Britain’s record-breaking heatwave forced the cancellation of a talk on extreme heat during London Climate Action Week – a moment that perfectly captured the country’s struggle to cope with temperatures that have hit nearly 40C.
June’s hottest official record was set in Santon Downham, Suffolk, at 37.3C after three consecutive warmest days, as the country baked under a rare extreme heat warning. The disruption has been widespread: hundreds of schools shut, train and Tube services axed or delayed, and homes turned into heat traps that refuse to cool down during tropical nights. Iconic attractions including Tower Bridge and the Cutty Sark closed, while London pavements and station platforms clocked almost 60C.
“UK heatwave breaks records; experts explain why 37.3C feels worse than abroad due to humidity, buildings, and psychology.”
So why does the UK feel so much worse than countries where similar temperatures are routine? Met Office spokesperson Stephen Dixon explained that “meteorologically, the UK air tends to be more humid compared to that in continental Europe. High humidity can make it harder for sweat to evaporate, which is how we naturally cool ourselves down.”
But humidity is only part of the story. Dr Amir Khan, an ITV regular who appears on Lorraine and Good Morning Britain, recently posted on Instagram to address the question. “Have you ever wondered why 28°C in Spain feels amazing, but 28°C in Britain feels like you’re slowly being cooked inside a Greggs oven?” he said.
Housing design plays a major role. Stephen Dixon noted that “houses in Europe are often more adapted to higher temperatures, allowing those inside to stay cool. While many in the UK need well-insulated homes for those cold winter months, which means they naturally retain heat.” Dr Khan put it more bluntly: “Our homes are insulated, our offices don’t have air conditioning, and once the heat gets in, it can feel like you’re living inside of a baked potato with foil on. Meanwhile, many hot countries are designed to stay cool with shutters, thick walls and air conditioning everywhere.”
The psychological factor is also critical. “When you’re on holiday, you’re usually wearing shorts, a bathing costume, sitting by a pool… your biggest decision is whether to have another ice cream or a dip in the pool,” Dr Khan said. “But when you’re stuck at work, you’re wearing office clothes, trying to answer emails and pretending your face isn’t melting during a team’s meeting. So the temperature might be the same, but your stress levels are not.”
Countries that regularly experience hot weather have lifestyles built around it – people avoid the midday sun, shops may close during the hottest part of the day, and daily routines are designed around the heat. “In Britain, we carry on exactly as normal, then act surprised when we’re sweating on a packed Tube,” Dr Khan added. “So no, you’re not imagining it.”
As the UK sweltered, one X user who had lived in the US noted: “It regularly reached 35, it was NEVER as unbearable as the last two days here have been. UK heat is genuinely the worst.” Another observed: “We finally reached that time of year where ppl from the UK complain about the heat, then ppl from hotter countries say we’re being dramatic, then ppl who r visiting the UK admit that the heat is unbearable.”