The UK in general and the south east in particular is suffering a major heat wave. As I said before elsewhere, this is definitely unusual and something we tend not to prepare for.
Sure we sometimes get a few hot days in the summer, but the UK is a moderate country weather-wise. So if you expect air conditioning, well, you may find some, but not everywhere, especially not in people’s houses.
The drain and water main system is London is relatively old, but is being modernised, and somewhat wasteful. We don’t actually have a hosepipe ban, but it will surely come. Gardens are suffering. There has been most recently a pea shortage.
In the meantime, QVC the shopping channel is having a full day of Christmas stuff, and at least one channel on tv is showing continuous Christmas films. Nothing like starting early.