A NUMBER of major attractions are set to shut early tomorrow, or close entirely, as Brits brace for the fifth heatwave of the year.
The mercury is set to rise to highs of 38C tomorrow, with very hot conditions anticipated for England and Wales.
Landmarks across England are closing early tomorrow in order to look after the wellbeing of staff and visitors.
This includes Britain’s largest zoo, Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire, which spans over 600 acres and welcomes nearly one million annual visitors.
Whipsnade, alongside London Zoo in Regent’s Park, are both shutting two hours earlier at 4pm, in comparison to its regular 6pm closing time.
The decision hopes to “help support the wellbeing of our animals, visitors and staff during the hottest part of the afternoon”, according to the two major attractions.
Brits are set to bask in 38C highs tomorrow afternoon, with rare amber “extreme heat” warnings in place for London, parts of the South East, East Midlands, East of England, West Midlands and South Yorkshire.
This heat has further seen popular museums such as the Young V&A, a children’s museum in Bethnal Green, close entirely, as well as the Sir John Soane’s Museum in Holborn closing at 1pm.
The Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich will shut both its Painted Hall and Chapel tomorrow as a result of heatwave warnings in place for the capital.
London’s free open water lido, The Royal Docks Summer Splash on the banks of the Thames, has said on its Facebook page that they “expect” to shut completely tomorrow.
All the attractions forced to shut early tomorrow as a result of extreme heat
The following locations are changing their closing times tomorrow to avoid the hottest temperatures:
- Whipsnade Zoo, Bedfordshire (closing 4pm)
- London Zoo, Regent’s Park (closing 4pm)
- Sir John Soane’s Museum, Holborn, London (closing 1pm)
- The Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich (closed completely)
- Young V&A, Bethnal Green, London (closed completely)
- Strawberry Hill House & Garden, Twickenham (closed completely)
- Royal Docks Summer Splash, London (expected to close completely)
In Twickenham, the gothic-style Strawberry Hill House & Garden will also close in its entirety tomorrow “due to extreme heat warnings”.
Attractions that are set to close tomorrow are expected to reopen as usual on Friday (August 14) morning.