Crowds flock to parks and beauty spots on hottest day of the year so far as temperatures hit 60F

Crowds of people were out and about across the UK yesterday as they enjoyed sunning themselves during the hottest day of 2021 so far.

Hoards of sunseekers were seen making the most of the break in the recent rain by taking strolls or enjoying a sit down away from their bubbles.

And ahead of tomorrow’s expected roadmap from the Prime Minister out of the third lockdown the UK has endured, people took matters into their own hands for a stroll.

The warmest temperatures today were found in Weybourne, Norfolk where the mercury nudged 60F making it the warmest day of 2021 so far.

Hoards of people were spotted out and about in tourist spots such as near Tower Bridge, London, today as they made the most of the hottest day of 2021 so as temperatures reached 60F in Norfolk

Just two weeks ago the same town froze in 0.8C temperatures, showing the upturn in the recent mild conditions.

Today in London dozens of people were spotted sitting and walking closely to others near Tower Bridge with little or no thought for the two-metre rule.

People also seemed to be ignoring the rules in Hyde Park where some stopped to have picnics together and others nonchalantly strolled by parked police cars.

The area near Tower Bridge was bristling with activity today with people breaking lockdown to go for strolls and sit out in the sunshine near the world famous tourist site

The area near Tower Bridge was bristling with activity today with people breaking lockdown to go for strolls and sit out in the sunshine near the world famous tourist site

People sunning themselves outside did not seem to be considering Government lockdown rules as they chatted with friends near Tower Bridge today

People sunning themselves outside did not seem to be considering Government lockdown rules as they chatted with friends near Tower Bridge today

In Hyde Park some were seen paying no attention to the police cars as they calmly went for a stroll out in the afternoon sunshine, despite there being no change in the lockdown guidelines

In Hyde Park some were seen paying no attention to the police cars as they calmly went for a stroll out in the afternoon sunshine, despite there being no change in the lockdown guidelines

The warmer temperatures were just too tempting for some who could not resist heading out with dogs and pushchairs in the balmy winter conditions, following several days of rain

The warmer temperatures were just too tempting for some who could not resist heading out with dogs and pushchairs in the balmy winter conditions, following several days of rain

Plenty sat out in the greens of Hyde Park today but at least were seen to be careful to not venture too closely to other groups doing the same thing in the hottest day of 2021 so far- with hotter yet to come

Plenty sat out in the greens of Hyde Park today but at least were seen to be careful to not venture too closely to other groups doing the same thing in the hottest day of 2021 so far- with hotter yet to come

Several people seemed to agree it was the perfect temperatures to be outside in the sunshine instead of being cooped up inside, following the Government's Covid guidelines

Several people seemed to agree it was the perfect temperatures to be outside in the sunshine instead of being cooped up inside, following the Government’s Covid guidelines

This group was spotted seemingly taking a martial arts lesson in the winter sunshine ahead of tomorrow's rumoured plans for easing lockdown rules expected by the Prime Minister in the Houses of Parliament

This group was spotted seemingly taking a martial arts lesson in the winter sunshine ahead of tomorrow’s rumoured plans for easing lockdown rules expected by the Prime Minister in the Houses of Parliament  

And in Windsor people strolled together on the Long Walk near other groups

Current restrictions forbid meeting other people you do not live with, or have formed a support bubble with, unless for a permitted reason.

Any outdoor gatherings must be limited to between just two people from two households, yet crowds of sunseekers took to beaches and green spaces across the country today, just days ahead of Boris Johnson’s ‘roadmap’ to freedom announcement.

Dozens of people were seen out in the crisp February air in Windsor as they took a stroll with friends, family and their pets along the Long Walk in Berkshire as they made the most of the upturn in weather fortunes

Dozens of people were seen out in the crisp February air in Windsor as they took a stroll with friends, family and their pets along the Long Walk in Berkshire as they made the most of the upturn in weather fortunes

The warmer conditions were just too tempting for some people who could not wait to get outside after watching the rain fall for several weeks. The conditions are expected to get better during the week and peak at about 17C in the southeast

The warmer conditions were just too tempting for some people who could not wait to get outside after watching the rain fall for several weeks. The conditions are expected to get better during the week and peak at about 17C in the southeast

Martin Bowles, operating meteorologist from the Met Office said we can look forward to more mild conditions this week, with the south east even set to bask in 17C.

He said: ‘It’s going to stay quite mild as we have a southerly flow.

‘Some places will still get more rain than others. But we can expect it to stay milder and dryer next weekend.’

It comes after several weeks of rainy weather across the country bringing flood misery to thousands.

Sally Bloor and her sons Fin, five, and Sam, three, have fun cycling through a flooded road near Ely in Cambridgeshire

Sally Bloor and her sons Fin, five, and Sam, three, have fun cycling through a flooded road near Ely in Cambridgeshire

Near Trinity College, Cambridge, beautiful crocuses were seen blooming in the winter sunshine as cyclists stopped for a rest

Near Trinity College, Cambridge, beautiful crocuses were seen blooming in the winter sunshine as cyclists stopped for a rest

Several people ventured out to enjoy the beautiful scenery in Cambridge and warmer temperatures, despite lockdown rules

Several people ventured out to enjoy the beautiful scenery in Cambridge and warmer temperatures, despite lockdown rules

The beautiful blooming crocuses looked a picture of colour in some scenes seen around Cambridge today

The beautiful blooming crocuses looked a picture of colour in some scenes seen around Cambridge today 

The Met Office says there will be further rain tonight through southwest England, parts of the Midlands, Wales and northern England.

Northern Ireland and Scotland can expect it to stay mostly dry.

But that could change on Tuesday when southwest Scotland and into the northwest of England, such as Cumbria, have a yellow rain warning.

Martin added: ‘We had quite a lot of rain three or four days ago which came quite out of the blue.

‘Some rivers will be quite close to overflowing as it is and some flood warnings will be put out.’

Rules on leaving the house in lockdown 

  • You cannot leave your home to meet socially with anyone you do not live with or are not in a support bubble with (if you are legally permitted to form one).
  • You may exercise on your own, with one other person, or with your household or support bubble.
  • You should not meet other people you do not live with, or have formed a support bubble with, unless for a permitted reason.
  • Stay 2 metres apart from anyone not in your household.

Detailed guidance on the national lockdown:

You must not leave or be outside of your home except where you have a ‘reasonable excuse’. This will be put in law. The police can take action against you if you leave home without a ‘reasonable excuse’, and issue you with a fine (Fixed Penalty Notice).

You can be given a Fixed Penalty Notice of £200 for the first offence, doubling for further offences up to a maximum of £6,400.

A ‘reasonable excuse’ includes:

  • Work – you can only leave home for work purposes where it is unreasonable for you to do your job from home
  • Volunteering – you can also leave home to provide voluntary or charitable services
  • Essential activities – you can leave home to buy things at shops or obtain services. You may also leave your home to do these things on behalf of a disabled or vulnerable person or someone self-isolating
  • Education and childcare – you can only leave home for education, registered childcare, and supervised activities for children where they are eligible to attend. 
  • Meeting others and care – you can leave home to visit people in your support bubble ( if you are legally permitted to form one), to provide informal childcare for children under 14 as part of a childcare bubble (for example, to enable parents to work), to provide care for disabled or vulnerable people
  • Exercise – you can continue to exercise alone, with one other person or with your household or support bubble, limited to once per day, and not outside your local area 
  • Medical reasons – you can leave home for a medical reason, including to get a COVID-19 test, for medical appointments and emergencies
  • Harm and compassionate visits – you can leave home to be with someone who is giving birth, to avoid injury or illness or to escape risk of harm (such as domestic abuse). 
  • You can also leave home to visit someone who is dying or someone in a care home (if permitted under care home guidance), hospice, or hospital, or to accompany them to a medical appointment
  • Animal welfare reasons – you can leave home for animal welfare reasons, such as to attend veterinary services for advice or treatment
  • Communal worship and life events – You can leave home to attend or visit a place of worship for communal worship, a funeral or event related to a death, a burial ground or a remembrance garden, or to attend a wedding ceremony.

There are further reasonable excuses. For example, you may leave home to fulfil legal obligations or to carry out activities related to buying, selling, letting or renting a residential property, or where it is reasonably necessary for voting in an election or referendum.