Torquay

Walking tours

Walk in the footsteps of the “Queen of Crime”, Agatha Christie, "the world’s best-selling author". After meeting with your guide, begin your tour discovering Agatha’s early years in Torquay. Learn about her servants, her home schooling, her siblings and how her father's death impacted her writing. We hear about her time growing up in Torquay and how the people she met and places she visited inspired her plots and characters. The route follows the beautiful English Riviera coastline, passing Torquay’s famous Pavilion which originally opened as a concert hall. It's here Agatha and her first husband, one of Britain's first pilots, watched a concert and afterwards he proposed to her. We stop at the Princess Pier where Agatha and her friends used to roller skate alongside wealthy Victorians promenading in their finest clothes. Stroll through the gardens at Torre Abbey. Hear how a soiree arranged for Belgian refugees in 1916, at which Agatha was attending, she met the man who provided the inspiration for Hercule Poirot. En route, guests will discover how a bet encouraged Agatha to write her first published novel. We talk about her time as a nurse in the first World War and how working in the dispensary inspired her use of poison! The tour passes through the Italian Gardens and recounts Agatha’s 11 day disappearance that led to the biggest manhunt in British history. At Torre Abbey, one of the best preserved Abbey's in the country, the story of her escape to the Middle East is re-counted. Guests will also discover how Miss Marple was created. The tour ends close to the Grand Hotel, where Agatha and Archie spent their honeymoon. Here, we will discuss her huge impact on keeping up the nation's morale during World War 2 Agatha Christie was an extraordinary lady. Her literature has touched the lives of billions of people across the world and even today she still sells 5 million novels per year. Everyday you can watch a Miss Marple or Hercule Poirot on TV! Without doubt, she is the world's most successful murder mystery writer and one of the greatest Britons of all time!

Take a trip down memory lane to reminisce and enjoy the story of Fawlty Towers, which is set in Torquay. This show was and remains Comedy Gold. Nearly 50 years ago the British public were introduced to Basil, Sybil, Manuel & Polly at the most chaotic hotel in Torquay! There are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments along the way and great photo opportunities! Discover how a stay at a Torquay hotel gave John Cleese and Connie Booth the idea to write Fawlty Towers. Hear how Manuel was created and why he was made Spanish. Of course, we'll talk about the hotel's dodgy sign posts! After the tour, test your knowledge of Fawlty Towers with a quiz.