Did you see that yellow ball in the sky this weekend?

Sunny spells in Cornwall/PA

Sandcastles, picnics in the park, country walks and even the odd garden barbecue: in many parts of the UK at the weekend, you'd have been forgiven for thinking spring was finally springing.

Thousands of Brits hit beaches and parks around the country to warm themselves and soak up some longed-for sunshine as the endless weeks of rain finally showed signs of relenting.

Deckchairs on Brighton Beach/PA

But - yes, you've probably guessed this already - it was all rather temporary, because the miserable wet conditions from the past few weeks are set to return with a vengence, according to the most recent forecasts.

Walkers in Thirsk, North Yorkshire

Rain and temperatures well below average are likely to return, says the Met Office - and many forecasters say that the soggy conditions could still be hanging around for the Diamond Jubilee celebrations at the beginning of June.

Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, earlier this month/PA

Britain had the wettest April on record and May is showing signs of following suit: the first 10 days of this month saw almost the entire average monthly rainfall.

It's also still on track the coldest May for more than 400 years, with average temperatures more than 2C below normal.

The Met Office's message is clear: Rain, rain and more rain. A spokeswoman confirmed that for the foreseeable future, winds, storms and chilly temperatures can be expected all round.

Bluebells, East London

Just to cheer you up on a rainy day, we've selected some of our favourite classic English views and turned them into a quiz for your entertainment.... How many of these do you recognise?

%VIRTUAL-Gallery-154513%