International Agatha Christie Festival

Every September, the English Riviera in Devon becomes a crime scene worth some serious investigation, as we celebrate the birthday of our most famous literary daughter.  Each year you can expect a series of events coinciding with her birthday on 15 September, while every other year, there is a five-day International Agatha Christie Festival, with more fun and literary events than you can shake a smoking gun at.  

The Queen of Crime was born is Torquay, Devon in 1890 and worked and socialised in this fashionable resort. During the First World War she trained and worked as a nurse in the temporary soldiers’ hospital housed at Torquay Town Hall, then, gaining her useful knowledge of poisons she trained as a pharmacist. She completed the writing of her first novel in 1916 at the Moorlands Hotel near Haytor on the edge of Dartmoor. In 1938 she and her husband Max Mallowan bought the estate of Greenway near Kingswear. This National Trust property makes a fascinating place to visit. The perfect way of arriving is to take the Dartmouth Steam Railway from Paignton to Greenway Halt, just like Poirot did in the ABC Murders. She wrote her first crime novels while living in the resort and indeed the area features in no less than 15 of her novels.

If you'd like to investigate these local connections more, why not follow the Agatha Christie Mile. Pick up a leaflet from the Visitor Information Centre and prepare to drift back into the style and opulence of the Jazz Age, as you retrace the steps of the world’s best-selling author along Torquay’s seafront. Starting at either the Imperial Hotel (which features in several novels) or the Grand Hotel (where she spent her honeymoon), the Agatha Christie Mile takes you to some of the places that were inspirational in her life and works, with seven unique plaques to find along the way. You’ll also see the Agatha Christie Bust, created to commemorate her centenary year in 1990.

Another stop along the route the is Torquay Museum, which is home to the world's only dedicated Agatha Christie Gallery. You can step into Poirot's study and lounge, with furniture and props from the ITV series. There are also costumes worn by David Suchet, as well as Joan Hickson, worn when she played Miss Marple. You can also view a collection of Christie's personal effects, including handwritten notes and items of clothing. It's a fascinating visit during the festival or indeed any other time of the year. 

Add the Agatha Christie Potent Plants Garden at Torre Abbey Museum to your itinerary. The Abbey’s head gardener dug deep into the murky world of poisons, antidotes and remedies in Christie’s novels and created a garden featuring a variety of interesting plants that may cure or kill, depending on one’s motives. Of course, it’s not really dangerous - less potent garden cultivars were planted and the garden is designed to entertain - not provide murderous opportunities!

Torre Abbey Museum is the home of the International Agatha Christie Festival itself and hosts a series of literary talks, fascinating exhibitions, workshops, performances, a murder mystery escape room, film screenings, guided walks, a vintage swim and a period garden party. Elsewhere across the Bay you will also find a variety of murder mystery events taking place, as well as theatre productions and other Christie-themed fun.

A unique bronze bust statue of Agatha Christie, created by Dutch sculptor Carol Van Den Boom-Cairns, is located on Palk Street, on the Agatha Christie Mile, and close to the beautiful Edwardian Pavilion where her first husband Archie Christie proposed to her following a Wagner concert. 

If you are looking to attend any of the Agatha Christie events, be it the one day event in 2020 or the five day festival in 2021, be sure to book your accommodation early, as you can imagine, it attracts thousands of both day and overnight visitors to the resort and surrounding areas.

With this part of Devon so well-known for Agatha Christie, related events do take place throughout the year, so keep an eye on our What's On section to stay up-to date!

For a more detailed look into the life of Agatha Christie and her close affinity with the English Riviera then please check out our in-depth blog article or even our 'Top 10 Agatha Christie things to do'!