 

A worker at the Cabinet Office in London shades themselves from the sun on Wednesday 

People enjoy the sunshine in St James’s Park in the capital on Wednesday 

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’s 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 

People walk inside the Japanese Garden Island in Regents Park in London on Wednesday 

A couple soak up the sunshine on the promenade in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, on Wednesday 

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

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

A little girl runs through the tulips at Strawberry Fields in Lifton, Devon, on Wednesday 

A woman enjoys the tulips at Strawberry Fields in Lifton, Devon, on Wednesday 

A woman wearing a sun hat sits on the beach in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, on Wednesday 

People sit in Regents Park in London to enjoy the sunny weather 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. 

A woman takes a selfie in the daffodils in St James’s Park in central London on Wednesday 

Tourists flood to see Buckingham Palace looking resplendent in the sunshine on Wednesday 

A woman takes a photo of the daffodils in nearby St James’s Park as temperatures soar on Wednesday 

People enjoy the warm weather on the beach in Bournemouth, Dorset, on Wednesday 

Sun seekers sit out on the south bank of the Thames in London on Wednesday 

A person relaxes in the sunshine on a deck chair in Green Park in London on Wednesday 

Beachgoers soak up some much-needed rays in Saltburn-by-the-Sea, North Yorkshire, on Wednesday  

A woman has her photo taken among the daffodils on a sunny day in St James’s Park in London on Wednesday 

Tourists crowd onto a bridge at St James’s Park on Wednesday

Sightseers flock to St James’s Park in central London to make the most of the good weather on Wednesday  

People queue outside an ice cream shop in Hove, East Sussex, on Wednesday 

Sun bathers relax in the warm weather in St James’s Park in central London on Wednesday 

Tourists take a photo next to the Houses of Parliament on a sunny day in London on Wednesday 

A family poses for a sunny selfie on a bridge in St James’s Park in London on Wednesday 

A sunbather touches up her makeup while enjoying the warm weather in St James’s Park in London on Wednesday 

People queue for ice cream at a truck on the south bank of the River Thames on a sunny day in London on Wednesday 

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.