For a long time, the normal British reaction to a hot day was easy to guess. People ran to the local shop for cheap barbecues, searched for nearby pub gardens, and tried to find the last desk fan in town.

Now, things are very different. Recent internet search data shows a big shift as British people are no longer treating extreme heat as a short, fun surprise. We are seeing a change in how people shop, because we now expect intense heatwaves, we are moving away from quick fixes and preparing for the long term.

Trend Change in May 2026 compared to 2025 What is expected to happen this summer
Portable air conditioners Up by 17% Searches are likely to break the record of 228,000
Hosepipe ban searches Already at nearly 14,000 before any ban Searches will spike much faster than last year if a ban is announced
Heat stroke and exhaustion symptoms Up by over 300% since April Searches will break records if temperatures continue to rise
Electric fans Down by 18% Searches will continue to fall as people choose proper air conditioning
Hay fever Down by 28% Broad searches will keep falling as shoppers search for specific medicines
Beer gardens Falling during the hottest weeks Pubs will see a quiet zone when the temperature rises above 30 degrees

What is set to rise in the hot weather

The data shows that shoppers are skipping cheap options and buying heavy duty cooling systems instead. People are also starting to worry about water shortages and health much earlier in the year.

Portable air conditioners are becoming the standard

In the past, air conditioning in the UK was seen as a luxury for offices and supermarkets. This is no longer the case.

Searches for portable air conditioners are expected to break all records this summer. This is not just a quick reaction to one hot week. It is a long term trend. In May, searches were already 17% higher than they were at the same time last year. Because British houses are slow to get built-in cooling systems, people are buying their own equipment. Every new heatwave makes more families buy a proper cooling unit.

Early worries about hosepipe bans

In the past, people only worried about water shortages when a ban was actually put in place. This year, the public is already on high alert.

Searches for regional hosepipe bans are likely to shoot up faster than ever before. Many thousands of people were already searching for this in May, even though no bans had been announced yet. The dry weather last year has left people feeling worried. Because everyone is waiting for a ban, the first official announcement will cause a massive and instant jump in online searches as people try to prepare.

Growing anxiety about health

As extreme heat happens more often, health worries are starting much earlier in the year.

Searches for heat exhaustion and heat stroke saw a huge rise of over 300% between April and May. If temperatures break records this summer, these searches will easily beat the highest levels of last year. Instead of getting used to the heat, people are becoming more worried about how it affects their bodies. They are realising the dangers of extreme heat earlier, which shows that the public is feeling more vulnerable.

What is starting to fall

As shoppers become more sensible, cheap goods and traditional summer habits are losing their appeal.

The bad news for beer gardens

For generations, a sunny day meant an instant trip to a pub garden. However, the data shows an interesting change. Searches for pub gardens actually went down during a month of record heat.

This shows a new summer reality. When it gets hotter than 30 degrees, sitting in the direct sun is no longer fun. If extreme heat becomes normal, pub visits will split. Pubs will get plenty of customers during the warm weeks of spring and autumn, but they will see a quiet zone during the hottest summer weeks when people prefer to stay inside with their air conditioning.

Fans are losing out to air conditioners

The simple electric fan is losing its appeal. Search data shows that searches for electric fans are down 18% compared to last year, even with the rising temperatures.

This is because air conditioners are taking over the market. Fans and portable air conditioners are trying to solve the same problem. As summers get hotter, shoppers are realising that a fan just moves warm air around. People want real cooling now, and they are willing to pay more for it rather than buying a cheap fan.

Smarter shopping for hay fever

The way British people manage summer allergies is also changing. Broad searches for the word hay fever are down 28% compared to last year.

This does not mean there is less pollen in the air. Instead, it means that shoppers are looking for specific brands and medicine names rather than general advice. Searches are moving toward specific tablets. People now know exactly what they need to buy, so they do not search for general information anymore.

A new way of living with the heat

The search data from the start of this year shows that British shoppers are growing up. We are no longer surprised by hot weather.

People are choosing expensive air conditioners over cheap fans, checking for water bans early, and staying away from pub gardens when it gets too hot. Our habits are starting to look like those of warmer countries. For businesses, the message is simple. The days of selling cheap summer items are over. To succeed, businesses must offer reliable products that help people stay cool and comfortable for the long term.