Households in England and across the UK are being urged to close curtains and blinds while the hot weather continues to bake the country. May 1 has already become the hottest day of the year on Thursday, and more sunshine, clear skies, and warm conditions have made for a great bank holiday weekend so far after a spectacularly hot week.

The Met Office confirmed temperatures hit 29.3C in Kew Gardens, London, on Thursday, while this weekend has seen peaks of 22C on Saturday.  And when the weather is this hot during the daytime, according to experts, the best way to keep your house cool is to draw curtains and close blinds. 

Homes across England in particular will be baking hot as the May sunshine cooks us in our well-insulated buildings built to withstand the cold British winters rather than 30C summer sun for extended periods.

It means that households in England are being urged to take steps to keep their house cool in the sunshine.

And one way of doing so is to close curtains or blinds in the sunniest conditions, and tactically open windows in shaded areas and open all your windows again in the evening, when outside air temperatures are lower.

The UK government's official advice says: "Homes can overheat and become uncomfortable during warmer weather, particularly when you are trying to sleep. Take the following steps to cool your home: close blinds and curtains on windows that are exposed to direct sunlight during the day.

"Close external shutters or shades if you have them. Open windows (if it is safe to) when the air feels cooler outside than inside, for example at night, and try to get air flowing through your home."

This advice is echoed by energy supplier British Gas. It says: "Tempting as it might be to throw your windows open during a heatwave, leaving them shut when the day is at its hottest will keep the house cool.

"So try to only let the air in early, or late, in the day. Light coloured blinds and curtains made of a weightier fabric offer the best heat-blocking potential, so go for these if you’re thinking up updating yours – but keep hold of any darker ones that you replace, so you can switch back once the temperature drops to keep the heat in. Keep these closed during the day too to keep your house cool in summer."