Bath – City of Romance

Don’t be fooled by the demure facades. Behind closed doors, this city is positively steamy, thanks to those rampant Romans and the city’s celebrated romantic, Jane Austen – Sunday Times

Romantic baths

Marvel at the beauty of the historic Roman Baths (01225 477785, www.romanbaths.co.uk), then wallow in their mineral-rich waters with a twilight dip in the thermal rooftop pool at the nearby Thermae Bath Spa. A twin package costs £59pp, including Champagne afternoon tea.

Chinese parasols, silk slips, lucious lingerie and cheeky knickers are among the fanciful evening (under)attire at Mee (9a Bartlett St; www.meeboutique.com).

Get up-close-and-personal at the tiny Minibar restaurant (01225 333323, www.bathminibar.com, with its shiny steel counter groaning under tapas: deep-fried monkfish, smoked, cured beef and ripe manchego cheese.

Coco Boudoir Bath

Naughty night out In top hat and tails, domination master Lord Lestat opens the show at Coco Boudoir), where burlesque dancers Natty Bom Batty and Fifi Fatale tease with tail feathers, peacock fans and nipple tassels.

Bath Fashion Museum

At the Fashion Museum (2 Bennett Street; www.museumofcostume.co.uk; admission £7), your loved one won’t need much encouragement to lace you into a corset, pulling tight until you’re spilling out in all the right places.Slow food Amble arm-in-arm, Austen-style, around the beautifully landscaped gardens of The Bath Priory hotel (01225 331922, www.thebathpriory.co.uk), then loosen your belt for a Michelin-starred degustation: perhaps plump scallops with veal sweetbreads, or succulent venison with spiced pear compote; under a hundred pounds for eight courses.

Book the four-poster suite at the Queensberry (01225 447928, www.thequeensberry.co.uk). Or close the shutters on your own two-person Georgian townhouse at Rivers Street Rooms (01225 333078, www.riversstrooms.com).

First Great Western (08457 000125, firstgreatwestern.co.uk has a direct rail service to Bath from London Paddington, Bristol and Swansea.