As another intense heatwave grips the United Kingdom, a free interactive map is helping people locate the nearest air conditioned cafes, pubs, restaurants and other food venues where they can escape soaring temperatures.
The online tool, called Where’s Cool, allows users to enter their postcode and instantly find nearby venues with air conditioning. The project was created by founder Thomas Chivers after he struggled to find a comfortable place to work during an earlier spell of extreme heat, highlighting a challenge faced by millions of people across Britain where air conditioning remains uncommon in homes.
“I built it during the last heatwave because I couldn’t find anywhere cool to sit and work, and I couldn’t face reading through every cafe’s Google reviews to check. It turned out everyone had exactly the same problem,” Chivers said.
He said the tool has become even more relevant as the UK experiences increasingly severe heatwaves driven by changing climate conditions.
“During unprecedented temperatures felt across the UK last week, it genuinely matters to know where the nearest cool room is,” he added.
Unlike many countries where residential air conditioning is widespread, most UK households rely on opening windows, using fans or seeking shade to stay cool during hot weather.
Built from official government data
Chivers developed the map by combining official datasets rather than relying solely on user submissions. He used the Food Standards Agency’s register of food businesses across England and Wales and cross referenced it with the UK government’s Energy Performance Certificate records to identify venues equipped with cooling systems.
The platform also encourages public participation. Users can tap on individual venues and confirm whether air conditioning is available. Once several people verify the information, the map automatically updates, making it increasingly accurate over time.
The community driven approach allows the database to expand as more people contribute while helping others quickly identify safe and comfortable indoor locations during periods of extreme heat.
Record temperatures raise health concerns
The launch comes after Britain experienced one of its hottest June heatwaves on record. Temperatures climbed to 36.1 degrees Celsius in Gosport, Hampshire, while several other areas also recorded exceptional heat. The extreme weather forced hundreds of schools across England and Wales to close and disrupted transport services, with rail passengers advised to avoid all non essential travel.
The Met Office issued a rare red warning for extreme heat covering parts of the UK from Wednesday to Friday. It marked the first time such a warning had remained in place for three consecutive days.
Andy Page, Met Office Chief Meteorologist, said: “Significant disruption to daily life is likely and the public should take every effort to adapt their daily routines to cope with these levels of heat, which up to now have been extremely rare for the UK.”
The UK Health Security Agency also issued red heat health alerts, warning of a risk to life “for even the healthy population”. Health officials urged people to stay hydrated, avoid direct sunlight during the hottest hours of the day and keep their homes as cool as possible.
As climate experts warn that prolonged heatwaves are becoming more frequent across Britain, tools such as Where’s Cool are emerging as practical solutions to help residents stay safe during extreme weather.a
