Hot Celebrity of United Kingdom at Beach

Temperature expected to reach 22C in Britain's hottest day of the year so far

Record temperatures soared to 22.9C (73F) in Gravesend, Kent - hotter than parts of the Mediterranean including Malta, Athens and Barcelona.

The sizzling weather will continue over the weekend with thousands of Britons set to head for the coast to soak up the heat and up to 70,000 are expected at Aintree for the Grand National.

Ice cream plan: Elise Williams and Skye Hagaman, both 15, make the most of the hot weather, in St James's Park, London, today

Surf's up: Sun-seekers frolic in the sea off Blyth beach in Northumberland

Britons will experience temperatures that are usually seen in the throngs of summer, at tournaments like Wimbledon.

Temperatures at this time of the year usually struggle to get above 12C (54F) and are accompanied by April showers.

But after the driest March on record for more than 100 years, this month looks set to continue the trend with soaring temperatures.

Lounging around: Tourists punting on the River Cherwell at the Oxford Botanical Gardens enjoyed the warm temperatures today

Sun and sea: Hundreds of people piled on to Brighton Beach today to enjoy temperatures set to reach 22C

Only 1.5 inches of rain fell across the country last month compared with the normal levels of 3.8 inches.

Gravesend in Kent reached 22.9C, while central London recorded temperatures of 22.7C and Heathrow 22.2C.

Even normally chilly Aberdeen in Scotland managed 20C (68F). The highs trump areas of the Mediterranean such as Malta, where temperatures will peak at 18C (64F). Athens and Barcelona will only reach 20C.

Tails up: Even the squirrels are getting in the mood for summer

Sun loungers: Miriam Cavallin, 20, and Nadine Ralser, 22, make the most of the sunshine in Green Park