The UK has been hit with an unusually early heatwave, with temperatures soaring above 30C across parts of England and Wales and some areas officially meeting the Met Office’s heatwave criteria. Forecasters say temperatures could reach as high as 35C this week, and the UK already recorded its hottest May day on record after 34.8C was provisionally logged at Kew Gardens in London. As we slog through the sweltering weather, we’ve compiled the top tips for keeping cool. When you’re out and about, basking in the sunshine, loose fabrics and even an electrolyte drink may be enough to keep you cool and hydrated, but when you’re cooped up inside, with the sun beating through your windows, you may just need to call in the big guns.There are plenty of different cooling methods out there, along with a fair few myths (including the idea that drinking hot drinks can help cool you down). Then there’s the endless stream of products and confusing terminology, from air coolers to air conditioners and tower fans. To cut through the confusion, we spoke to experts about the best ways to stay comfortable while working at your desk and sleep more comfortably through hot nights.Read more: Best fans for 2026, tested and reviewedWhat qualifies as a heatwave?In the UK, an official heatwave occurs when a given area reaches a temperature threshold for three consecutive days, with thresholds varying from 25C to 28C, depending on where you’re located across the country, explains Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Tony Wisson. In London, for instance, the threshold is 28C, in Aberdeen it’s 25C. How to stay cool at homeAccording to Met Office advice, when temperatures soar, we should try to keep out of the sun between 11am to 3pm, when the UV rays are strongest. To stay cool indoors, “close curtains on rooms that face the sun to keep indoor spaces cooler”.Alex Atkinson, air conditioning technician at Super Brothers, recommends “minimising the use of ovens, stoves, or dryers during the hottest periods, alongside keeping hydrated and having cool showers throughout the day” to help take the edge off. If you’ve drawn the curtains, pulled the blinds down, and taken all the cool showers you can stomach, and you’re still not feeling comfortable, it may be time to bring in a little extra help.Luckily, there are plenty of additional devices and tools that we can purchase to help keep our homes cool, and we’ve reviewed some of the best on the market.Portable air conditionerA portable air conditioner can be a game-changer when dealing with the heat at home. Unlike standard fans, these units actively cool the air, making them a more powerful option for hot, stuffy rooms where ventilation alone isn’t enough. The latest models are more efficient and easier to move between spaces, so they’re a practical (and often more affordable) alternative to fixed air conditioning.ElectriQ ecoplus 10000 BTU smart portable AC with heaterThe electriQ ecoplus reigned supreme in our guide to the best portable air conditioners. Reviewer Joanna Lewsley noted that it is “one of the most versatile units [she has] used – and easily the best portable air conditioner.”Great at cooling a room quickly, she noted that the “swing panel allows the air to waft gently around, ensuring there are no icy spots, just ambient comfort in sticky weather.” She continues: “What also really stood out in my testing was just how energy-efficient this unit is. At just 38.4W at its highest setting, it’s one of the lowest-energy models in this guide, making it a smart choice if you’re conscious of running costs but still want proper climate control.”Why we love itExceptionally low energy useWorks all year with heating, cooling and dehumidifyingQuiet sleep mode is genuinely bedroom-friendlyTake noteNo window kit includedBulky and not the easiest to moveFansA fan goes a long way to make a room feel less stuffy – but where you position it can make a big difference. Shawn Navarednam, an environmental care design engineer at Dyson, says that “for circulation and cooling purposes, fans should point towards you or the inside of the room. Additionally, cooler air is denser and accumulates at the bottom of the room, so keeping your fan near the ground to sweep the cold air up will help.”MeacoFan sefte 10in table air circulatorThe MeacoFan sefte took the top spot in our review of the best fans. Home appliance reviewer Joanne Lewsley said that it “manages to feel both powerful and refined”. “In testing, I was genuinely impressed by just how much air it moves – the airflow is strong enough to be felt across the room, yet it never has that harsh, buffeting feel you get from cheaper desk fans,” she added.“What really stands out, though, is how quiet it is. On its lowest setting, it drops to around 25dB – essentially whisper-quiet – making it ideal for bedrooms or light sleepers. Even at higher speeds, it’s relatively unobtrusive, which is a big win if you’re planning to use it overnight.”Why we love itExceptionally quiet, even on low settingsPowerful airflow with impressive reachGood energy efficiencyFlexible oscillation and precise airflow controlTake noteMore expensive than basic desk fansNot as compact as simpler modelsPortable fanIf you’re looking to cool down on the commute or even at the pub, you need one of the best portable fans. The next generation of these devices are quiet, surprisingly powerful and multipurpose, from handheld to wearable fans (a world away from the flimsy fans you impulsively buy on holiday). Portable fans can almost rival a tower fan, and one comes surprisingly close to functioning like an air conditioner or an air cooler. Senior tech critic Alex Lee has tested a whole host of different options and found the best portable fans for every need.Commem turbo fanThe Commem turbo fan (£7, Amazon.co.uk) took the top spot in Alex Lee’s review of the best portable fans. “If power is your priority, this turbo model is the one to beat. It’s the most powerful handheld fan I’ve tested to date, delivering such intense airflow that I’ve actually had to switch it off just to take a breather. The top speed genuinely feels like sitting in front of a small desk fan – it’s that strong,” he wrote. It boasts a “slim and minimalist” design, that “makes it easy to carry around or stash in a bag”. Why we love itExtremely powerfulSleek and minimalist designTake noteQuite noisyAir coolerA midpoint between a portable ACs and a fan, the best air coolers. Where fans push air around the room, air coolers use chilled water and ice to introduce cooler air to a room. They’re not quite as effective as portable ACs, but they’re much cheaper. Princess smart air cooler 3.5lThe Princess smart air cooler was found to be the best air cooler in senior tech critic Alex Lee’s review. “The brand’s smart air cooler not only looks sleek and modern with a touchscreen display, but it also cooled me down in 30C heat,” he wrote. “I loved that I could control it with the brand’s app, at home or outdoors – it’s honestly the dream being able to turn the air cooler on half an hour before you get home so that, when you put the key into the door and walk into the bedroom, you're met with a beautifully chilled room,” he added. Why we love itLightweightWorks with an appQuick and quiet coolingTake noteSmall tank capacitBeddingGetting a full night’s sleep in a heatwave may sound like an impossible dream, but there are some ways of keeping cool in bed. Lisa Artis, deputy CEO of Simba’s charity partner, The Sleep Charity, says you should try “spreading out as much as you can, like a starfish, as it can help to circulate air around your body better and encourage heat to escape, as you sleep.” It might also seem counterintuitive, but rather than having a cold shower before bed, Lisa suggests taking a warm shower right before bed. “The warm water makes our body heat up, and then, when we get out of the shower, a rapid drop in temperature cools our body down.” Similarly, it’s worthwhile to reconsider your bedding during the summer months.Simba summer hybrid duvetOur resident sleep expert and IndyBest assistant editor, Sarah Jones, found Simba’s summer hybrid duvet (from £129, Simbasleep.com) to be the best summer duvet. Even during a muggy, no-breeze night, where sleep usually feels impossible, “I didn’t wake up drenched in sweat or tossing around trying to find a cool spot,” she wrote. Why we love itExcellent temperature regulationDoesn’t sacrifice cosinessComes in a storage bagTake noteExpensivePanda bamboo mattress topperPanda’s bamboo mattress topper (£86, Pandalondon.com) took the top spot in our review of the best cooling mattress toppers. IndyBest tester Lois Borny noted that the “gel-fused memory foam is engineered to be cooler than regular memory foam, containing gel capsules that draw heat from the body, while extra space allows heat to escape”. Read the full Panda mattress topper reviewWhy we love itMarshmallow-softExcellent pressure reliefAvailable in lots of sizesAdjustable strapsMachine washable coverHypoallergenicTake noteMay be too soft for someQuite heavy and bulky to storeEnsure you’re protecting your skin out in the sun with our guide to applying SPF