Guest blog: Underground mysteries - Agatha Christie at Kents Cavern

This September, Kents Cavern Prehistoric Caves in Torquay take centre stage in the celebrations of Devon’s most famous author, Agatha Christie. As part of the International Agatha Christie Festival, the caves will host two unmissable events: an Agatha Underground Tour delving into her 1924 novel The Man in the Brown Suit (16^th September) and three evenings of Cave Cinema screenings of classic Christie film adaptations (15^th–17^th September).

For visitors drawn to Devon for heritage and culture, including those exploring nearby Plymouth, Kents Cavern offers a unique opportunity to connect archaeology, atmosphere and literature in one extraordinary setting.

                    

Christie’s Cavern of Inspiration

In The Man in the Brown Suit, Christie reimagined Kents Cavern as the fictional “Hampsley Cavern”, using its archaeological detail to create a setting brimming with suspense. Her descriptions of excavation layers mirror the real discoveries made in Torquay, showing a knowledge of the caves that went far beyond imagination.

At the time, Christie’s father, Frederick Miller, had supported excavation work at Kents Cavern. Growing up surrounded by stories of archaeology and with her own lifelong fascination for ancient sites, Christie was well placed to weave the caves into her early work. The Cavern’s atmosphere and discoveries clearly captured her interest, making it a true part of her Devon legacy.

                       

Festival Highlights at Kents Cavern

• Agatha Underground Tour – Tuesday 16^th September
  A one-off guided experience exploring the Christie connections in The Man in the Brown Suit, combining storytelling with the archaeology of Britain’s oldest home.

• Agatha Christie Cave Cinema – Monday 15^th to Wednesday 17^th September
  A truly atmospheric cinema, deep underground, showing classic Christie adaptations across three evenings. Audiences sit beneath millions of years of history as timeless mysteries unfold on screen.

Both events bring Christie’s imagination back into the very caves that inspired her fiction, offering festival visitors something completely unique.

                              

Britain’s Oldest Home

Beyond its literary ties, Kents Cavern is internationally recognised as one of Europe’s most significant Stone Age sites. Excavations have uncovered some of the earliest modern human remains in Northwest Europe, alongside bones of woolly mammoths, cave lions and other Ice Age mammals.

The caves are now a Scheduled Ancient Monument and an award-winning visitor attraction. Daily guided tours bring prehistory to life, while woodland trails, children’s activities and a welcoming café make it a destination for families, school groups and cultural explorers alike. Few attractions combine archaeology, geology, history and storytelling in such an immersive way.

                  

Plymouth and Torquay: A Cultural Connection

For heritage lovers exploring Plymouth, Kents Cavern adds another fascinating dimension to a Devon journey. Plymouth’s Mayflower Steps and the Elizabethan House tell tales of seafarers and outward voyages, while the galleries at The Box explore centuries of art, archaeology and exploration.

A short trip along the coast to Torquay brings you to Kents Cavern, where the focus turns inward: into the earth, into human origins and into the imagination of the world’s best-loved crime writer.

                          

Plan Your Visit

Kents Cavern is open daily throughout the year, with guided cave tours, exhibitions, trails and events. In September, don’t miss these Agatha Christie Festival highlights:

• Agatha Underground Tour – 16^th September
• Agatha Christie Cave Cinema – 15^th–17^th September

Tickets are limited and sell quickly. Book now at kents-cavern.co.uk.
 

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In partnership with GWR, Destination Plymouth’s lead travel partner.