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May is one of the finest months in London for many reasons – the parks are full of colourful spring blooms and the possibilities of summer are on the horizon, but even more notably, there are not one, but two bank holidays to enjoy. And if you’ve looked at your weather app lately, you’ll have noticed that the late May Bank Holiday taking place this weekend (Saturday May 23 to Monday May 25) is shaping up to be a very sunny one indeed.
Throughout this week, it’s become clear that London is set for seriously toasty weather over the coming days. The Met Office reckons that temperatures in the capital could reach as high as 33C over the bank holiday. That’s not just hot. That’s a potential heatwave.
But just how hot will it be, and could we even be in store for a pre-summer heatwave? Here’s what the weather gurus at the Met Office have forecast for the long weekend. It’s looking like we’ll all get a solid dose of vitamin D, so make sure to pack the sunscreen if you’re heading outside.
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Late May Bank Holiday 2026 weather forecast (May 23-25 2026)
Here’s what the Met Office reckons is on the cards for London over the late May bank holiday weekend:
Saturday May 23
At the time of writing, the Met Office says that Saturday, May 4, will be warm with a few clouds for the majority of the day with highs of 29C in the early evening. There’s a chance of rain in the morning (at around 9am) but the skies will clear by 11am – and stay that way for the rest of the day. If you’re off to Field Day, make sure you bring a hat, wear suncream and stay hydrated!
Sunday May 24
Sunday, May 14, looks set to be another couple of degrees hotter than Saturday with clear skies and sun predicted for most of the day. Highs of 31C are expected, but maximum wind gusts of up to 17mph may affect the temperature. Festival-goers at Cross the Tracks will need to watch out for high levels of UV and pollen.
Bank Holiday Monday May 25
On Bank Holiday Monday, the warm and fair weather is expected to prevail. In fact, it’s set to be the hottest of the three days with the mercury smashing 33C.
Will there be a heatwave?
According to the Met Office, a UK heatwave is when ‘a location records a period of at least three consecutive days with daily maximum temperatures meeting or exceeding the heatwave temperature threshold’. This threshold varies from county to county, ranging from 25C across the north and west of the UK, and then rising to 28C in parts of the east, including London.
By those metrics, London will be hit by a heatwave. Temperatures are predicted to be above 28C from Friday May 22 until Tuesday May 26.
Want to cool off? London’s first official open water swimming area in the River Thames is now open.
Or, make the most of the weather with the best outdoor activities in London.
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