London will bask in glorious sunshine throughout the week, with temperatures soaring up to 20C — hotter than Crete and the Algarve.
The Met Office on Monday said sunny and dry weather is expected to last over the next seven days across the UK with daytime temperatures "a good few degrees above average".
The capital is set to enjoy highs of 18C (64F), which may even climb to 20C (68F) on Friday.
That day’s burst of spring warmth will make London hotter than the Greek island of Crete and Portugal's Algarve region, which can both expect highs of 18C (64F).
Temperatures will climb gradually this week and could peak at 21C (70F) on Thursday in the south of England, the Met Office said.
The South East is expected to enjoy the best of the warm spell, while some short-lived rain and cloudiness may be possible in Northern Ireland, Scotland and the North West on Monday.
Looking ahead to the next few days, Met Office meteorologist Simon Partridge said the mercury is set to climb a few degrees above average every day and conditions are generally expected to remain dry into next weekend.
He explained: “High pressure is building over the UK.
“Temperature-wise, we're looking around about 17C (63F) to 18C (64F), and quite widely as well.
“Most parts of the UK will be sort of mid to high teens tomorrow —so yes, a very nice day.
“And then from there on in, it doesn't change a great deal: most days are fine, dry and sunny, which is great.”
But “don't put the new plants out just yet”, Mr Partridge warns, as chilly spells will likely follow the daytime warmth, with clear skies potentially leading to frosty evenings.
He said: “Night-time temperatures are almost exactly on average, so overnight we're getting pretty much what we should be getting.
“But by day it will be a good few degrees above average this week.”
Mr Partridge added: “Because we've got light winds and clear skies, and it's still quite early in the year, there's still a chance that we'll see a touch of frost overnight most nights this week, but not much.
“It's just something for those people that are out and about getting their gardens ready: don't put the new plants out just yet.
“Once temperatures go down to sort of three-ish, you can easily get a touch of frost.”
Don't put the new plants out just yet
Towards the end of the week, winds may pick up in the West and midlands as the high pressure moves slightly further east, the forecaster added.
“But nothing too bad,” Mr Partridge said.
“Generally dry weather, plenty of sunshine, just turning breezier as the week goes on.”
The UK recorded its warmest day of the year so far on 20 March, coinciding with the spring equinox, as temperatures topped 21C (70F) in Northolt, west London and Chertsey, Surrey.
However, the warm weather falls some way short of the record high in April of 29C (85F), which was recorded Camden Square in 1949, Met Office records show.
