If you thought Saturday night meant sinking into the sofa to watch X Factor while eating a takeaway, think again.

Many of us are actually craving something a bit more exciting than a chicken tikka masala, new research has revealed.

A new survey has found that 7:37pm on a Saturday night is when most couples choose to have sex.

According to the findings, published by sexual happiness website Lovehoney.com,, Saturday is by far the most popular time for sex, voted for by 44 per cent of couples, followed by Sundays (24 per cent) and Fridays (22 per cent). However the research reveals that this due to convenience rather than sexual desire.

The research found that there was actually a disparity between the time when we are most aroused and the time when we actually get around to having sex.

We feel at our most aroused at around 4:33pm on a Saturday, but don’t generally have sex until more than three hours later.

A quarter of us are most aroused first thing in the morning – yet just 10 per cent make love at that time because of work pressures.

The survey indicates that very few of us act spontaneously when it comes to sex, which could explain the three hour gap between arousal and sexual activity. Around half the couples surveyed admitted that they were so busy that they had to schedule sex in their diary.

However Richard Longhurst, co-founder of Lovehoney, doesn’t think that scheduling sex is such a bad idea.

‘Scheduling sex can seem like the least romantic activity in the world, but we have found that regular physical intimacy is the key to overall relationship happiness.

‘If the only way you have time for sex is to schedule it, then why not?’

Despite the fact that many of us have little time for spontaneous sex the survey suggests that when we are planning a hook up we like to be romantic with 62 per cent couples regularly have ‘date nights’ – specific days of the week they keep free for romantic fun.

On a date night, 88 per cent of couples usually end up having sex.

Research also found that six out of ten of us have booked a hotel getaway specifically to get some time alone for sex and intimacy.

The survey also revealed that its not just the time of day that can affect our libido, our sex drive varies depending on the time of year too.

We desire sex far more in the summer – named as the sexiest season by two-thirds of respondents, followed by winter (16 per cent), spring (14 per cent) and autumn (4 per cent)

Our pre and post sex activities also suggest that we are a nation of romantic lovers with 60 per cent of couples stating that alcohol is not a key component of most couples’ foreplay. Less than a quarter (22 per cent) said they often drank alcohol before love-making.

The most popular activity prior to sex was a romantic meal, followed by watching TV, talking intimately, going to the pub and a night out with friends.

Richard Longhurst believes that regular physical intimacy is the key to general relationship happiness.

‘Sex o’clock will be different for lots of people, but all our research shows that couples who have great sex lives also have great relationships.’