Bath is the one of the world’s top destinations for a dirty weekend despite its genteel reputation, according to an international adult website.
The city was judged as the UK’s second best place for an illicit break behind London and ranked 16th across the globe by Bedbible, which describes itself as the “go-to source for all things sex”.
The site’s researchers examined factors such as the average price of a two-night stay in each city as well as the number of romantic activities available.
These included some areas where Bath performs strongly, such as spas, ‘romantic things to do’ and seafood restaurants.
But while Bath has 23 spas, table-topper New York has 791, according to the research.
The number of sex shops was also taken into account – Bath apparently has six. The fact that the city is home to Lovehoney, Europe’s largest manufacturer and online retailer of sex toys, does not appear to have counted in its favour.
The availability of adult-only hotels also featured – although only Paris, in fifth place, and Amsterdam, ranked at eighth, have 10 or more of these. Bath has just one.
The fact that landlocked Bath cannot claim to have any beaches to take a romantic stroll on also counted against it – Barcelona, in third place, has seven, according to Bedbible.
Overall, Bath scored 38 out of 100. London, in fourth place and the only other UK city in the list, was awarded 77 points.
Bedbible said a dirty weekend was defined by Collins Dictionary as a ‘weekend during which two people go away together, mainly in order to have sex’.
“Dirty weekends are becoming more popular, with couples swapping the traditional romantic getaway for a weekend packed full of passion with their partner,” it added.
“However, it can be difficult to decide on a destination, with so many amazing locations around the world to choose from.
“So we ranked the top destinations for a dirty weekend, to assist any lovers unsure of where to plan their steamy weekend away.”
While much of Bath’s reputation as an international tourist centre is based on the Georgian period with its grand houses, society balls and respectable romances, as reflected in the novels of its most famous resident Jane Austen, the city has always enjoyed an earthier side starting with the Romans and their Bacchanalia festivals and continuing into Regency times when it gained a reputation as centre for gambling, parties and general debauchery.
The arrival of the railways in the 19th century added to Bath's reputation as a place for London’s well-to-do set to enjoy trysts away from prying eyes in the capital.
More recently, hugely successful TV dramas such as the Bridgerton, which was filmed in the city, have shown the prim and proper Regency era, despite appearances, had its fair share of lustful behaviour.
