New research is urging couples to think twice before booking a holiday to one particular Spanish resort that has earned a new and rather infamous nickname – the “marriage killer.”
According to a recent survey by IllicitEncounters, a dating website for people seeking affairs, the holiday town of Magaluf has emerged as the number-one destination for Brits looking to cheat while abroad, reports MirrorOnline.
Long known for its cheap drinks, sun-soaked beaches, and party-heavy atmosphere, Magaluf is now gaining attention for a less celebratory reason.
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More than 2,000 users of the site were polled about the destinations they would choose if they were planning to be unfaithful.
Magaluf topped the list, prompting the website to dub it the “marriage destroyer of Europe.”
Jessica Leoni, a spokesperson for IllicitEncounters, explained that the town’s reputation isn’t just about nightlife — it’s the combination of freedom from routine, warm weather, and easy access to alcohol that creates the perfect environment for holiday flings.
She described this mix as a “trinity” that fuels romance, or something more fleeting and secretive.
It’s not just a holiday affair either; according to the survey, 87 percent of those who cheated while in Magaluf kept in touch with their affair partner after returning home.
Back in the UK, another surprising revelation came from the site’s annual Infidelity Index.
Cheltenham, often admired for its elegant charm and home to the prestigious four-day horse racing festival, was crowned the UK’s “new adultery capital.”
According to the data, 6.98 percent of the town’s population engaged in affairs last year.
Following closely behind were Farnham in Surrey with 5.99 percent, Motherwell in Lanarkshire with 5.63 percent, Warwick with 5.61 percent, and Braintree in Essex, which reported 5.55 percent.
Elsewhere, other towns showing high levels of infidelity included Rhyl in Denbighshire, where 5.36 percent of people were involved in affairs, and Borehamwood in Hertfordshire, with a rate of 5.35 percent.
Meanwhile, towns with slightly lower — but still significant — rates included Newbury in Berkshire (5.23 percent), Frome in Somerset (5.18 percent), and Wilmslow in Cheshire (5.12 percent).
Reflecting on the findings, Jessica said that although places like Cheltenham may appear peaceful and refined on the outside, the data suggests that many relationships behind closed doors tell a different story.
On the opposite end of the scale, Swindon was named the UK’s most faithful town, with just 0.35 percent of its population reportedly engaging in infidelity.
lose behind were Bracknell in Berkshire with 0.36 percent, Dewsbury in West Yorkshire with 0.39 percent, Castlereagh in County Down with 0.44 percent, and Rotherham in South Yorkshire with 0.58 percent.