Explore the real-world places that appear in And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie. Each location on the map shows what happens there in the novel, the real history of the place, and what's there today. Featured locations include Burgh Island, Sticklepath, Salcombe, Bigbury-on-Sea, Thurlestone and 4 more.
Fictional Soldier Island inspiration — Art Deco hotel setting
This tidal island served as Christie's inspiration for Soldier Island, where ten strangers are invited by the mysterious U.N. Owen. The isolated mansion becomes a death trap as guests are murdered one by one according to the sinister nursery rhyme. Judge Wargrave, Vera Claythorne, Philip Lombard, and the others find themselves completely cut off from the mainland as the body count rises.
Burgh Island has been inhabited since medieval times and became a fashionable Art Deco retreat in the 1920s-30s. The Burgh Island Hotel, built in 1929, attracted wealthy guests seeking luxury and isolation on this tidal island accessible only at low tide.
The Art Deco Burgh Island Hotel still operates as a luxury destination. Guests can stay in the room where Christie wrote parts of the novel, and the hotel celebrates its connection to the mystery writer with themed events and displays.
Visit: Burgh Island Hotel (historic site)
Village near Soldier Island — Mainland staging area
The guests depart from this Devon coastal village to reach Soldier Island. Emily Brent, the religious spinster, and other guests gather here before taking the boat to their doom. Christie uses this quiet village as the last point of civilization before the characters enter their isolated nightmare.
Sticklepath is a small Devon village that has served coastal communities for centuries. Like many Devon villages, it provided harbor facilities for local fishing boats and occasional passenger transport to nearby islands.
The village remains a quiet Devon community with traditional cottages and harbor facilities. While not specifically marketed as a Christie location, it represents the type of coastal staging point described in the novel.
Coastal town — Boat departure point
Several of the ten guests make their way through this picturesque harbor town before boarding the boat to Soldier Island. Captain Lombard and Dr. Armstrong likely passed through this area, where local boatmen were hired to transport the unsuspecting victims to their island prison.
Salcombe has been an important harbor town since medieval times, serving as a base for local fishing fleets and providing transport to nearby islands. During the 1930s when Christie wrote the novel, it was a popular destination for wealthy visitors seeking coastal retreats.
Salcombe remains one of Devon's most popular sailing destinations, with a busy harbor, yacht clubs, and ferry services to nearby beaches and islands. The town attracts visitors year-round for its maritime activities and stunning coastal scenery.
Visit: Salcombe Harbor (landmark)
Coastal village — View to Burgh Island
From this mainland village, characters and readers can see the isolated island where the murders unfold. The distance emphasizes the complete isolation of the victims - so close to safety yet completely unreachable as the sea tractor becomes their only connection to the mainland.
Bigbury-on-Sea developed as a small coastal resort in the early 20th century, positioned perfectly to serve visitors to nearby Burgh Island. The village provided essential services and accommodation for island visitors before the hotel was built.
The village serves as the main access point to Burgh Island, with parking and facilities for visitors taking the sea tractor across at high tide or walking across the sand at low tide. Several pubs and guesthouses cater to Christie fans and island visitors.
Visit: Bigbury Beach (landmark)
Nearby coastal village — Emergency services
When the murders on Soldier Island are finally discovered, it's from villages like Thurlestone that police and rescue boats would have been dispatched. The delay in discovering the crimes adds to the horror - by the time help arrives, all ten victims are dead according to the nursery rhyme's grim prophecy.
Thurlestone has served the South Devon coast for centuries, with its distinctive rock arch giving the village its name. The community provided essential services including emergency response for the scattered islands and coastal areas.
Thurlestone is a popular holiday destination known for its golf course, beaches, and the famous Thurlestone Rock arch. The village maintains its traditional character while serving modern tourists exploring the Christie coast.
Visit: Thurlestone Rock (landmark)
Market town — Supplies and communications
This inland market town would have been where supplies for Soldier Island were purchased and where telegraph communications might have originated. The mysterious U.N. Owen likely used such towns to arrange the elaborate deception that lured his ten victims to their deaths.
Kingsbridge has been an important market town since medieval times, serving the surrounding South Hams area with its weekly markets, shops, and administrative functions. The town's position at the head of the Kingsbridge Estuary made it a natural commercial center.
Kingsbridge remains a thriving market town with its historic buildings, including the 13th-century St. Edmund's Church. The town serves as a hub for exploring the South Devon coast and attracts visitors interested in both history and Christie connections.
Visit: Kingsbridge Market Town (historic site)
Coastal navigation point — Isolation marker
This lighthouse marks the treacherous Devon coast near where Soldier Island sits in Christie's imagination. The lighthouse's warning beacon emphasizes the dangerous waters surrounding the island, making escape impossible for the trapped guests as they're picked off one by one by their unknown killer.
Start Point Lighthouse was built in 1836 to warn ships of the dangerous rocks along this stretch of the Devon coast. The lighthouse has guided countless vessels safely past these treacherous waters, preventing many maritime disasters.
The lighthouse is now automated but remains an important navigation aid. The area around Start Point is popular with hikers following the South West Coast Path, offering spectacular views of the rugged coastline that inspired Christie's isolated setting.
Visit: Start Point Lighthouse (historic site)
Historic port town — Naval connections
Captain Lombard, the soldier of fortune among the ten victims, might have had connections to this historic naval port. Dartmouth's military associations would have been familiar to Christie, who used such backgrounds to develop her characters' mysterious pasts and the crimes that ultimately condemned them.
Dartmouth has been a major naval port since medieval times and is home to Britannia Royal Naval College, where British naval officers have trained since 1905. The town played crucial roles in both world wars and countless maritime operations.
Dartmouth remains an active port and naval training center, while also serving as a popular tourist destination. The Royal Naval College continues to train officers, and the town celebrates its maritime heritage with museums and historic sites.
Visit: Britannia Royal Naval College (historic site)
Ancient market town — Transportation hub
This historic town on the railway line would have been a natural stopping point for guests traveling to Soldier Island from London or other distant locations. Characters like the mysterious Anthony Marston or the secretive Emily Brent might have changed trains here on their final journey to the deadly island gathering.
Totnes claims to be one of England's oldest boroughs, with a history dating back over 1,000 years. The town became an important stop on the railway line to the South Devon coast, making it a gateway for Victorian and Edwardian visitors to the region.
Totnes is known for its alternative culture, independent shops, and well-preserved medieval architecture. The town attracts visitors interested in both its ancient history and its modern reputation as a center for environmental and spiritual movements.
Visit: Totnes Castle (historic site)
More by Agatha Christie: Murder on the Orient Express locations map · All Agatha Christie books
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