UK heatwave - in pictures

People cool off in a fountain outside the Southbank Centre (Getty)

The UK is experiencing something of a heat wave with the capital hotter than Mumbai, Johannesburg and parts of the Bahamas.

Temperatures on the first day of July climbed to 36.7C at Heathrow in London – the hottest day in almost a decade – as throughout the UK Britons try and enjoy the sun.

UK Temprature Reaches New 2003 High (Getty)

Lifeguards Chris Payne (L) and Nina Bassam keep watch on a hot Summer day at Brighton beach

Sunbathers enjoy the hot weather on the beach in Brighton (PA)

More revellers taking in the sun on Brighton beach (Reuters)

A couple sunbathe on the promenade on a hot Summer day in Blackpool (Reuters)

Londoner's take an early morning dip in the Serpentine (Getty)

The crowds at Wimbledon seek shelter from the heat under umbrellas (Getty)

A man relaxes in St. James Park in London (Reuters)

The fan is a more necessary accessory at this year's Wimbledon than most (Getty)

It all got a bit too much for a few of those attending Wimbledon (PA)