The Old Swan Hotel, Harrowgate

The Old Swan Hotel is a grand Victorian hotel in the heart of the spa town of Harrogate. However, it is probably most famous for being part of Agatha Christie’s real-life mystery when she was found here in 1926 after her disappearance.

In December 1926, Agatha Christie, famous author, vanished without a trace. Her car was found abandoned near Guildford and the press went wild. Public attention was intense as everyone was desperate to solve the case of the missing author.

Already a household name, Agatha’s world had been rocked. Her beloved mother had recently died and then her husband, Archie, confessed that he loved someone else. On 3rd December, after an argument, he left their home to stay with his mistress and that night, Agatha quietly kissed her sleeping daughter goodnight, got into her Morris Cowley, and drove off.

Eleven days of media frenzy followed and then a musician at the hotel recognised a guest who had been staying there under the name Mrs Teresa Neele. Nancy Neele was her husband’s mistress.

There are many theories about what happened to Agatha Christie at that time and many books to read on the subject! Christie fans are now able to stay at the hotel where she took her meals, walk the same corridors she paced, and sit in the lounge where she relaxed whilst the country hunted for her. Or you can pop in to the lobby and take a photo of the plaque!

The Old Swan Hotel,

Swan Rd,

Harrogate

HG1 2SR

You can read about Greenway here, Wallingford here and The Agatha Christie Mile here.