London set for rain as record summer draws to end: Will it save capital's parched parks?

London looks set for some rain as one of the hottest and driest summers on record draws to a close.

Multiple forecasters say there’s a chance of rainfall on a number of days starting this week.

It comes after England saw the driest July on record - with no meaningful rain in London.

According to Thames Water, the north of the capital saw zero rain with areas south of the river receiving just 1mm.

Across the Thames catchment area, just 0.8mm of rain was recorded - a mere 2% of the long-term average.

The “flash drought ” has left millions in London under a hosepipe ban as reservoir levels drop, while turning the capital’s green spaces yellow and brown.

This weekend, London is cooling off from its fifth heatwave of 2026 in a summer characterised not only by drought, but also record heat and wildfires.

Saturday and Sunday saw temperatures drop markedly to a maximum of 26C after highs of 38C and 34C on Thursday and Friday.

Overcast conditions are expected to keep a lid on the heat on Monday and Tuesday, with the Met Office forecasting a maximum of 26C.

Temperatures are expected to gradually reduce through the week to around 20C on Saturday, August 22, according to the Met Office .

On Monday morning, Accuweather was predicting a 24%-90% chance of rainfall through the week in London.

A large section of a pond in Wanstead Park, east London, has dried up as drought conditions and heatwaves persist in parts of the UK SOPA Images/LightRocket via Gett Looking to the weekend, BBC Weather forecasts up to a 58% chance of rain on Sunday, August 23. The following week could well see some rain, with BBC Weather predicting showers on Thursday, August 28 and Friday, August 29.

The lack of rain this summer has put unprecedented pressure on London’s cherished parks and beauty spots.

Earlier this month the head of gardens at Chiswick House and Gardens warned of “scorched” conditions.