Revival of the ENGLISH RIVIERA

Torquay has been a UK holiday hotspot since Victorian times. Tanya Pearey checks out its modern-day appeal

- Tanya Pearey

Forget Fawlty Towers. There’s much more to Torquay than the fictional hotel and its wacky proprietor, from the famed 70s sitcom. With its palm-tree-lined promenade, sandy beaches, busy harbour and modern marina, it’s not hard to see why the area has been dubbed the English Riviera.

A criminal stroll

Crime writer Agatha Christie was born and raised in the town and spent much of her adult life here. She stayed in the Grand Hotel for her honeymoon night, and the Princess Gardens and Imperial Hotel feature in her books. Check out these sights and more on the Agatha Christie Mile, a route along the promenade that includes the harbour and yacht-lined marina, and takes in some of the places that were inspirational to her, and also includes a commemorative bronze bust of the Queen of Crime herself.

Don’t miss Princess Pier, built the year she was born (1890), and a favourite spot for roller-skating with friends when Christie was a girl. Stroll to the end to watch the comings and goings of the busy harbour and look back to shore for brilliant views of the promenade, cliffs and the English Riviera Wheel, a funfair ferris wheel in Princess Gardens, which gives a 12-minute ride and great views over the harbour and town.