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A copy of the Agatha Christie Mile can be viewed here.

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 or the Grand Hotel, 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 way.

12 Places to look out for on the Agatha Christie mile:

The Grand Hotel – Where Agatha spent her honeymoon night with her first husband, Archie Christie on Christmas Eve 1914.  Archie, a qualified aviator with the Royal Flying Corps came home on leave from France. The Grand Hotel now has The Agatha Christie Suite named after Torquay’s most famous resident which can be booked, and with a double bedroom, a twin bedroom and a lounge area accommodates up to 5 guests.

Torre Abbey Gardens – Home of the Potent Plants Garden, an Agatha Christie inspired display with a variety of fascinating plants that may kill or cure! Containing less potent varieties of the poisons and potions used in her books such as cyanide, morphine and ricin, literary fans will love trying to solve the mystery of the missing story titles using the clues in the four garden beds.    

Princess Pier – A favourite spot of Agatha’s for roller-skating with her friends during her youth, and built in the same year she was born. Take a waterfront stroll along Torquay’s palm-lined promenade to the end of the pier to watch the world pass by in fishing boats, sightseeing cruises and jet skis.    

Princess Gardens located on Torquay's seafront promenade, features in the crime novel, The ABC Murders. With beautiful flowerbeds, exotic palm trees and lawns, the coastal views are stunning. The nearby Royal Terrace Gardens, known locally at Rock Walk with subtropical Mediterranean plants and an illuminated staircase offers an elevated and unrivalled vantage point to enjoy the entire bay.  

The Pavilion – Once a thriving art nouveau style Edwardian concert hall and theatre which attracted the most famous and celebrated artistes of the day such as composer Sir Edward Elgar, pianist Rachmaninoff and ballerina Anna Pavlova. Agatha was a regular visitor and whilst attending a Wagner concert at The Pavilion, Archie Christie proposed to the young Agatha Miller.

Agatha Christie Bust – in 1990 a bronze statue to commemorate the Agatha Christie Centenary Year was unveiled by the author’s daughter, Rosalind Hicks on Palk Street. Dutch sculptor, Carol Van Den Boom-Cairns was commissioned to create the handcrafted bust in her likeness, the only dedicated memorial anywhere in the world.

Royal Torbay Yacht Club – set up initially as the Torbay and South Devon Club in 1863, becoming the Torquay Yacht Club in 1875, a warrant was obtained from Queen Victoria to become the Royal Torquay Yacht Club. Agatha’s father Frederick Miller was a prominent member here. Visitors are still welcome today.

Beacon Cove – this delightful hideaway is a short walking distance from Torquay harbourside and opposite the Royal Torbay Yacht Club on Beacon Terrace. It was here that Agatha used to swim regularly, once known as Ladies Bathing Cove.

Imperial Hotel – this elegant Victorian four-star hotel featured in several of Agatha’s novels: Peril at End House, The Body in the Library and Sleeping Murder. Perched elegantly on the cliffside with Peaked Tor Cove nestled behind it, from the hotel there are wonderful views across the Bay. Opened in 1866, the hotel has hosted many important guests including Emperor Napoleon III of France, Prince Albert and The Beatles. Agatha attended many social functions at the hotel in her youth.

The Strand ­– this popular harbourside shopping promenade is mentioned in several of Agatha’s novels.

Torquay Museum – Home to the UK's only dedicated Agatha Christie Gallery, you’ll find lots of props used in the ITV adaptations of Agatha Christie’s Poirot, including Poirot’s desk, furniture and fireplace from his London Art Deco apartment and his iconic walking stick, one of Miss Marple’s outfits and some of the author’s personal effects and first edition novels. Agatha’s father was a member of Torquay Natural History Society, later to become Torquay Museum. 

Torquay Railway Station – the site where Joan Hickson’s Miss Marple met with David Suchet’s character Hercule Poirot for the very first time during the English Riviera’s Agatha Christie Centenary Celebrations in 1990.

To find out more about Torquay’s most famous resident visit the Agatha Christie blog and Top 10 Agatha Christie things to do on the English Riviera. 

A copy of the Agatha Christie Mile can be viewed here.