How to Visit Princess Diana's Childhood Home
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Before she became Princess of Wales, Princess Diana grew up in Althorp House in Northamptonshire, England. The 500-year-old home, which was built in 1508, has housed 19 generations of the Spencer family. Currently, Althorp is run by Princess Diana's brother, the historian and author Earl Charles Spencer. He often shares images of Althorp on Instagram to give admirers a glimpse of the idyllic property. But you no longer have to look through photos of Althorp on your phone: Earl Spencer opens the home to the public for a limited time each summer. Read on to find out everything you need to know about Althorp, including how and when to visit and what to expect when you arrive on the grounds.
When Is Althorp Open?
Although it's currently closed for the 2023 season, Althorp Estate welcomes visitors every spring and summer. Paid admission starting from £25 (photos are prohibited) allows guests to enter the Main House and gardens and see exhibitions. There's also an on-site gift shop and cafe that be visited from the 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Besides tours, Althorp hosts private events, including weddings and corporate retreats.
What to See at Althorp
This year, Earl Charles took to on Instagram to entice visitors to the property with this description: "Showcasing one of Europe's finest private collections of furniture, paintings, and ceramics, each intriguing room of this magnificent family home has a fascinating story of its own."
Princess Diana Memorial
Visitors likely know the late Princess of Wales was laid to rest on Althorp's grounds. Her grave cannot be viewed by the public, but there's a memorial site where guests can pay their respects to Princess Diana.
Althorp Library
What started off as the family sitting room has become the ultimate library. At one point, the bookshelf-lined room had accumulated more than 43,000 early edition books (which were all sold in 1892). Currently, the library contains roughly 10,000 books, all of which came from John Rylands Library at Manchester University. The library features wooden floors with three large patterned rugs, cream-colored walls, and red armchairs and sofas.
Rare Wildlife
With miles of quaint rolling countryside, it’s no surprise that Althorp Estate is also a hot spot for wildlife. From Tim the resident peacock to the black fallows and red stags found in its deer park, Althorp is home to a number of rare animal friends. In fact, in 2019, the estate introduced the exhibition, "Animals of Althorp," which takes guests on a tour of Althorp's lesser-known residents.
Impressive Artwork
Okay, we say this about a lot of estates, but the interiors at Althorp are downright spectacular. Just look at this glorious painted ceiling! From the Painters' Passage to the Saloon to the Great Room, this home is teeming with the finest European artwork and architecture.
Washington Chest
A wooden chest that once belonged to ancestors of George Washington currently sits inside the Main House. As the official Althorp Instagram account recounted, Washington's ancestors were related to the Spencer family and passed down this chest. The piece is currently known as the Washington Chest and is in use to this day.
Oak Bedroom
Aptly dubbed the Oak Bedroom, this sleeping chamber features an oak bed and curtains embroidered with an S for "Spencer." The Oak Bedroom is where John Spencer (who would become the first Earl) secretly married Georgiana Poyntz. Winston Churchill stayed in this bedroom in 1934 as he was conducting research for his book on the Duke of Marlborough.
What to Know Before You Visit
The Main House is just one small piece of Althorp. The entire property covers 13,000 acres of Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, and Norfolk countryside—a parcel just slightly smaller than the size of Manhattan. The grounds feature cottages, farms, woodland, villages, and more.
When a property is more than 500 years old, it's bound to need some repairs. In 2011, Althorp House got a major facelift. In fact, this restoration project, which took 40,000 hours to complete, received a conservation award the following year from the East Midlands Branch of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors. The repairs brought in more than 48 tons of new stonework, added 120 tons of lead to the home's roof, and secured unique tiles throughout the house with 9,500 stainless steel pins.
As Earl Spencer wrote on the Althorp website, "I would be proud if, in my final days, I felt I was handing Althorp on to my heir in a better state than that in which I inherited it. This is a traditional, and not particularly original, aspiration; but it is heart-felt."
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