What Is Agatha Christie Mile?

Agatha Mary Clarissa Miller, known by the name Agatha Christie, was born in Torquay and spent much of her life there. Her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections were only outsold by Bible and Shakespeare, which is the main reason for giving her the title of The Queen of Crime. This world-renowned author was inspired by the many locations in her hometown, and that’s exactly why the beautifully calm city of Torquay is also full of mystery to her fans. Torquay boasts specific spots that are closely connected with her life, and if you’re a true fan of the creator of the genius Poirot and Miss Marpel, you’ll be able to find the traces of each and every one of her bestselling crime novels along Agatha Christie Mile.

You might also find it interesting that Agatha Christie wasn’t solely inspired by the places she lived in, but also the experiences she had throughout her precious life. When she was transferred to a dispensary, she was able to gain knowledge of poisons, which came in very handy in many of her books including her first published novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles (1920).

What Is Agatha Christie Mile?

Agatha Christie Mile is a complex of 11 spots that will take you back to your favourite author’s time. You can immerse yourself in the world of Poirot Investigation during the day and enjoy an Endless Night walking in this seaside town in Devon recalling all the magnificent places you’ve met whilst thinking about Why the Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side.  

You can start your visit from the Grand Hotel and finish at the Imperial Hotel or vice versa. Grand! Just remember to take your time to imagine the scenes in those serene days of the early 20th century. Just keep reading the article for more details about the names of each spot and how they were related to Agatha Christie’s life.

1- The Grand Hotel

On Christmas Eve in 1914, Agatha and her husband, Archie, spent their honeymoon in the Grand Hotel right after the wedding. Two days later, Agatha travelled up to London with her spouse, and there he left for the war in France.

2- Torquay Station

If you’ve read Murder on the Orient Express, The Mystery of Blue Train, or 4:50 from Paddington, you know it for sure how Agatha Christie was fascinated by trains and train stations to the point that there’s a trace of them in a lot of her novels.

Even though she never allowed her hero and heroine, Poirot and Miss Marple, meet each other in the stories, in 1990 as part of the town’s Agatha Christie Centenary Celebrations, Orient Express brought Hercule Poirot (David Suchet) to the station to meet Miss Marple (Joan Hickson) for the first time.

You can imagine the scene where Poirot and Marple came face to face on the platform; Poirot, the courteous man he was, held her hand and kissed it while the watching crowd, intoxicated by the whole moment, were applauding!

3- Torre Abbey

As Torquay’s oldest building, Torre Abbey is a museum of history and art on the beautiful South Devon coast. This building, which dates back to 1196, is the home to Agatha Christie Memorial Room, which features her 1937 Remington Portable Typewriter and her armchair. Aslo, if you’re interested in the mystery Miss Marple solved during her holiday in the Caribbean island of St Honoré, you’ll find this room very interesting as it holds in its heart the plotting notebook that contains the handwritten manuscript of A Caribbean Mystery.

4- Princess Pier

Roller-skating on Princess Pier was the young Agatha’s favourite hobby in the old times. There’s a picture of her, in Torquay Museum, skating in an ankle length skirt and large feathered hat, which may be a sign that she cared about fashion, as well as creating and solving crimes.

The Princess Pier is the same age as Agatha as it was built the year she was born. If you wish to visit Greenway House, her home from 1937 till her death in 1976, which is located in the bank of the River Dart, you can simply take a ferry from here.

5- Princess Gardens

Opened in 1894 and built to a classic Victorian design, the gardens are decorated with fountains, rich flower beds, palm trees imported from New Zealand and ornamental shelters. The ABC Murders lovers are surely familiar with this locale as they were featured in this novel. Undoubtedly, Agatha was a fan of Princess Gardens; otherwise she would not have mentioned it in one of her major works.

6- The Pavilion

Opened in 1912, this beautifully-domed Victorian building is significant to Agatha Christie’s fans for two reasons. First, due to her limitless love for music, she attended many concerts here. Second, Archie Christie proposed to her here after attending a Wagnerian concert at the Pavilion Theatre.

Moreover, near the front of the pavilion theatre, there’s the world’s only bronze bust of Agatha Christie which the Dutch sculptor, Carol Van Den Boom-Cairns, created for her Centenary Year in 1990.

7- The Strand

The Strand is one of the most bustling places in Torquay, but it has always been like this. In Agatha's time, it was famous for being a place for meetings and also a stopping point for stagecoaches. In her youth, Agatha used to shop with her mother here at exclusive stores such as William & Cox, which are now called Hoopers.

8- Torquay Museum

This place is absolutely the peak of your tour as it boasts the one of a kind Agatha Christie Centenary Exhibition. Devon's oldest museum was established in 1990 with the help of the Christie family, who made a valuable donation to this complex and loaned never-seen exhibits and photos of Agatha. Torquay Museum is open Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm and Sunday 1.30pm to 5pm (summer only).

Even the other parts of the museum are presented in an eccentric way. For instance, to dig in other cultures, there has been a focus on explorers. Also, there’s a whole bunch of activities for kids to do and the friendly staff just make your experience more pleasant.

9- Royal Torbay Yacht Club

If you’ve read Agatha Christie’s autobiography, you must have heard the name of this club for it was the place where her father was a prominent member, thus she loved it as well.

Her father used to visit the club to play cards every day, and also read newspapers and chat with friends.

The only time of year that he would stop visiting the club was when he was busy in the Cricket Club where he was the president and enjoyed the cricket season.

Clubs were an inseparable part of the early 20th century and their influence is apparent in many of Christie’s novels to the point where she creates a club in The Tuesday Club Murders.

10- Beacon Cove

Beacon Cove was known as the Ladies' Bathing Cove and a place for the men of the Royal Torbay Yacht Club to stare at the club window, hoping for a glimpse of the female bathers!

When Agatha was a teenager, she had a near death experience here while swimming; fortunately, a boatman spotted her and hauled her to safety. 

11- The Imperial Hotel

The Imperial Hotel was mentioned in many of her stories. Hasting beautifully describes the Imperial Hotel, renamed the Majestic, in Peril at End House, "The gardens of the hotel lay below us freely interspersed with palm trees. The sea was of a deep and lovely blue."

Also, the unraveling of the mystery for Gwenda and Giles by Miss Marple in the final chapter of Sleeping Murder occurs in the terrace of the hotel.

The hotel, which has always been a place for hustle and bustle, still reflects the elegance of Agatha's day. She herself attended many social occasions here.

To enrich your experience in Torquay, it is strongly recommended to have a morning coffee in the Palm Court Room with its panoramic views of the Bay.  

Where to Stay After a Long Day Visiting Agatha Christie Mile

Nestled within a short distance from the Torquay Seafront beach, Maycliffe Hotel is the perfect stay to explore memorable adventures which lies ahead for you in Torquay. Boasting 28 rooms on the first and second floors and 2 on the ground floor, this three-storey hotel offers overall 30 ensuite rooms of different sizes and bedding arrangements to cater for a delightful stay for every taste. Also, for easier accessibility, the hotel features a lift to easily access the rooms on upper levels. 

The rooms are currently being offered as private rooms with a communal kitchen fitted with almost all the essentials. If you’re travelling by car, there are also 7 free parking spaces on-site in addition to free street parking is also possible. 

To see more of Maycliffe Hotel and book direct, just tap this link.