Very tasteful and peaceful memorial to Diana (Althorp)

Member Name: lellagrace

Product:	Althorp
Date:	16/08/06 (169 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Somewhere to go and pay your respects to this wonderful person

Disadvantages: The critics who think Lord Spencer is a profiteer

This year for the first time I visited Althorp to see the last resting place of Diana, Princess of Wales. I found the whole set up very tasteful, not at all commercialised.

The shop did not stock a great amount of souvenirs, the ones that were on sale were not the usual tourist tacky stuff, but rather more tasteful. There was a cafe where refreshments were available at reasonable prices. The grounds were well kept, and the staff were all very helpful, answering questions about the house etc.

It was good to visit the exhibitions of Diana's clothes, but I have to say they looked nowhere as good in the displays as they did when she wore them. I was still disappointed with her wedding dress. I am sure I am not the only one who feels this way, it was creased on her wedding day and, although not quite as creased now it is in the Althorp display, it still did not look anything special.

I was particularly impressed with the facilities for disabled visitors to Althorp, a mini bus drove from the gatehouse to the house entrance and inside the grounds and house there were ramps available. The only downside to this was it was not possible to access upstairs for anyone in a wheelchair.

The entrance fee is not extortionate, although I did not think it fair to ask visitors to pay another 2.50 GBP to tour the upstairs of the house. We didn't take this option so I don't know what the upstairs is like, although a guide did tell us people can pay 1,000 GBP a night to stay in Diana's bedroom. (I do find this rather distasteful and yes, it does seem as if her brother is cashing in on her by allowing this, but no doubt some people will be happy to pay!)

The interior of the house was most impressive, not stuffy and museum like, as so many stately homes are. This one had a distinct lived in feel to it, with board games, books and a television set in some of the rooms, showing this is a real family home when Lord Spencer and his children are there and it is closed to visitors.

There has been a great deal of criticism of the decision to open Althorp to the public, but I mostly disagree with this. Of course Lord Spencer is making some money, but he is also giving lots of people the chance to visit the childhood home of a woman who was loved the world over. Not everyone was able to get to London to her funeral, the Diana memorial in Hyde Park is not a fitting tribute to her, so where better to go to pay your last respects than to Althorp?

We visited in August and on a Friday and I was surprised there were not a lot of people there. I was pleased about this though as it meant we were able to wander around at our leisure, taking in the peace and tranquillity of the lake which surrounds the island where Diana is buried. The Memorial at the far side of the lake is a fitting tribute to her and it was good that visitors are allowed to leave floral tributes there if they wish.

Lord Spencer was actually in the gift shop signing copies of his book and although no doubt he is profiting from the sales, I do think this was good as he is undoubtedly a busy person, yet he responded to the questions he was asked by the visitors without qualm.

If you have never been to Althorp, then do check their website for opening times etc and don't listen to the critics - go and see for yourself. I hope Althorp will be open for visitors forever. As the years pass and more people learn of Diana and her good work, they will want to find out more about her. And until we have a national memorial site that is worthy of Diana, then Althorp is the best place we have to remember her.

Summary: Don't listen to the critics, go and see Diana's resting place for yourself