The Queen of Crime’s chosen haunts worldwide …
Osborne Hotel, Torquay, UK
Also known as the English Riviera, Torquay is a must-visit for true fans as Agatha was born here in 1890 and lived in the area until she was almost 30. She later bought a holiday home at Greenway and at least 15 of her books have a local connection. If visiting, the Osborne Hotel overlooks the beach on lush grounds. Readers converge for the annual International Agatha Christie Festival in September, with a spring gathering in April. Don’t leave without completing The Agatha Christie Mile that traces key spots in her life, including the Agatha Christie suite in The Grand Hotel where she honeymooned. Princess Gardens was a key location in The ABC Murders (1936) and Torquay Museum is home to mementoes and costumes worn by actors, including David Suchet who played Poirot from 1989 to 2013.
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Burgh Island Hotel, Devon, UK
One of the most evocative places to visit is the atmospheric Burgh Island that inspired two of Christie’s most famous books – And Then There Were None (1939) and Evil Under the Sun (1941) – sometimes dubbed a “part-time island” as it can only be reached at low tide and is cut off twice a day. Christie used the exclusive Burgh Island Hotel as a writing retreat and called it “home from home”. It’s easy to see how the location inspired her as the hotel has stunning sea views and its interiors combine the classic elegance of the Art Deco era.
Brown’s Hotel, London, UK
At Bertram’s Hotel is a Miss Marple mystery penned by Christie in 1965. The fictional hotel is thought to have been inspired by Brown’s Hotel in London or the Mayfair Hotel, Fleming’s. Christie was a regular guest at Brown’s which has strong literary links with frequent guests including Rudyard Kipling, Arthur C Clarke, William Golding, Joseph Conrad, Jorge Luis Borges and Stephen King, where he wrote the outline for his infamous 1987 novel, Misery. Pop in to try the hotel’s renowned afternoon tea that was a highlight for Christie.
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Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Aswan, Egypt
Christie had a strong affinity with Egypt. Her thriller, Death Comes as the End (1944), was set in the ancient Egyptian city of Thebes (her only novel not set in the 20th century) while Death on the Nile (1937) takes place on a luxury cruise. She wrote the latter at the Old Cataract Hotel in Aswan, setting the opening scenes in the hotel where the characters assemble before embarking on the cruise. The Old Cataract has been refurbished since Christie’s day, but retains some 1930s glamour. Naturally, there’s an Agatha Christie suite.
Pera Palace Hotel, Istanbul, Turkey
Agatha Christie travelled on the Orient Express several times and is said to have written Murder on the Orient Expres (1934) in her suite at Pera Palace Hotel in Istanbul (room 411). Now a Jumeirah property, it’s situated in the city’s Beyoglu district and still offers The Agatha Christie Room complete with portraits, a library of her books and a replica of her typewriter. Some say that the room is haunted too …
