Today is officially the UK's hottest Hallowe'en since records began Today is UK's hottest Hallowe'en on record with 23.5C in Gravesend, Kent Temperatures in Charlwood, Surrey and London have broken 1968 record Saturday will be 17C and Sunday 16C before temperatures drop further Mean temperature for October so far is 11C - 1.5C above long-term average Forecasters are predicting first widespread frost and even snow next week An ice rink in London started to melt just hours after it opened yesterday ahead of what is officially the hottest Hallowe'en on record. By lunchtime on Friday mercury climbed to 23.5C in Gravesend, Kent and 23.2C in St James's Park, London - breaking the 1968 record of 20C, which was recorded in Dartford, Kent. The temperatures - which are more than 10 degrees higher than expected for this time of year - surpassed forecasters predictions of 21C in the South East. But those hoping for a warm weekend shouldn't get too excited - next week will see a return to traditional autumn temperatures with most of the UK set for a chillier Saturday and Sunday. Slush: The ice rink outside the National History Museum in South Kensington, pictured, melted just hours after opening yesterday as parts of the country prepared for the hottest Hallowe'en on record Puddles: One young boy pushes a penguin to keep himself balanced as he glides through a shallow sheet of water that formed on the ice yesterday. Temperatures are set to return to normal next week Disappointed: Visitors to the attraction complained that the watery conditions made it more like a 'swimming pool' than an ice rink, pictured above. Family tickets for the site start at £36 'Soaking wet': One mother said that she was going home after visiting the rink yesterday - which suffered under unseasonably high temperatures. Most of the UK is set for a chilly weekend The skating rink outside the Natural History Museum in South Kensington turned into slush shortly after opening on Thursday as temperatures hovered just below 20 C. Visitors to the rink, where family tickets start at £36, were left disappointed by the watery conditions of the ice rink - which is open until 4 January. Steve Hubbard, 36, from south London, said: 'We paid for an ice rink - not a swimming pool. The rink shouldn't have opened and we should be refunded.' 173 shares Mother-of two Jane Rogers, 43, from east London, said: 'My son's soaking wet. We're going home.' A spokeswoman for the Ice Rink said: 'The ice rink operates in all weathers and the current warm spell is no exception. Ice does melt faster when it's warmer, however our rink sits on a coolant kept well below freezing point, so the ice stays frozen. 'Our team is skilled at keeping the rink surface in good condition, removing the small amount of excess water in the same way we do when it's raining. This regular maintenance means we have a very smooth surface: perfect for ice skating. Clash of the seasons: Young women mix winter beanies with bikinis for a day out on Brighton beach Relaxing in the rays: This couple are happy to take an afternoon nap in the Brighton sunshine on Friday Half-term fun: Ruby Noble, 11, and Harry Keegan, 10, splash about in the surf at Bournemouth beach, Dorset Crowded: Families flocked to Brighton beach to make the most of the unseasonably hot October weather Three places in England - Gravesend, London and Charlwood, Surrey - all recorded temperatures above 23C between 12pm and 2pm on Friday, smashing the 46-year-old national record. Wales, too, recorded its hottest Hallowe'en ever with the temperature in Trawsgoed, near Aberystwyth, hitting 21.2C on Friday lunchtime. The previous record of 18.9C was set in Wrexham in 1970. But even though the mercury reached 18.6C in Edinburgh today, Scotland is still nearly one degree away from reaching its 2011 record of 19.3C which was recorded in Kinloss, Moray. The balmy forecast for today represents another high during a year which is so far the warmest on record. Much of the country has enjoyed sunshine and warm weather this week. Sunset: The sun sets over the Cambridgeshire Fens - marking the end to a day of unusually warm weather Soaking up the sun: A man takes off his top to sunbathe in London, where temperatures hit 23.2C Splashing around: Three children enjoy the fountains in Granary Square, London on Friday afternoon Record-breaking: People relax on deckchairs in a London park on the hottest Hallowe'en on record Meanwhile, supermarket giant Tesco said the weather had prompted record October barbecue and party food sales. Its Hallowe'en manager Serena Fleming said: 'Not only is Halloween on a Friday but with the unseasonably warm and dry weather we believe many people will hold parties with festivities spilling out into gardens and barbecue cook-outs around bonfires. The weather is even predicted to be sunny and warm on Saturday so we could even see more barbecues taking place then. Waitrose said sales of ice lollies have rocketed 55 per cent with ice creams up 18 per cent compared to this time last year. Diving in: A young man jumps off the wooden jetty at Aberystwyth, Wales, where temperatures reached 21C Making a splash: He somersaults through the air before joining friends in the chilly water Lunchtime sun: A man relaxes in Trafalger Square in London, where temperatures soared to 23.5C Last of the autumn sun: A lone surfer make her way into the sea at Boscombe Beach in Bournemouth, Dorset People were also making the most out of every last bit of the sun, including this surfer pictured at Bournemouth beach at sunset this evening With the unseasonably warm temperatures, Brits have been stocking up on foods more commonly associated with the summer Spokesman Michael Simpson-Jones said: 'With this week seeing unseasonably warm weather, Brits are stocking up on treats more commonly put into summertime shopping baskets. 'The biggest trend we've seen is in the frozen aisle. With many heading outdoors this weekend for bonfire festivities, more icy treats will be enjoyed alongside the more traditional toffee apples. Temperatures this week have hovered just below 20C at their peak in central England. Next week the weather will cool as bands of rain cross the country and temperatures will be closer to the average of around 10C or 11C for November. Seaside sunbathing: People on deckchairs fight for space along the seafront at Brighton beach Warmer than expected: Visitors punt along the river Cam in Cambridge, where temperatures reached 22C Playful: Ellie the dog kicks up some fallen autumn leaves while out for a walk in Queens Park, Bolton Families planning on trick or treating in Cumbria and the North West of England could be caught in rain that is expected to sweep across the region from 6pm this evening. The weather should clear up over night and most of the UK is expected to enjoy dry and bright weather for most of tomorrow, according to forecasters. But the Met Office warned that there will be a 'sharp dip' in temperatures overnight - with most places seeing a drop of between four and six degrees. A forecaster for the Met Office told MailOnline: 'In the South East there will be a drop of four or five degrees in temperature overnight. Refreshing: Swimmers enjoy the morning sun as they take a dip in the sea in Brighton, Sussex on Friday Dry and bright: Kayakers in Brighton, Sussex, take advantage of the unseasonably warm weather this morning Mild: A runner strides along Brighton's sea front ahead of what is set to be the hottest Hallowe'en on record We will see temperatures of around 16C or 17C tomorrow, which is still well above average, but people will feel the difference because it has been warm. She added that the North East, where temperatures are expected to reach 19C today, could see the biggest drop - with temperatures plummeting to 13C overnight. And the weather is only set to get more wintry - as a cold front moves in tomorrow afternoon. While most of the UK should stay dry for most of Sunday, there is a chance of light, isolated showers, according to the Met Office. And windier conditions will mean that temperatures could feel colder. London and the South East could see temperatures as low as 13C on Monday - marking an eight-degree fall over the weekend. Fresh: Swimmers take an early morning dip in the Serpentine lake in Hyde Park, London on Friday morning Balmy: Horse riders make the most of Friday's warm weather with a stroll through Hyde Park in London Warm weather: A grey squirrel forages among the fallen autumn leaves in Hyde Park But, the Met Office forecaster added that the temperatures would still be above the national average for November (9.1C) and nearly three degrees warmer than the regional average of 10.7C. The Met Office has no severe weather warnings in place, but the Environment Agency has one flood alert out, for the Upper River Derwent in Cumbria. As we move towards the end of next week, the warmer weather will be replaced with temperatures more expected at this time of year. As of Tuesday, most of the country will begin to see a marked difference between the daytime and nighttime temperatures. Monday and Tuesday nights could see overnight frost and fog and even some snow on the high ground in Scotland, with top temperatures of just 12C by Wednesday. Feathered friend: A man swims past a swan in the Serpentine, London, where temperatures could reach 21C Autumn hues: Dressed in shorts, one runner makes the most of this morning's warmer temperatures Crisp morning air: The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment walk along Knightsbridge, London Met Office forecaster Dan Williams said: 'The start of November will feel like a big change after the mild conditions in October, but the drop in temperature will be fairly gradual so we will ease into it," added Dan. We could see some frost in Scotland and snow in the Highlands next week. Yesterday, Mr Williams moved to dismiss reports today that Britain could be battered by the coldest winter in 100 years. He said: "We have seen these kind of forecasts before - we saw the same thing last year before what was a very mild year. Essentially within the short range forecasts we see temperatures by Tuesday return to near normal or below normal for the time of year. Three-day forecast: It is expected to reach up to 19C (66F) on Saturday, before falling to 14C (57F) on Sunday 'So it will be feeling much cooler, but that's by no means any kind of Arctic freeze that will bring widespread issues to the UK. Essentially, to forecast the kind of temperatures out to months ahead, the science just doesn't exist to do that. Met Office figures up to last Tuesday show the UK mean temperature for October so far is 11C (52F), which is 1.5C (2.7F) above the long-term average. However, that is far short of the 12.2C (54F) record in 2001 and would currently rank 11th warmest in the forecaster's national records dating to 1910. Last year's October average (11.2C; 52.2F), and that of 2011 (11.3C; 52.3F), were both warmer than this year's early figure. But nine out of the ten months this year have seen above average mean temperatures, with only August having been below average.