The Agatha Christie Mile: A Self-Guided Walking Tour of Torquay
Torquay is a beautiful seaside town in Devon, England, and it is also the birthplace of Agatha Christie, one of the most famous crime writers of all time. In celebration of the region’s rich Agatha Christie heritage, the English Riviera has devised its very own walking trail, known as the Agatha Christie Mile. This self-guided walking tour takes in some of the places that were important to Christie’s life and work, and it is a great way to learn about the famous crime writer and experience her connection to the English Riviera.
The tour starts at the Imperial Hotel, where Christie honeymooned with her first husband, Archie Christie, in 1914. It then winds its way through the town, past the Grand Hotel, where Christie wrote her first novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, in 1920; Torre Abbey, where Christie lived for a time; and the harbor, where she would often go for walks. The tour ends at the Agatha Christie Centre, which is a museum dedicated to her life and work.
Table of contents
- Agatha Christie Mile Torquay
- Agatha Christie Plaque
- Beacon Quay
- Beacon Cove
- The Royal Torbay Yacht Club
- The Imperial Hotel
- Torquay Museum – Agatha Christie Plaque
- The Strand
- Agatha Christie Memorial Bust
- Agatha Christie Mile Plaque at the Pavilion
- Princess Gardens
- Princess Pier
- Agatha Christie Plaque at Torre Abbey
- Torquay Train Station
- Paignton Train Station
- Agatha Christie Plaque at The Grand Hotel
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1) Agatha Christie Plaque
Stand in front of the row of Georgian terraces on Vaughan Parade and take a moment to imagine what it was like to be Agatha Christie as a child. In 1890, when Agatha was born, this was a busy road with donkey carts, horse-drawn carriages, and automobiles rushing past. Charabancs filled with holidaymakers would also have been a common sight.
Turn right and follow the harborside to the Millennium Bridge, then continue along to Beacon Quay. You will see the English Riviera Visitor Information Centre on your left. In front of the center is a plaque that commemorates Agatha Christie’s connection to Torquay. The plaque reads:
“This plaque is dedicated to Agatha Christie, the world’s most famous crime writer. Agatha was born in Torquay in 1890 and spent her childhood here. She returned to Torquay many times throughout her life and used the town as the setting for several of her novels.”
The plaque was unveiled in 2000 by Agatha Christie’s grandson, Mathew Prichard. It is a popular spot for tourists and fans of Agatha Christie to visit.
2) Beacon Quay
Beacon Quay is a picturesque spot on the Torquay waterfront that was once a popular destination for Agatha Christie as a child. She would save up her pocket money to visit the Regatta Fair, which was held on the quay every year. The fair featured a variety of rides and attractions, including a merry-go-round, coconut shies, and sideshows.
Today, Beacon Quay is home to a number of restaurants and shops, as well as the D Day Memorial. The memorial commemorates the brave American troops who embarked from the two concrete slipways on the quay for Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of German-occupied Western Europe.
The memorial features a public art installation by Bob Budd. The installation consists of a cross of light in front of a large steel ring. The cross of light marks the spot where the troops assembled before boarding their ships, and the steel ring marks the direction they left in. A series of lighting units in the wooden floor ahead have a secret message spelt out in Morse Code: “Vanishing Point.” This is a reference to the fact that many of the troops who embarked from Beacon Quay never returned home.
After visiting the D Day Memorial, you can continue up Beacon Hill Terrace to the Regina Hotel. The Regina Hotel was once the home of the Torquay Medical Baths, which were popular with tourists in the 19th century. The hotel is now a popular spot for weddings and events.
If you continue up Beacon Hill Terrace, you will pass a car park on your right. There is a path down to Beacon Cove from the car park. Beacon Cove is a small cove with a sandy beach. It is a popular spot for swimming, sunbathing, and fishing.
3) Beacon Cove
This was once the Ladies’ Bathing Cove and a favourite spot for a young Agatha Christie to go swimming. Eight colourfully striped bathing machines would be lowered down the bumpy pebbles to the shore, so that women could swim straight out into the sea, with their modesty intact. There was a platform that Agatha loved to swim out to, although one day the author nearly drowned while towing her young nephew Jack Watts on her back. Fortunately for fans of the author and 20th-century literature in general, she was rescued by a lifeguard they used to dub ‘the Old Sea Horse’.
Walk back along the path and continue up Beacon Hill Terrace to The Royal Torbay Yacht Club.
4) The Royal Torbay Yacht Club
The Royal Torbay Yacht Club is a historic club that was founded in 1833. Agatha Christie’s father, Frederick Miller, was a prominent member of the club. He would take a cab to the club from the family home at Ashfield every morning, returning home for lunch. It would then be back to the club for an afternoon of whist, before returning home to dress for dinner.
Agatha Christie would often accompany her father to the club as a child. She would spend her time swimming in the cove below the club, or reading in the library. She also enjoyed listening to the stories that the “gentlemen” in the club would tell.
One of the stories that Agatha Christie’s father told her was about the time that he saw a group of “gentlemen” using opera glasses to try to catch a glimpse of women swimming in the cove below. Agatha Christie was shocked by this story, but it also sparked her interest in crime and mystery.
The Royal Torbay Yacht Club is now a popular spot for tourists and fans of Agatha Christie to visit. The club has a plaque that commemorates Agatha Christie’s connection to the club. The plaque reads:
“This plaque is dedicated to Agatha Christie, the world’s most famous crime writer. Agatha’s father, Frederick Miller, was a prominent member of the Royal Torbay Yacht Club. Agatha would often accompany her father to the club as a child, and she was inspired by the stories that she heard there.”
The plaque was unveiled in 2000 by Agatha Christie’s grandson, Mathew Prichard. It is a popular spot for tourists and fans of Agatha Christie to visit.
Royal Torbay Yacht Club, Torquay
After visiting the Royal Torbay Yacht Club, you can continue up the road to The Imperial Hotel.
5) The Imperial Hotel
The Imperial Hotel is a historic hotel that was built in 1863. Agatha Christie honeymooned with her first husband, Archie Christie, at the hotel in 1914. The hotel also appears in three of her novels: Peril at End House, The Body in the Library, and Sleeping Murder.
Agatha Christie would have attended many social functions at the hotel, and she was inspired by the hotel’s luxurious surroundings and its stunning views of the English Riviera. The hotel has hosted many famous guests over the years, including Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, Edward VII (and his mistress Lily Langtry), and The Beatles. HRH Prince Charles and HRH Princess Diana also lunched at the hotel.
The Imperial Hotel is now a popular spot for tourists and fans of Agatha Christie to visit. The hotel has a plaque that commemorates Agatha Christie’s connection to the hotel. The plaque reads:
“This plaque is dedicated to Agatha Christie, the world’s most famous crime writer. Agatha honeymooned with her first husband, Archie Christie, at the Imperial Hotel in 1914. The hotel also appears in three of her novels: Peril at End House, The Body in the Library, and Sleeping Murder.”
The plaque was unveiled in 2000 by Agatha Christie’s grandson, Mathew Prichard. It is a popular spot for tourists and fans of Agatha Christie to visit.
After visiting the Imperial Hotel, you can walk back down Beacon Hill and just before the Yacht Club, turn right onto Parkhill Road. When you reach the junction of Parkhill Terrace and Torwood Street, turn right and follow the hill until you reach Torquay Museum on your left.
6) Torquay Museum – Agatha Christie Plaque
Torquay Museum is a historic museum that was founded in 1876. Agatha Christie’s father, Frederick Miller, was elected a Member of the Torquay Natural History Society in 1894. Agatha would have attended talks and events at the museum, and she was inspired by the museum’s exhibits on natural history and anthropology.
The museum now houses the UK’s only dedicated Agatha Christie Gallery. The gallery tells the story of Agatha Christie’s life and work, from her childhood in Torquay to her later years at Greenway. Visitors can step inside Poirot’s study and lounge, and they can learn about the real-life events that inspired some of Agatha Christie’s most famous novels.
The museum also has a plaque that commemorates Agatha Christie’s connection to the museum. The plaque reads:
“This plaque is dedicated to Agatha Christie, the world’s most famous crime writer. Agatha’s father was elected a Member of the Torquay Natural History Society in 1894, and Agatha would have attended talks and events at the museum. The museum now houses the UK’s only dedicated Agatha Christie Gallery, which tells the story of Agatha Christie’s life and work.”
The plaque was unveiled in 2000 by Agatha Christie’s grandson, Mathew Prichard. It is a popular spot for tourists and fans of Agatha Christie to visit.
After visiting Torquay Museum, you can walk back down the hill. If you fancy a change, you can walk down through Torwood Gardens Park. When you reach the clock tower, turn right to walk along The Strand.
7) The Strand
The Strand is a historic street in Torquay that was once a popular shopping destination for Agatha Christie and her mother. The street is home to a number of stylish department stores, including Bobbies and William and Cox, now Hoopers.
Agatha Christie would often shop on The Strand with her mother for clothes, shoes, and accessories. She would also stop for tea at one of the many cafes on the street. The Strand is a great place to experience Agatha Christie’s Torquay and to imagine her walking down the street, browsing the shops, and enjoying a cup of tea.
The Strand is currently being redeveloped, and a permanent tribute to Agatha Christie is due to be installed. The statue will be created by local artist Elisabeth Hadley and will show the ‘Queen of Crime’ sitting on a bench with her favourite dog Peter on the ground beside her. The statue is expected to be completed in 2023.
After visiting The Strand, you can return to the Visitor Information Centre. Walk under the covered walkway until you reach the Agatha Christie Memorial Bust.
8) Agatha Christie Memorial Bust
The Agatha Christie Memorial Bust is a bronze bust of the famous crime writer that was commissioned by the English Riviera Tourist Board to mark the centenary of her birth on September 15, 1890. The bust was sculpted by the Dutch artist Carol Van Den Boom-Cairns and is based on a photograph taken of Agatha Christie when she was in her 60s.
The bust was unveiled in 1990 by Agatha Christie’s daughter, Rosalind Hicks. It was for many years the only bust of the author in the world, until an Agatha Christie Memorial was unveiled in London’s Theatreland in 2012 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of The Mousetrap.
The Agatha Christie Memorial Bust is located in the English Riviera Visitor Information Centre in Torquay, England. It is a popular spot for tourists and fans of Agatha Christie to visit. The bust is a beautiful and lifelike depiction of the author, and it is a fitting tribute to her legacy.
9) Agatha Christie Mile Plaque at the Pavilion
The Pavilion Theatre is an art nouveau-styled theater that was built in 1912. Agatha Christie was 22 years old when the theater opened, and she frequently attended performances there. On the evening of January 4, 1913, she enjoyed a concert of music by Wagner in the company of one Archie Christie. After the concert, he proposed to her, although it would be two years before they finally married on Christmas Eve 1914.
The Pavilion Theatre is a beautiful and iconic building in Torquay. It is located on reclaimed land as part of a redevelopment that also saw Princess Gardens being created. The theater has a copper covered domes and white and green tiles made of Doulton’s Carrara-enamelled stoneware.
The Agatha Christie Mile Plaque is located on the wall of the Pavilion Theatre. It commemorates Agatha Christie’s connection to the theater and her proposal to Archie Christie there. The plaque reads:
“This plaque is dedicated to Agatha Christie, the world’s most famous crime writer. Agatha frequently attended performances at The Pavilion, and it was here that she was proposed to by Archie Christie on January 4, 1913. They were married two years later.”
The plaque was unveiled in 2000 by Agatha Christie’s grandson, Mathew Prichard. It is a popular spot for tourists and fans of Agatha Christie to visit.
10) Princess Gardens
Princess Gardens are a beautiful public gardens in Torquay that were named after Princess Louise (daughter of Queen Victoria) when they opened in 1894. The gardens are planted with what became known as Torbay Palms (actually imported from New Zealand), while the attractive fountain was donated by the nearby Torbay Hotel. The mouldings were used to cast a sister fountain outside the Raffles Hotel in Singapore.
Princess Gardens feature in one of Christie’s most popular mysteries, The ABC Murders (1936). In the novel, a fiendish serial killer works his way through the alphabet, leaving the whole country in a state of panic. A is for Mrs Ascher in Andover, B is for Betty Barnard in Bexhill, C is for Sir Carmichael Clark in Churston (between Paignton and Brixham). The murderer taunts Hercule Poirot by sending him clues about the next victim, causing the proud detective to travel to Devon to solve the case.
In the novel, Poirot visits Princess Gardens on the day of the murder of Sir Carmichael Clark. He believes that the killer will strike again soon, and he wants to be in the right place to catch him. Poirot sits on a bench in the gardens and watches the people go by. He is hoping to see someone who matches the description of the killer.
Princess Gardens are a beautiful and peaceful place to visit. They are a great place to relax and enjoy the sunshine. However, they are also a place where a sinister crime was committed. If you are a fan of Agatha Christie, you may want to visit Princess Gardens and see if you can spot the spot where Poirot sat and waited for the killer to strike.
11) Princess Pier
Princess Pier is a popular tourist destination in Torquay that offers glorious views across the Bay. It is a great place to walk, roller skate, or simply enjoy the fresh air and sunshine.
Agatha Christie famously enjoyed roller skating on Princess Pier when she was a child. She was taught by her friends, the Lucy family. Roller skating was very fashionable during the author’s youth and would cost two pence if you brought your own skates. There was also a concert room at the end of the pier which was tragically lost in a fire in 1974.
Today, Princess Pier is still a popular spot for tourists and locals alike. There are a variety of shops and restaurants on the pier, as well as a small amusement park. You can also take a boat ride from the pier to Brixham or Dartmouth.
If you are a fan of Agatha Christie, you may want to visit Princess Pier and see if you can spot the spot where she used to roller skate.
After visiting Princess Pier, you can walk towards Torre Abbey Sands, with the sea on your left. Cross the road at the traffic lights onto the large green area of Torre Abbey Meadows. Walk past the shelter and up the path on the right side of the meadows, past the 450-year-old oak tree on your left. Continue past the toilets and lawn bowls club towards the Riviera International Conference Centre. Follow the path around to the left to the main entrance of Torre Abbey.
12) Agatha Christie Plaque at Torre Abbey
Torre Abbey is a fascinating building that was originally a medieval monastery founded in 1196. In the 1740s, it was converted by George Cary II into the Georgian mansion that you see today. Agatha Christie grew up in Torquay, and the Cary family still resided in Torre Abbey when she was a child. She was known to have attended parties in the mansion.
Today, Torre Abbey is a popular tourist destination and is home to the International Agatha Christie Festival, which coincides with the author’s birthday on September 15th. The visitor attraction is well worth a visit, with four floors revealing over 800 years of history and art. The medieval gardens are also home to the Agatha Christie Potent Plants Garden, which features a variety of fascinating plants that may kill or cure!
There is an Agatha Christie Plaque at Torre Abbey that commemorates the author’s connection to the building. The plaque reads:
“This plaque is dedicated to Agatha Christie, the world’s most famous crime writer. Agatha grew up in Torquay, and the Cary family still resided in Torre Abbey when she was a child. She was known to have attended parties in the mansion.”
The plaque was unveiled in 2000 by Agatha Christie’s grandson, Mathew Prichard. It is a popular spot for tourists and fans of Agatha Christie to visit.
After visiting Torre Abbey, you can leave the abbey along the main drive and continue out through the Swan Gates. Turn left onto The King’s Drive and follow it to the seafront. Then, turn right to walk towards The Grand Hotel.
13) Torquay Train Station
Torquay Train Station is a historic train station that was built in 1859. It is the terminus of the Torbay Line, which runs from Exeter to Paignton and Torquay.
The station is a popular tourist destination, as it is the place where Agatha Christie’s two most famous characters, Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, met for the first and only time in 1990. The meeting was arranged as part of the town’s Agatha Christie Centenary Celebrations. The Orient Express itself brought Poirot (David Suchet) into Torquay, where he came face to face with Miss Marple (Joan Hickson). When she held out her hand, he kissed it, to the applause of the watching crowd.
The station is also home to the Agatha Christie Museum, which is dedicated to the author’s life and work. The museum is housed in a former waiting room and features exhibits on Christie’s childhood in Torquay, her writing career, and her many famous characters.
If you are a fan of Agatha Christie, you may want to visit Torquay Train Station and see the place where Poirot and Miss Marple met for the first and only time. You can also visit the Agatha Christie Museum to learn more about the author’s life and work.
14) Paignton Train Station
Paignton Train Station is a historic train station that was built in 1864. It is the second stop on the Torbay Line, after Torquay Train Station.
The station is a popular tourist destination, as it is the starting point for the Dartmouth Steam Railway. The steam railway takes passengers to Dartmouth (via Kingswear) and back. From Dartmouth, a ferry operates to Greenway, Agatha Christie’s former holiday home. Greenway is now managed by the National Trust and is open to the public.
The Boathouse at Greenway was the inspiration for Christie’s writing of Dead Man’s Folly. In the book, Poirot makes the same train journey from Paignton to Churston as passengers can take today.
15) Agatha Christie Plaque at The Grand Hotel
The Grand Hotel is a magnificent hotel that first opened in 1881. It was built to resemble a French chateau and is one of the most iconic buildings in Torquay.
The hotel played an important role in the life of Agatha Christie. It was here that Agatha and Archie Christie spent their one-night honeymoon, following their wedding on Christmas Eve, 1914. The hotel is also mentioned in several of Christie’s novels, including Peril at End House and The Body in the Library.
Today, fans of Agatha Christie can stay in the Agatha Christie Suite at the Grand Hotel. The suite is a two-bedroom apartment that is furnished in a 1930s style. It has a vintage typewriter under a portrait of Agatha and breathtaking views across the Bay. Indeed, the view was voted one of the best views in the world by the British Guild of Travel Writers.
After completing the Agatha Christie Mile, you can celebrate with a Devonshire Cream Tea on the hotel terrace. The terrace offers stunning views of the English Riviera and is the perfect place to relax and enjoy the sunshine.
