Princess Diana's Childhood Home Althorp Is Opening to Visitors This Summer
This summer, Princess Diana's childhood home is opening to the public. In July and August, Althorp, the Spencer family estate, which is currently run by Diana's brother Earl Charles Spencer and his wife Countess Karen Spencer, will have visiting hours where guests can explore not only the grounds, but also the State Rooms of the home.
Here's how you can plan a trip to the iconic country home with a rich royal history:
When is Althorp open?
In 2019, Althorp House and Park will be open to guests from July 1 through August 31. More specifically, the estate is open from noon to 5 p.m. daily, though visitors should take note that the last entry to the house is at 3 p.m. There are several days when the estate is closed to the public this summer: July 6, July 7, and July 21. And the website notes that there could be other closures throughout the season.
"As Althorp is primarily a private family home, the House and areas of estate may be closed at short notice to the public on rare instances during the opening season," it reads.
Princess Diana's grave is off-limits.
In addition to being Princess Diana's childhood home, Althorp is also her final resting place, but her grave is inaccessible to the public. It is located on an island in the middle of Round Oval, a lake on the property, and there is a separate memorial site on the grounds where visitors can pay tribute to the late Princess of Wales.
In 1998, Diana's brother, Earl Charles Spencer notably said that the lake would "act as a buffer against the interventions of the insane and ghoulish, the thick mud presenting a further line of defence."
"We all agreed that, with its beauty and tranquillity, this was the place for Diana to be," he said.
How do you get to the estate?
Located right off the M1 motorway, and roughly an hour and a half from London, Althorp is best accessed by car. The home provides more detailed driving directions and parking information at this link.
Be sure to purchase tickets in advance for a small discount.
Tickets are available to purchase online, and cost £18.50 for adults, with discounts available for children, seniors, and students. The price increases slightly at the gate, where adult tickets cost £20. The price of admission includes access to the grounds, the state rooms within the house, and the seasonal exhibit, which currently centers around animals at Althorp.
Notably, there is also a cafe on-site, and a gift shop.
