Hottest June on Record in London: 31.7°C at High Beach

Updated: 2026-07-31

A New Record for the Solstice Weekend

The point of measurement nearest to London is the weather station at High Beach, located in the county of Essex, sitting at an elevation of 110 m and approximately 20.8 km from the centre of London. These are its historical records, which serve as the best available reference for London's climate, though local conditions in the city itself — such as the urban heat island effect, proximity to the River Thames, and differences in altitude — can mean temperatures vary somewhat from those measured at High Beach.

The record-breaking reading on 21 June 2025 represents a significant milestone. It arrived right at the peak of the summer solstice period, when days are at their longest and solar radiation is most intense across the Northern Hemisphere. For context, this is the kind of heat that would make even a shaded garden in London feel decidedly warm by mid-afternoon.

What This Record Means

This reading is not just a statistical curiosity. It demonstrates how the June climate at this location has evolved over recent decades. The previous warm Junes at High Beach have been surpassed, and this new figure now stands as the definitive answer to the question "what is the hottest June temperature ever recorded near London?"

The fact that this record was set in 2025 — and not in some earlier decade — tells us something important about the current trajectory of summer temperatures in southeastern England. June 2025 produced a day that exceeded anything seen in the station's entire observational history, which spans from 1978-08-01 through 2025-12-31.

Understanding the Station Record

The High Beach station has been providing continuous daily data since 1978-08-01, and its most recent reading in this dataset comes from 2025-12-31. This gives us over four full decades of June observations to compare against. During that entire period, no other June day has produced a higher maximum temperature than the one recorded on 21 June 2025.

For anyone living in or visiting London, this figure offers a useful benchmark. When planning outdoor events, summer weddings, or simply deciding when to schedule outdoor work in June, this record provides the ceiling on what the location near London has experienced historically. It's the kind of number that appears once in a generation — and here it is, set right in the middle of the modern period.

The June Heat Context

June is typically a transition month in the UK climate calendar. The spring warmth gives way to early summer, with increasingly long days and stronger solar angles. A reading of 31.7°C in this month is exceptional — it's the kind of heat usually associated with late July or August at their most intense. To see it arrive during the solstice period underscores how early in the season such extremes can now manifest at this location near London.

This record is particularly notable because it was set on the weekend of the summer solstice in 2025. For comparison, while many historical UK heat records were established during notable heatwaves of the past, this particular record fell very recently — meaning it reflects current climate conditions rather than being a relic of another era.

The Data Behind the Record

Here is the full series of June maximum temperatures recorded at High Beach, the closest station to London, showing how this year's reading compares with the historical record:

This table tells the full story. The maximum temperature recorded on that June day — during the hot summer of 2025 — stands clearly above every other June day in the station's observational history. The fact that this is a recent record, not one from decades ago, adds particular weight to what it suggests about the changing character of early summer warmth near London.

Why This Record Matters

For researchers, climate scientists, and residents alike, having a precise and well-documented June maximum temperature is invaluable. The 31.7°C recorded at High Beach on 21 June 2025 provides a concrete data point for studying how June temperatures are trending in the London area. It's the kind of figure that weather historians, event planners, and those studying urban heat effects will reference for years to come.

The station's full period of record — from 1978-08-01 to 2025-12-31 — offers a substantial baseline. That this record falls so close to the end of that period, rather than near its beginning, is itself a meaningful observation about the recent warmth experienced in southeastern England during the early summer.

Local Conditions at High Beach

It's worth reiterating that this reading comes from High Beach, situated at 110 m elevation in Essex, about 20.8 km from central London. The actual temperatures experienced within London itself can differ slightly due to the urban heat island effect, which tends to keep city centres warmer at night, and to local variations in exposure. However, for a reliable, long-term measurement of what June heat can reach near London, this station provides the definitive record.

Conclusion

The June heat record at High Beach — the measurement point nearest to London — stands at 31.7°C, set on 21 June 2025. It's a modern record, breaking through on the solstice weekend, and it now defines the upper boundary of what June can deliver in this part of England. For anyone interested in London's historical weather, this is the number that answers the question.

Source: Met Office, High Beach station, period 1978–2025.

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