It is a seldom disputed fact that the British can be counted on to embrace the first signs of the UK summer, be it by flocking to the nearest beer garden or walking about wearing as little as is possible without getting arrested.

But the hot weather currently scorching the country is not just attracting domestic visitors, according to tourism agencies.

With temperatures set to soar even further this week, into the mid-30s, the country can expect a wave of tourists from abroad, attracted just as much as Britons by the prospect of a sunny summer holiday - in the UK.

Sian Brenchley from VisitBritain said that the unusually hot weather had helped dispel the notion of the UK as a dreary and continually raining place.

"As well as encouraging more Britons to get out and about to enjoy what is on their own doorstep, we’re finding that our international visitors are taking positive word of mouth recommendations when they travel back home about Britain as a hot weather destination," she said.

She added that figures showed that tourism spend from January - May this year compared to 2005 was up by nine per cent, and anticipated that forthcoming data would continue to reflect a rise, partly due to the hot weather.

The current heatwave, which will see temperatures climb to 34-35C tomorrow - hotter than Ibiza - has triggered a second Level 3 health warning following a similar alert earlier this month.

In the South East, Level 3 warnings indicate a 90 per cent chance of temperatures reaching 31C for two consecutive days, with night temperatures of 16C.

In the North East, which has the lowest regional threshold, it means temperatures must reach 28C in the day and a low of 15 at night.

Wednesday will see a further rise, with temperatures in southern and central regions expected to hit 36-37C. While this would be the hottest day of the year so far, it would fall short of the hottest day ever recorded - August 10 2003, which saw the mercury reach 38.5C in Faversham, Kent.

However, Wednesday’s forecast is well on course to beat the record for the hottest day in July, which currently belongs to July 22, 1911 where temperatures reached 36C in Epsom, Surrey.

The Met Office said there was a 30 per cent chance that the all-time recorded would be broken, adding that the last time there had a prolonged hot period was from August 3-12 2003, when the country recorded consistent temperatures above 31C.

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