After being spoilt by the Indian summer of last October, and the brief arrival of unseasonal sunshine in February, it had begun to seem as if the real thing would never arrive this year following the wettest April in years. But now those comparisons of Britain to stereotypically hot places around the world where temperatures are, for once, marginally cooler than here – the Bahamas! Hawaii! Ibiza! – can finally be brought out in force.

i Newspaper
 
TheIPaper
The Independent around the web
E-break Time
Independent Crossword
McDermid (left) says: 'We always find something to giggle about. We're like schoolgirls, but with gallows humour'

How We Met: Val McDermid & Professor Sue Black

'We always find something to giggle about. We're like schoolgirls, but with gallows humour'

Donald Trump surveys his new golf resort in north-east Scotland

Wind farms will kill tourism, says Donald Trump

US tycoon Donald Trump has told the Scottish Parliament that wind farms will destroy tourism.

A US Marine is reunited with his beloved dog

Donald MacInnes: Confessions of a dog-loving emotional meringue...

There is nothing wrong with Glaswegian men having a good cry

Cairngorms snow-stranded hillwalkers rescued

Nine hillwalkers, including six teenagers, who became stranded after heavy snowfall have been rescued, police confirmed.

Lie back and enjoy the sunshine: two women recline in deckchairs in St James' Park ahead of what could be a glorious Bank Holiday weekend

Warm weather set to continue

Britons will enjoy another day of unseasonably warm weather after temperatures reached a new record.

Showman's Wagon, Shropshire

The Big Six: Wildwagons

Showman's Wagon, Shropshire

Rangers’ Sone Aluko celebrates scoring in the rout of Inverness

Rangers' rout restores battered pride

Ally McCoist, the Rangers manager, spoke of his immense pride in his players after their 4-1 victory at Inverness yesterday.

Chris Townsend: The campaigner says the plan defeats the point of having a national park

The Scotsmen who will go up a mountain – and decide if it should be a wind farm

Decision on whether turbines on the edge of Cairngorms National Park will ruin the view

Co-op buys David Sands convenience store chain

A 200-year-old family-owned store chain has been snapped up by the Co-op as part of the latest expansion at the UK's fifth biggest grocer.

Scott Allan set for West Brom move

Ally McCoist has urged Scott Allan to opt for Rangers over a potential move to the Barclays Premier League.

The West Highland Line

The way to see Britain? Take to the open rail

There's one train ticket that hasn't gone up – and it's worth the money. Andrew Spooner explains

Taliban tortured lost soldier

A young British soldier was executed by the Taliban in Afghanistan after leaving his checkpoint to search for missing kit.

Byrne says: 'People who say that travel is half the fun must be having really bad holidays'

My Life In Travel: Ed Byrne, comedian

'I would like to trek up to Everest Base Camp'

Hurricane causes £100m blow to economy

The single day of hurricane-force winds that battered Scotland could cost the country's economy around £100 million, business experts have warned.

Career Services

Day In a Page

Countdown's rudest ever moments

Yesterday a contestant spelt the word 'minge'.
Special report: Tamil asylum-seekers to be forcibly deported

Special report

Tamil asylum-seekers to be forcibly deported
The problem with social mobility

The problem with social mobility

Politicians who say they want to break down Britain's social barriers have been told to unlock closed-shop professions – starting in their own backyard
France's sixth biggest city* goes to the polls (*that's London, by the way)

France's sixth biggest city* goes to the polls (*that's London, btw)

Next month expats in the stronghold of South Kensington will have a big say in who is returned as the first French overseas MP
Aftershock: How Haiti's quake hit the whole of Hispaniola

Aftershock: How Haiti's quake hit the whole of Hispaniola

Two years on from the disaster that shook the Caribbean state, its eastern neighbour, the Dominican Republic, fears a new wave of illegal immigrants could hurt its economy
Mean streets at the movies

Mean streets at the movies

Plan B's new film explores the urban tensions that led to last summer's riots – and he's not the only one finding cinematic inspiration in social unrest
Romney hits the magic number, but his smartphone app fails crucial spelling test

Romney hits the magic number...

... but his smartphone app fails crucial spelling test
Car-crash TV: Ferrari quits news after gaffes, rows and poor ratings

Car-crash TV: Ferrari quits news after gaffes, rows and poor ratings

Weeks after the demise of Sarkozy, the TF1 star he's said to have dated finds herself out of office too
Meet your doctor (please don't unplug it)

Meet your doctor (please don't unplug it)

Can a network of hi-tech terminals and online medics make the connection?
The 10 Best cycling gear

The 10 Best cycling gear

It’s summer, it's sunny... it’s the perfect time to get on your bike.
Song of the suicide bomber: How 'Babur in London' negotiated a cultural minefield

Song of the suicide bomber

Daring new opera 'Babur in London' features British terrorists planning an attack.
The school that brought the International Baccalaureate to the East End

Bringing the IB to the East End

The International Baccalaureate is not just for pupils in leafy suburbs.
England must beware brilliant Belgium

England must beware brilliant Belgium

They may have missed out on the Euros but the Belgians have a rash of young players who, thanks to the unifying skills of their coach, look to have a bright future
James Lawton: Liverpool must show new man the respect he needs to do the job

James Lawton

Liverpool must show new man the respect he needs to do the job
2012: the year when England's support decided to stay at home

2012: the year when England's support decided to stay at home

Three Lions will play their Euro 2012 games in front of only a few thousand of their fans