Love Agatha Christie and want to dive deeper into her life? Keep scrolling for my ultimate guide to planning an Agatha Christie tour of England!
This Agatha Christie England planning guide was written by family travel expert Marcie Cheung and contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.
I did something I never thought I’d do: I left my boys at home with their dad for ten days and flew to England with nine women I’d never met to chase the ghost of Agatha Christie.
Let me back up. My husband works remotely, which gave us the flexibility for me to finally say yes to something just for ME.
Not a family vacation where I’m still managing snack schedules and sibling squabbles. Not a quick weekend getaway. A full-blown, kid-free literary adventure through the English countryside.
And honestly? It changed how I think about travel entirely.
Walking in Agatha’s Footsteps (Literally)
Our first stop was Torquay, Agatha Christie’s hometown, where we met Graham from English Riviera Walking Tours. If you’re picturing a stuffy historical lecture, think again.
Graham led us on the “Agatha Mile” through her childhood haunts, and he had this magical ability to make you feel like you were stepping back in time without ever feeling rushed or overwhelmed.
He brought actual photo props. He timed perfect bathroom and snack breaks. He found benches at exactly the right moments when our feet needed a rest.
This is the kind of tour guide you dream about when you’re in your 40s and your body doesn’t bounce back from walking tours like it did in your 20s.
We stopped at The Grand Hotel where Agatha honeymooned. We were supposed to stay there originally, but renovations sent us to the Haytor Hotel instead, which turned out to be a blessing. Room 9 had shower pressure that I’m still dreaming about, and the owners made us feel like family. Sometimes the “backup plan” ends up being better than the original.
Here’s where I have to confess something: some of the ladies in our group did a sunrise swim at Agatha’s favorite beach. I was too wimpy. I watched from the shore with my coffee, cheering them on.
And you know what? That’s okay. This trip taught me that doing something just for yourself doesn’t mean you have to be brave in every single moment. Sometimes watching your new friends be brave is enough.
The House That Wrote the Books
Greenway House absolutely took my breath away. This wasn’t some preserved museum where you shuffle through roped-off rooms. This was Agatha’s actual holiday home, where she rested between writing sessions, and you could feel her presence everywhere.
The gardens alone could inspire a dozen mysteries. But what really got me? Her closet.
The woman had the most gorgeous outfits, and seeing them hanging there made her feel so real. Not just “Agatha Christie, Famous Author,” but Agatha, who clearly loved beautiful clothes and probably stood in front of that closet wondering what to wear, just like I do.
Graham (yes, the same Graham from our walking tour—he and his wife guided us here too) showed up dressed as Hercule Poirot, complete with stick-on fuzzy mustaches for all of us.
His wife came as Miss Lemon. I’m telling you, this tour company understood that making memories isn’t just about facts and dates—it’s about joy and silliness and photo ops that make you laugh.
I bought a hard copy of “The Affair at Styles” (her first book) and had them stamp it with the official Greenway House stamp. It’s sitting on my nightstand right now, and every time I look at it, I’m back in that house, imagining Agatha writing at her desk.
I didn’t make it down to the boat house—there’s only so much you can fit into one visit—but that just gives me an excuse to come back someday.
Murder Island (Yes, Really)
Burgh Island is the kind of place that makes you understand why Agatha Christie could write such atmospheric mysteries. This tiny island off the Devon coast is home to an Art Deco hotel that inspired “And Then There Were None,” and getting there is an adventure in itself.
I was secretly hoping for the dramatic tractor ride across the tidal causeway, but the tide was out when we visited, so we walked across the sand instead. Was I disappointed? A little. But walking to a murder mystery island has its own kind of magic.
The hotel feels frozen in time—in the best possible way. We could see actual filming locations from the movie adaptations, and I geeked out HARD when I recognized spots from “Evil Under the Sun” (which I’d rewatched specifically to prepare for this moment).
We climbed to the top of the island’s hill for the view, then settled in for afternoon tea at the hotel. There’s something about drinking tea in the same room where fictional murders took place that makes you feel like you’re part of the story.
The Murder Express (My Absolute Favorite)
Okay, buckle up, because this is where the trip went from “amazing” to “I can’t believe this is real life.”
We boarded the Belmond British Pullman for a murder mystery lunch experience, and I felt like I’d stepped straight into an Agatha Christie novel. The Victorian carriages, the period details, the sense of glamour—it was everything.
Most passengers dressed in 1920s and 1930s attire, and I went ALL IN. Gold sequined dress, nylons with the black line down the back, gold t-strap shoes I’d found online.
And the pièce de résistance? A gorgeous faux fur coat I’d snagged in Bath a few days earlier that completed the whole look.
Our entire train car was filled with women from our tour, and we worked together to solve the mystery while eating lunch and watching the English countryside roll by. Each place setting had a period magazine with “news” about the suspects and puzzles for bonus clues.
Here’s the kicker: while we were there, the BBC was filming a documentary about Agatha Christie. We ended up IN it. I texted my husband a photo and said, “I’m on a murder mystery train and might be in a BBC documentary. How’s bedtime going?” His response? “Great. Can you come home and do this every night?”
The Perseus car we sat in was actually part of the original Orient Express. I kept touching the wood paneling and thinking about all the stories these walls could tell.
The Secret You Can Never Tell
Our final Christie experience was seeing “The Mousetrap” in London—the play that’s been running for over 70 years. The theater is intimate, almost tiny compared to the big West End shows, and I have to be honest: those might have been the most uncomfortable theater seats I’ve ever sat in.
But the show? Fantastic. There’s a tradition where the audience is asked to never reveal the ending, and I’m keeping that promise.
What I will say is that watching this play in this specific theater, knowing that generations of people have sat in these same terrible seats and gasped at the same reveals, made me feel connected to something bigger than myself.
What This Trip Taught Me About Travel
I’ve been to England before. I’ve done the London highlights, the castle tours, the standard tourist route with my family. But this trip showed me something completely different: the power of niche travel.
By focusing on one author, one genre, one specific interest, everything became more meaningful. I wasn’t checking boxes or rushing to see “all the things.” I was deepening my understanding of something I already loved. Every location built on the one before it. Every story Graham told connected to the places we’d seen.
And here’s what really struck me: I met nine women I’d never met before, and by the end of ten days, we’d formed real friendships. Because we all loved the same thing. We all wanted this specific kind of adventure. There’s something about shared passion that fast-tracks connection in a way generic travel can’t.
If You’re Dreaming of Your Own Adventure
Joining an organized tour: The Book Club Tour made everything seamless. No stress about logistics, transportation, or coordinating ten people. They’d arranged everything with guides like Graham who genuinely loved what they were doing.
DIY version: All the locations we visited are accessible independently. Greenway House, Burgh Island, and The Grand Hotel are open to visitors. You can book the Belmond British Pullman murder mystery experience directly. The Mousetrap tickets are available online.
What to pack: Comfortable walking shoes (seriously), layers for unpredictable English weather, and if you’re doing the train mystery, consider packing or finding a vintage outfit. It’s not required, but it makes the experience even more magical.
Best tip: Do your homework before you go. Reread the books set in the locations you’ll visit, watch the film adaptations, let yourself get excited. The more you know going in, the more you’ll get out of the experience.
The Mom Version of Wanderlust
I came home to my boys and my normal life, but something had shifted. I’d proven to myself that I could take up space, spend time and energy on my own interests, and come back even more present for my family.
My kids wanted to know everything. They asked about the train, the island, the mysteries. And I realized I wasn’t just bringing home souvenirs—I was bringing home stories. I was showing them that mom is a person with interests and adventures, not just the person who makes their lunches.
If you’ve been dreaming about a girls’ getaway, a kid-free vacation, or doing something just for YOU—this is your sign. Find your niche. Whether it’s Agatha Christie, Jane Austen, wine tasting, cooking classes, or hiking—there’s a trip out there that will make you feel alive in a way family vacations just can’t.
Because here’s the truth: you deserve to be the main character in your own story sometimes. Not the supporting character in everyone else’s adventures.
The murders may have been fictional, but the memories are real. And that stamped copy of “The Affair at Styles” on my nightstand? It’s a reminder that I’m allowed to solve my own mysteries, write my own adventures, and say yes to things that light me up.
Looking for more England travel resources? Check out 11 Amazing Day Trips from London by Train for a Perfect Escape, How to Do a Bridgerton Photo Shoot in London, and Things I Wish I Knew Before Going to London: 20 Tips for First-Time Visitors
