About

A wander along Torquay's seafront will take you alongside Torquay Marina and through the pretty waterside Princess Gardens, a promenade lined with palm trees, well-manicured flowerbeds and an ornate water fountain.

The gardens take their name from Princess Louise, the then Princess Royal and fourth daughter of Queen Victoria, who laid the foundation stone for the "pleasure ground" in May 1890. They are overlooked by the stunning Edwardian Pavilion at one end and in the middle by Torquay’s Princess Theatre, the ideal venue to catch top West End shows and other performances during your holiday.

The Princess Gardens feature in one of Agatha’s most popular mysteries, ‘The ABC Murders’ (1936), a central character called Mr Alexander Bonaparte Cust sits in a shelter facing Torquay Harbour reading the paper, only to read about a murder.

Throughout the year Princess Gardens provides the location for numerous events and festivals, including continental markets and the world-famous Agatha Christie Festival fete. The gardens are a feature of both the Agatha Christie Mile and the Agatha Christie Literary Trail through the English Riviera and South Devon.