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Something special is happening in Bishop Auckland. Since 2014, a major cultural regeneration project – founded and funded by philanthropist Jonathan Ruffer – has been working to transform Bishop Auckland in County Durham into a world-class tourist destination, with a particular emphasis on community engagement and bringing history to life.
For the last ten years, one of the initiative’s two charities, 11Arches, has been organising Kynren – an epic tale of England, an immense, award winning evening spectacle presenting 2,000 years of English history and legend (see here for more on the work of its sister-organisation, the Auckland Project, at Binchester Roman Fort and other local heritage sites). This attraction, located just outside Bishop Auckland, has now been dramatically expanded with the addition of a daytime themed park, which opened in July. Kynren – the storied lands is billed as a ‘themed’ park rather than a ‘theme’ park, as it does not offer rides and rollercoasters; rather, visitors can enjoy a series of exciting historically inspired shows, each around 20-30 minutes long.
These include ‘The Trusty Steed’, combining displays of skilled horse-riding, daring stunts, and a colourful recreation of a medieval joust; and ‘Land of the Vikings’, which is accessed through a living history settlement populated by re-enactors and craftspeople, before you take your seat to watch warriors fighting, accompanied by fire effects and acrobatic feats.
There is a Victorian-themed walkthrough experience, too, where visitors encounter actors playing various characters; CA understands that this section is set to be enlarged next year, with the addition of the Victorian Village from Flambards, a Cornish theme park that closed in 2024. There are further phases of development in the works, with plans for other new shows including ‘Conquest of the Seas’, tracing Britain’s seafaring heritage; legendary tales such as those of Excalibur and Robin Hood; and ‘The Lone Centurion’, which will focus on Roman Britain.
The other experiences currently on offer draw on local folklore, such as ‘The Legend of the Wear’, an action-packed retelling of the Lambton Worm story set in an impressively detailed recreation of a lakeside medieval hamlet, complete with working water wheel, or on environmental themes, with ‘The Lost Feather’ examining humanity’s long history of avian interactions through colourful displays of free-flying birds, with an emphasis on conservation.
A grand day out
Unlike the evening finale (which is ticketed separately), all of the seats for the day shows are unreserved, but visitors are assigned an itinerary to ensure that they are able to see everything (the day shows are performed multiple times per day), and the venues’ design and the way that the cast fill all the available space ensures a good view wherever you sit. While the performances aim for historically inspired entertainment rather than rigid accuracy, the level of detail in the theming of the venues, the performers’ costumes and sets, and the wider park, is truly impressive – and the Victorian section includes authentic shopfronts staged with real artefacts.
Diverse food and drink concessions, an eclectically stocked gift shop, and a Neolithic-themed children’s play area are on hand to keep guests occupied between performances, and as of this year those attending the evening finale can also book, for an additional fee, a new immersive pre-show dining experience, ‘The Time Traveller’s Feast’, to enjoy a three-course meal in the company of historical characters.
The Night Show takes place on a 7.5-acre (3ha) stage in front of an 8,000 capacity grandstand. There, a 1,000-strong cast and crew, together with almost 40 horses and various other domestic animals and birds, recreate 2,000 years of English history in a 90-minute performance combining stunts, staged battles, riding, and dancing; pyrotechnics and projection mapping, music and fireworks; and visually stunning moments including a Viking longship rising out of a lake, and a full-sized recreation of an early steam locomotive. The show’s historical scope is as sweeping as its scale, including Boudica and Roman Britain, the Battle of Stamford Bridge, the Norman Conquest and the coronation of William I, medieval knights, the Tudor court, William Shakespeare, the English Civil War, the Industrial Revolution, the Suffragettes, and both World Wars. Some elements have a specifically north-eastern focus, including the Viking attack on Lindisfarne, medieval Prince Bishops, and the Durham Miners’ Gala.
This show is more than a visual feast, however. Its storyline is packed with information, including the way that it showcases the distinctive heritage of north-east England, and there are some powerfully poignant moments, particularly in the section about local mining history. Like the wider regeneration project that created these shows, this is an initiative with a lot of heart as well as impressive ambition. The site’s design includes 150 acres (60ha) of protected wildlife habitat, while its bird programme supports conservation breeding and research partnerships. It will be exciting to see how Kynren continues to evolve over the coming years.
Further information: The 2026 season at Kynren runs until 12 September. The Day Park is open Tuesday to Sunday, while the Night Show is staged on Saturdays and selected Fridays. See https://kynren.com for more details.
All images: Kynren
