Hidden deep within the rolling parkland of the 20,000-acre Sandringham Estate in Norfolk lies a grand building with a royal legacy, which is now left abandoned. Long before it became a hotel, Park House was the childhood home of Lady Diana Spencer, who would later become Princess of Wales. Born on the estate, Diana lived at Park House until she was 14, before the Spencer family moved to their ancestral seat, Althorp House, in Northamptonshire.
Located just to the west of King Charles III’s grand Sandringham House, the property was once a cherished part of the wider royal estate. From the windows of Park House, Diana would have seen the formal gardens of Sandringham and the surrounding Norfolk countryside, a landscape familiar to generations of royals, from Queen Elizabeth II to the current monarch.
In 1983, the late Queen gave Park House a new purpose and donated it to the Leonard Cheshire Disability charity.
After a few years of renovations, in 1987, it was transformed into a hotel specifically designed for guests with disabilities and their families
From impressive carpeted staircases to cozy lounges with open fireplaces, floral decor, and carefully tended gardens, the hotel was a beautiful and welcoming retreat for visitors.
The hotel had eight single bedrooms and eight twin-bedded rooms as well as a restaurant serving dishes using local ingredients and wines.
However, when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, the hotel was forced to close its doors due to the pandemic and financial difficulties, and it has remained closed ever since, with no confirmed plans for reopening or redevelopment.
One person wrote about the closure of the hotel on TripAdvisor: “Yet another wonderful stay at this unique hotel with great people and cared for by the best team of people I have ever met you have all been a valued part of our lives.
“To all the staff thank you for looking after us so well, especially John, for the last 10 days. We are so sorry that the men and women in suits don’t value you all as much as the guests do. You will be missed.”
Someone else wrote about their stay at the hotel: “This was a much needed week away from the trials and tribulations of life. From the warm greeting on arrival until the au revoir I was given the best support possible and we were able to spend a great holiday together.
“Whatever disability you or your loved one has your needs will be met with dignity. We came home refreshed and looking forward to our next stay.”