It’s only May, and the UK just broke its national temperature record for the month.
35.1C on 27 May 2026. Six amber heat health alerts across England. Nearly every weather station in the country surpassing its local May record. Meteorologically speaking, we’re still in spring.
If you’re anything like the average Brit, you weren’t prepared for this. So we’ve pulled together the best tech for keeping cool right now, whether you’re suffering through the day or just trying to sleep at night.
Room Fan
The Shark FlexBreeze is our top pick this year. It's fully cordless, so you can move it from room to room without wrestling with cables, and the flexible neck means you can angle the airflow exactly where you need it. Lightweight, quiet, and genuinely powerful. It's one of the best fans on the market right now.
Handheld Fan
This Warmco handheld fan is a serious upgrade on your standard pocket fan. It packs a 10,000mAh battery so it’ll last all day, and the turbo mode delivers a genuinely powerful blast of cool air when you need it most. Perfect for commutes, outdoor events, or just surviving the office when the air con is on the blink.
Cooling Pillow Pad
If hot nights are ruining your sleep, the Silentnight Restore Cooling Pillow Pad is worth every penny. It sits on top of your existing pillow and uses cooling gel technology to draw heat away from your head and neck. From a brand you can actually trust, this is a simple upgrade that makes a real difference on those sweltering nights.
Cooling Towel
Wet it, wring it, wave it, and it instantly cools down. This YQXCC microfibre cooling towel is a brilliant heatwave essential, whether you’re heading to the gym, watching sport outdoors, or just trying to survive the commute. It’s lightweight, packs down small, and the cooling effect lasts for hours.
Slush Maker
You’ve got to have some fun during a heatwave. The Ninja CREAMi FS301UK makes slushies, milkshakes and frozen drinks at the press of a button, and the WhisperChill technology means it’s actually quiet enough to use in the kitchen without waking the whole house. A proper upgrade on the novelty slush machines of old.
Bed Fan
If hot nights are the real problem, the Shark TurboBlade bed fan is a game changer. It sits at the foot of your bed and circulates cool air underneath the duvet, with multi-directional oscillation so it reaches every corner. Quiet enough not to disturb your sleep, powerful enough to actually make a difference. This is the one to buy if you want to actually sleep during a heatwave.
Don’t forget, we’re not the only ones who suffer in the heat, our tech does too! Here are our top tips for keeping your beloved smartphones, laptops and tablets cool this summer:
- Keep the screen brightness down to reduce wasted energy and excess heat
- Unplug devices when they’re charged to reduce excess heat
- Don’t leave devices out in the sun
- Remove cases that restrict ventilation
