Scorched earth Britain: Aerial photos show how nation is baking as millions face hosepipe bans after eight days of record-breaking 34C heat

Published: 00:01, 14 July 2026 | Updated: 00:01, 14 July 2026 New aerial photos show the devastating effect of the heatwave on Britain's green spaces – as millions now face a hosepipe ban.  In what could be the longest heatwave on record, yellowing grass can be seen at some of Britain's best-known landmarks. The UK is stuck in its third heatwave of the year with temperatures expected to remain baking hot until the end of next week. Aerial photographs showed usually green parks in London as well as areas around Stonehenge, Dorset and Nottingham scorched by the brutal heat. Shocking photos show the comparison of Cambridge University grounds between 2023 and now. Lush green grounds have yellowed almost completely. A record was broken this week as temperatures passed 34C for the eighth day this calendar year, surpassing the previous high of seven days set in the summers of 1976 and 2020.  This comes as millions face hosepipe bans across the south of England.  Anglian Water announced restrictions on Friday morning, placing five million customers across eastern England under a ban from tomorrow. A drone of Greenwich park, east London, showing how the colour of the grass has turned yellow after weeks of baking temperatures A comparison between King's College Cambridge after this week's heatwave and July 2023 A white dry circle appears around the stones at a very arid Stonehenge (pictured on Friday)  Wimbledon Common in south west London looked dry as the effects of the heatwave are becoming apparent on Britain's green spaces Bridport and West Dorset Golf Club, on the east cliff at West Bay in Dorset, begins to dry out under the intense heat The fairways at the Cambridgeshire Golf Club in Cambridge appear parched after high temperatures in the UK this week There is barely a sign of green grass in Tooting Common, south London, as it is scorched under high temperatures  An aerial view shows a yellowing Beeston Fields Golf Course in Nottingham as the grass struggles with the hot and dry weather That means people under the ban will not be permitted to use hosepipes for watering gardens, washing cars or filling swimming and paddling pools.  Cambridge Water announced on Friday that it would implement a hosepipe ban for its 350,000 customers for the first time in three decades. The restrictions will come into force on July 17.  Thames Water has urged its 16million customers, including those in Greater London, to stop using hosepipes during the heatwave but has not imposed an official ban.  The Met Office said it was the first time temperatures of 35C or higher have been recorded in May, June and July of the same year. Rail passengers faced ongoing disruption on Friday due to the heat across the UK network as East Midlands Railway (EMR) continued its 'essential travel only' warning. Great Western Railway, c2c, London Northwestern Railway, South Western Railway, Northern Transport for Wales and West Midlands Railway were running amended services on Friday due to the weather.  High temperatures can cause rails to buckle, overhead electric wires to sag and lineside fires, while steel rails can exceed 50C when the air temperature is 30C. From 1am on Saturday, Anglian Water said its customers will not be allowed to use hosepipes. Dr Geoff Darch, head of strategic asset planning for Anglian Water, said: 'This year has been exceptionally hot and dry, and we're already into the third heatwave of the summer.' Shocking photos show the comparison of Cambridge University grounds in 2023 versus now Visitors to Hyde Park in central London cross a scorched landscape of yellowing grass A woman walks through Greenwich Park on July 10 as Britain's Health Security Agency issued yellow heat health alerts for the Midlands, eastern and southern England Two women take a selfie as they visit Greenwich Park in south-east London amid a hot spell that marks the third official heatwave of the season Paddleboarders Olivia, 20, and Abbie Selby, 17, at Cullercoats Bay in North Tyneside on Friday Your browser does not support iframes. The heatwave threshold is defined as three consecutive days at or above a set temperature Dr Darch added: 'Every day of sustained hot weather increases the challenge of balancing supply and demand, and we are now at the point where we need to ask customers to help by hanging up the hosepipe, letting lawns go brown, cars go dirty and using water even more wisely to help protect the environment and ensure water remains available for all customers.' Parts of south-east England have now officially been in a heatwave since Saturday and forecasters believe the threshold will continue to be met well into next week. The conditions could yet be record-breaking, given the historic 1976 heatwave lasted for 16 days in a row with at least 30C in London each day from June 23 to July 8. Temperatures are expected to ease slightly to 30C this weekend and 28C early next week. But these temperatures will still be enough to hit the heatwave level, which varies around the UK but is 28C in London and must be recorded for at least three days.  Forecasters said conditions will turn slightly cooler but remain dry from next week in the South-East due to an easterly wind, while the focus for the hottest conditions will shift towards south-west England where there could also be thunderstorms. Met Office deputy chief forecaster Tom Crabtree said: 'Many people will understandably want to know how long the current heatwave is likely to last. 'While temperatures are expected to ease across south-east England through the weekend and into next week, it won't be a straightforward end to the warm weather.  A drone photo of Blackheath in south east London shows the impact of the heatwave on grass The Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich has also seen its lawns affected by the hot weather Another angle of Greenwich park in east London: temperatures are expected to ease slightly to 30C this weekend and 28C early next week 'High pressure is expected to remain in charge through much of next week, but it will gradually migrate northwards. This means that an easterly wind will become established in the south, and the focus for the hottest conditions will migrate towards the South-West. 'As a result, some places that have seen the highest temperatures during recent weeks will begin to cool. It will however remain very warm, especially in the South-West, and heatwave thresholds may continue to be met in places.' The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) updated its amber health alerts on Friday to cover the whole of England apart from the North-East – which has a yellow alert – until Sunday. The amber alert means significant impacts are likely across health and social care services, including a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions. Early harvests have begun with Waitrose announcing on Friday that it has officially commenced its earliest ever for wheat and oilseed rape at its Hampshire-based farm, the Leckford Estate. The supermarket said the unprecedented early start is a direct result of unseasonably high temperatures, which have caused the crops to ripen much faster than usual this year. Traditionally, harvest season runs from late July through to October in the UK. Britain's electricity grid operator issued another plea to the industry for more power generation, forecasting a tight period for electricity margins for Friday evening over 'extreme temperatures' in Europe. The National Fire Chiefs Council also flagged the increasing risk of wildfires this week, advising people to avoid using disposable barbecues in open countryside, park and moorlands. Metropolitan Police deputy commissioner Matt Jukes has called on the public to 'hold back' on non-emergency calls. He said: 'Call us on the things we need to. Please hold back on the calls we don't need to take. Officers out there are melting in the heat but they will be there to come to you if you need us.'