The UK isn’t designed or culturally prepared for heat
Historically the UK has been built for a cooler climate, so infrastructure, behaviours and daily routines are not designed around prolonged periods of heat, which makes heat feel more disruptive and harder to manage.
it can be challenging to adapt especially when it would require changes in the homes we live in , infrastructure and even how we live our lives.
Evidence shows that many people do not adjust their behaviour during hot weather:
- Only around a third reduce strenuous activity during the hottest parts of the day
- Many do not adapt clothing or routines
This can make it feel like everyday activities are suddenly much harder because we’re trying to carry on with our normal routine instead of adapting – increasing both discomfort and health risks, including dehydration, heat exhaustion and heatstroke.
Follow our heatwave first aid advice to stay safe in the sun.
There’s nowhere to escape the heat
Many people are unable to access cool spaces during high temperatures, which makes the heat feel more intense and unavoidable, with research showing only 19% of people spend time in cool public spaces.
For many people this isn’t even an option open to them with 1 in 3 people saying there are no cool public spaces such as shaded parks near where they live, making it hard to escape the sun and cool down.
Use our top tips to beat the heat if you need to cool down during hot weather.
Heatwaves hit fast and people aren’t prepared
Being prepared for a heatwave will impact how easily you are able to manage it and, in the UK, research shows that this is a problem. Heatwaves often develop quickly, giving people limited time to prepare. And despite warning systems, many people are not fully aware of how to respond:
- Two in five adults say they have never seen information on how to protect themselves during a heatwave
- Four out of 10 view heatwaves as a positive event
This gap between awareness and action increases the likelihood of heat-related impacts on people’s lives, health and wellbeing, contributing to why heat can feel harder to cope with.
“Many people trust the Met Office as an authoritative source and believe heat warnings, but don’t have the confidence to act or know what actions they can take.” Head of Civil Contingencies Services, Met Office.