It’s not hosepipe use that’s illegal, it’s connecting one to the mains, and even then exemptions apply. Nine water companies are now restricted UK-wide. Here’s why, what’s really banned, and how it compares to 1976.
The Blucky pressure washer runs from a bucket instead of the mains, so a hosepipe ban doesn’t stop you cleaning the car or watering the garden. Here’s our full hands-on verdict.
The 2022 heatwave caused an estimated 3,271 excess deaths in England. UK homes are insulated to retain heat, not release it. Here is the progression of heat illness most people do not recognise until it is serious, who is most vulnerable, and what actually works.
Wildfire risk is growing across the UK. Which areas are most at risk, how to get warnings, what to do if caught outdoors, and how to protect your household from smoke.
The UK just recorded its hottest May in over a century. Summer officially started today. Here’s what every household should have in place before the next one hits — while shelves are still fully stocked.
Activate with water, cool for up to 3 hours, rinse and repeat. Made for UK heatwaves when you have no air conditioning — and nowhere to go.
Cheap wrap-around sunglasses claim UV400. The Tifosi Navar proves it — shatterproof polycarbonate, 100% UVA/UVB, sold direct by Tifosi UK. 4.6 stars from early reviews. Full verdict.
The once-a-day SPF50+ that stays on through a full working day, a bike ride, or a beer garden Sunday. Riemann P20 Sensitive reviewed.
99% pure aloe vera in a 100ml kit-ready tube. Cools sunburn, soothes insect bites, treats minor burns. Amazon’s Choice, 1,197 reviews. Full verdict.
UPF 50+ sun protection and physical insect resistance built into one shirt. No reapplying, no bottles, no stopping mid-walk. 4.6 stars. Full verdict.
More than 20,000 melanoma diagnoses in a single year. Nine in ten preventable. Cancer Research UK has sounded the alarm — here’s what a prepared UK household actually does about it.
Sun cream sachets that belong in your first aid kit, not your holiday bag. Lifesystems SPF50+ with 5-star UVA — 10ml, single use, no crusty bottles, no waste. Full verdict.
The Pecute Dog Cooling Mat needs no electricity, no freezer and no setup — pressure-activated gel in six sizes from XS to XXXL. Over 19,000 Amazon reviews. Does it earn them?
A 5-inch rechargeable desk fan with airflow you can feel from 8 feet away and up to 15 hours on a single charge. No mains socket needed — reviewed by someone who bought two.