Agatha Christie Itineraries

Explore the English Riviera through the eyes of its most famous daughter, with our Agatha-Christie inspired itinerary ideas.  Follow in the footsteps of the world’s best-selling novelist and uncover the inspiration behind her legendary stories.  Your Agatha Christie adventure starts here – the clues are waiting.

Day 1 Murder, Mystery & Mile Trails

Get your detective hat on and join an Agatha Christie guided walking tour in Torquay, the author’s birthplace.  Whether you're a die-hard fan or just Christie-curious, you’ll leave with a newfound admiration for the world’s best-selling novelist. 

Prefer to go solo? Pick up the Agatha Christie Mile trail leaflet from the Visitor Information Centre at the harbour and stroll through some iconic spots from Agatha’s life.  Snap a selfie! Don’t miss the striking new Dame Agatha Christie CBE Sculpture - perfect for a photo with the Queen of Crime and her beloved little dog, Peter.

Take a break at one of Torquay’s many inviting cafes or restaurants.  For a truly immersive experience, indulge in Agatha Christie’s favourite meal of lobster followed by blackberry Devon ice cream at Offshore Restaurant and Bar (reservation required). 

In the afternoon, head to Torquay Museum which has a dedicated Agatha Christie Gallery - the only permanent exhibition about Agatha in the UK.  Highlights include original manuscripts, photographs, and the set of Poirot’s office from the ITV series.

As night falls, keep the mystery going!  Check out what’s on at the local theatres and hotels – there’s often a Christie play or a murder mystery dinner with your name on it.

Day 2 Caves, Clues and Potent Plants

Time to dig a little deeper - literally.  Go back in time at Kents Cavern Prehistoric Caves, a Stone Age wonder and the real-life inspiration for ‘Hampsley Cavern’ in The Man in the Brown Suit.  Agatha’s father helped fund excavations at the caves and it seems likely that her lifelong interest in archaeology has its roots in these labyrinthine passages.

Our next stop is Torre Abbey, the English Riviera's most historic building and now a museum and art gallery.  Can you solve the riddle of the Potent Plants Garden?  The garden is inspired by Agatha Christie’s great knowledge of pharmacy - did you know that over half of her fictional victims met their end by poison!

After all that sleuthing, a Devonshire cream tea, Christie-style, is in order.  Try the Grand Hotel, where Agatha spent her first honeymoon, or the Imperial Hotel, which features in Sleeping Murder and under different names in other Christie novels including Peril at End House.  If an elegant drink on the terrace is more your style, the Livermead House Hotel offers a ‘Queen of Crime’ cocktail range.

Day 3 Coves, Carriages and Crime Scenes

Begin your day with a visit to Elberry Cove, a secluded gem tucked away between Paignton and Brixham, and one of Agatha Christie’s favourite bathing spots.  The cove features in The ABC Murders as the scene of Sir Carmichael Clarke’s untimely death.  It can only be accessed on foot, so if you have the car with you, park at Broadsands beach and take a stroll along the coastal path. 

Continue in vintage style, with a scenic steam train journey from Paignton to Dartmouth (ferry crossing to Dartmouth included).  From Dartmouth, hop aboard the Greenway Ferry for a picturesque journey on the River Dart to Agatha Christie’s beloved holiday home Greenway House and Gardens (National Trust).  The house is preserved as it would have been in the 1950s and is packed with family treasures.  Wander through the beautiful riverside grounds, where fans will easily recognise the locations of fictional murders from Deadman’s Folly (the boathouse) and Five Little Pigs (the battery).

End your day with an evening stroll along Torquay’s Princess Pier.  Over a century ago, you might have seen a young Agatha gliding by on roller-skates with her friends – long before her legendary adventures had even begun.

Keep Investigating

Within an hour’s drive of the English Riviera lies Dartmoor National Park, a landscape with close links to Agatha Christie.  She finished her first novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, at the Moorlands Hotel near Haytor.  Dartmoor is the setting of The Sittaford Mystery, and in Evil Under the Sun, Poirot takes fellow hotel guests on a day trip to Pixy’s Cave on Sheepstor.  The hotel and island in Evil Under the Sun were inspired by Burgh Island - also around an hour away from the English Riviera - which famously provided the backdrop for the iconic And Then There Were None.  Discover more at: Visit Devon.