In pictures: Baking Britain

1 of 8 Model Helen Benoist, 24, cools down by hitting the surf at Tynemouth beach, Newcastle

2 of 8 Meanwhile the temperature outside Big Ben in London approached 90F

3 of 8 The beach at Scarborough was packed by lunchtime as families made the most of the fine weather

4 of 8 And temperatures soared in Scotland, with sunseekers enjoying Portobello beach near Edinburgh

5 of 8 Harrods chose Monday to open its Christmas shop - only 131 shopping days to go

6 of 8 Two ladies enjoy a paddle in the water off Scarborough beach

7 of 8 Teenagers leap from the sea wall to cool down in Brighton

8 of 8 Tina Carney and Sam Snell from Belgravia cool down in The Serpentine in Hyde Park, London, during their lunch hour