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Enjoy an Agatha Christie-themed tour of Torquay, with visits to several locations with fascinating links to the Queen of Crime

Torquay is a destination that brings to mind images of seaside promenades, palm trees, beautiful beaches, and grand Italianate villas on the hills overlooking Tor Bay.

However, there's more to this resort town than meets the eye… this is where the most famous mystery writer in literary history, the incomparable Agatha Christie, was born and raised. The town and its many landmarks and historic buildings provided inspiration for some of Christie's best-loved books.

This tailor-made tour will immerse you in the life and times of the Queen of crime fiction. You'll be joined by historian and writer Lucy Worsley at Burgh Island, which inspired the settings for both And Then There Were None and the Poirot mystery Evil Under the Sun. Here Lucy will give a talk and Q&A and sign copies of her new book**, "Agatha Christie: A Very Elusive Woman"

You can trace the literary heroine's steps along the "Agatha Christie Mile" where you'll be able to visit the UK's only dedicated Agatha Christie gallery. You'll also visit Cockington Court, where Agatha regularly visited the Mallock family in her younger years and even participated in some theatrical events.

You'll even get a chance to participate in a Murder Mystery dinner, so you can play detective yourself!

For trips departing in 2023, you'll be based at the Grand Hotel in Torquay, where Agatha stayed on her wedding night with her husband Archie. Here you can enjoy the striking Victorian architecture, elegant interiors and fantastic seafront location with views across the English Riviera. For trips departing in 2024, you'll stay at the Imperial Hotel, which sits on the cliff tops on the edge of Torquay and boasts stunning sea views. One of the town's most iconic hotels, it exudes traditional elegance and the old-school charm of a bygone world.

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Your expert guides

Lucy Worsley OBE
Historian, author, TV presenter and curator

Lucy Worsley OBE is one of Britain's leading historians and is chief curator at Historic Royal Palaces. She has written a number of books, including Courtiers: A Secret History Of The Georgian Court, If Walls Could Talk: An Intimate History Of Your Home and a biography of Agatha Christie.

Lucy has presented a number of history shows including Six Wives With Lucy Worsley, Jane Austen: Behind Closed Doors and Lucy Worsley On The Mystery Queen which followed in the footsteps of Christie in Egypt. She is also the winner of a Specialist Factual Bafta for the documentary Suffragettes With Lucy Worsley.

Price includes

  • Three nights at The Grand Hotel in Torquay (2023 departures) or the Imperial Hotel in Torquay (2024 deprtures), three breakfasts at the hotel, services of an expert guide
  • Free copy of Lucy Worsley's new book**, A welcome drink, dinner with wine and talk from guide and host, Jane Tapley
  • A fascinating talk, Q&A and book signing with Lucy Worsley
  • Lunch at the Moorland Hotel where Agatha wrote her first book, the Mysterious Affair at Styles
  • A thrilling murder mystery dinner
  • Visit to Cockington Court and Torre Abbey and discover their links to the Queen of Crime
  • Lunch on Burgh Island
  • Visits to several locations with links to Agatha Christie

Availability

From
Fri, Fri, Nov 1, 2024
To
Mon, Mon, Nov 4, 2024
Duration
4 Days
Price per person
£1,249*

* Please note, this price is for Telegraph subscribers only. From price is per person, based on two people sharing a room, subject to availability. Price and itinerary correct at time of print but may be subject to change. Single supplement £125. Deposit 30%. In the case of unforeseen circumstances, expert(s) may be substituted, and any expert-led events may be subject to change. Expert(s) will not join you for your full trip duration unless otherwise stated. **Free book offer for Telegraph subscribers only. Travel insurance is not included and should be taken out at time of booking. Images used may not reflect your actual tour experience. This holiday may be sold through other selected brands. Tour is operated by and subject to the booking conditions of TS Travel Ltd. To redeem your exclusive subscriber offer, visit www. telegraph.co.uk/tt-extra. Calls are made at local rates. All tours featured are operated by the partner specified, a company wholly independent of Telegraph Media Group Ltd. Please refer to the Data Protection Notice in today's Personal Column or telegraph.co.uk/privacypolicy.

From
Fri, Fri, Nov 1, 2024
To
Mon, Mon, Nov 4, 2024
Duration
4 Days
Price per person
£1,299*

* Please note, this price is for all other readers. From price is per person, based on two people sharing a room, subject to availability. Price and itinerary correct at time of print but may be subject to change. Single supplement £125. Deposit 30%. In the case of unforeseen circumstances, expert(s) may be substituted, and any expert-led events may be subject to change. Expert(s) will not join you for your full trip duration unless otherwise stated. **Free book offer for Telegraph subscribers only. Travel insurance is not included and should be taken out at time of booking. Images used may not reflect your actual tour experience. This holiday may be sold through other selected brands. Tour is operated by and subject to the booking conditions of TS Travel Ltd. To redeem your exclusive subscriber offer, visit www. telegraph.co.uk/tt-extra. Calls are made at local rates. All tours featured are operated by the partner specified, a company wholly independent of Telegraph Media Group Ltd. Please refer to the Data Protection Notice in today's Personal Column or telegraph.co.uk/privacypolicy.

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Itinerary

  1. Day
    1
    Arrive in Torquay and Greenway
    Torquay, United Kingdom

    2023 departure: Please note that you'll need to arrive at The Grand Hotel no later than 12 noon today. Please get in touch with our reservations team if you'd like to arrange a pre-tour stay (for an additional cost) the night before. This afternoon you'll visit Greenway, Agatha's country holiday home she called "the loveliest place in the world", which is full of memorabilia. In the evening you will have a welcome reception, private dinner with wine and a talk on Agatha Christie from your expert guide and host, Jane Tapley.

    2024 departure: Arrive at the Imperial Hotel from 3pm and check-in - if you arrive earlier you can leave any bags at the hotel and take some time to explore the area if you wish. In the evening, your tour manager will meet your group for a welcome drink at the hotel, give a talk on Agatha Christie and share the itinerary for the next few days, before joining your group for dinner.

    Meals - Dinner
  2. Day
    2
    Cockington Court or Greenways; murder mystery evening
    Torquay, United Kingdom

    2023 departure: Today you'll visit Cockington Court. Agatha regularly visited the Mallock family in her younger years and even took part in some of their theatrical events. Please note that the coach will park ten minutes' walk from the entrance.

    You'll have lunch at the Moorland Hotel, situated in the heart of the Dartmoor National Park where Agatha wrote her first book.

    This evening, you'll experience a Murder Mystery dinner, "Murder on the Riviera," hosted by Moonstone Theatre Company. Here ace sleuth Jane Rutherford, with your help, will attempt to solve the mystery of the death of Sir Michael Crispin.

    2024 departure: You'll depart the hotel this morning for Greenways, and enjoy a visit of the house and gardens independently. There will be time for lunch (not included) after which you will arrive at the Torquay Museum and visit the Agatha Christie Galley for a self-guided visit. This evening, enjoy dinner at your hotel with a murder mystery performance of Murder on the Riviera.

    Meals - Breakfast, Dinner
  3. Day
    3
    Torre Abbey or Torquay Museum
    Torquay, United Kingdom

    2023 departures: Today you'll visit Torre Abbey for an 'Agatha Christie Potent Plants' guided tour of the garden; there will also be free time to explore the Abbey Museum.

    This afternoon you'll visit the Torquay Museum, where you can visit the UK's only dedicated Agatha Christie gallery.

    You may like to explore some of the sights on the "Agatha Christie Mile" including your hotel, where Agatha spent her honeymoon night with Archie Christie on Christmas Eve 1914.

    2024 departures: Depart your hotel this morning for a visit to Torre Abbey for an 'Agatha Christie Potent Plants' guided tour of the garden. There will also be free time to explore the Abbey Museum. Afterwards, your group will depart for the Moorland Hotel where you will enjoy a two course lunch with two glasses of wine included. In the afternoon, you'll travel back to your hotel a spend the evening at your leisure.

    Meals - Breakfast
  4. Day
    4
    Burgh Island Hotel
    Burgh Island,

    2023 and 2024 departures: Today you'll head to the iconic Burgh Island Hotel, a former haunt of Agatha Christie, Noel Coward and other renowned writers of the 1930s. Built in 1929 and now restored to its 1930s Art Deco glamour, Burgh Island is reached by sea tractor at high tide, or by landrover or on foot when the tide is out.

    Here you will enjoy a talk and Q&A from historian Lucy Worsely. Lucy is an expert in all things Agatha, having just published a book all about the writer, which she will be happy to sign.

    You'll have spare time to explore the island and stroll along its lovely footpaths. You might choose to have a drink in its delightful pub, the Pilchard Inn. Lunch will be served in the Burgh Island Hotel dining room, with wine included.

    You'll return to your hotel in Torquay in the late afternoon.

    Meals - Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation

The Grand Hotel

0
Torquay, United Kingdom

On the seafront just above Corbyn beach, this iconic hotel is an elegant landmark in Torquay.

Where Agatha Christie spent her honeymoon night, The Grand Hotel has been a Torquay landmark for more than a century and has superb bay sea views overlooking The UNESCO English Riviera. Aptly named, the hotel exudes period character and has a bar, restaurant and comfortable, classic bedrooms with modern amenities.

The Imperial, Torquay, Devon

0
Torquay, United Kingdom

The Imperial sits on the cliff tops on the edge of Torquay, boasting stunning sea views, just a stone's throw from many of south Devon's tourist attractions.

Soak up faded grandeur in one of the town's most iconic hotels where heritage remains at the heart. Distinctly decadent with its marble floors and huge chandeliers, the hotel exudes a traditional elegance - expect large comfortable bedrooms, formal dining and plenty of amenities including a health club, fitness suite, tennis court and indoor and outdoor swimming pools.

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Availability

From
Fri, Fri, Nov 1, 2024
To
Mon, Mon, Nov 4, 2024
Duration
4 Days
Price per person
£1,249*

* Please note, this price is for Telegraph subscribers only. From price is per person, based on two people sharing a room, subject to availability. Price and itinerary correct at time of print but may be subject to change. Single supplement £125. Deposit 30%. In the case of unforeseen circumstances, expert(s) may be substituted, and any expert-led events may be subject to change. Expert(s) will not join you for your full trip duration unless otherwise stated. **Free book offer for Telegraph subscribers only. Travel insurance is not included and should be taken out at time of booking. Images used may not reflect your actual tour experience. This holiday may be sold through other selected brands. Tour is operated by and subject to the booking conditions of TS Travel Ltd. To redeem your exclusive subscriber offer, visit www. telegraph.co.uk/tt-extra. Calls are made at local rates. All tours featured are operated by the partner specified, a company wholly independent of Telegraph Media Group Ltd. Please refer to the Data Protection Notice in today's Personal Column or telegraph.co.uk/privacypolicy.

From
Fri, Fri, Nov 1, 2024
To
Mon, Mon, Nov 4, 2024
Duration
4 Days
Price per person
£1,299*

* Please note, this price is for all other readers. From price is per person, based on two people sharing a room, subject to availability. Price and itinerary correct at time of print but may be subject to change. Single supplement £125. Deposit 30%. In the case of unforeseen circumstances, expert(s) may be substituted, and any expert-led events may be subject to change. Expert(s) will not join you for your full trip duration unless otherwise stated. **Free book offer for Telegraph subscribers only. Travel insurance is not included and should be taken out at time of booking. Images used may not reflect your actual tour experience. This holiday may be sold through other selected brands. Tour is operated by and subject to the booking conditions of TS Travel Ltd. To redeem your exclusive subscriber offer, visit www. telegraph.co.uk/tt-extra. Calls are made at local rates. All tours featured are operated by the partner specified, a company wholly independent of Telegraph Media Group Ltd. Please refer to the Data Protection Notice in today's Personal Column or telegraph.co.uk/privacypolicy.

Call now to book 02039938321
Quote ref: TEL TORQUAY WORSLEY