What is Kynren and how is it being developed in 2026?
Kynren has established itself as one of the UK’s most distinctive outdoor live experiences since launching in 2016. Staged on a 7.5-acre site in Bishop Auckland, the Saturday night show, Kynren – An Epic Tale of England, tells the story of 2,000 years of history, myth and legend, brought to life by a cast and crew of around 1,000 volunteers.
In 2026, we are moving the project into its next phase with the launch of Kynren – The Storied Lands, opening from 18 July. This marks a significant expansion, introducing a full daytime experience built around live shows and storytelling environments designed for families and multi-generational visitors.
The daytime park will initially feature five major shows and experiences, with further themed additions planned as part of a phased, long-term development. The night show will continue to run throughout the summer, allowing visitors to combine both into a single day and night itinerary on selected dates.
We can quite confidently say there is nothing quite like this, on this scale, anywhere in the UK, to really immerse adults and children in 2,000 years of thrilling history.
How will the new daytime experience unfold?
The daytime experience has been structured differently from a traditional theme park. There are no rides or long queues. Instead, the day is built around a scheduled programme of live shows and walk-through environments.
A single admission ticket includes access to all daytime experiences, with visitors moving through the site between approximately 10.30am and 4pm. The schedule is designed so guests can see each of the main shows while still having time to explore, eat and spend time across the wider site.
Among the headline experiences will be:
The Lost Feather – More than 250 birds take to the skies in a live performance centred on flight and conservation.
Land of the Vikings – Visitors move through a working Viking settlement before taking their seats for a live arena show where conflict unfolds.
The Trusty Steed – A horseback production built around medieval skill, movement and performance.
Legend of the Wear – A large outdoor lake becomes the setting for a water-based retelling of the Lambton Worm story.
Victorian Imaginariums – A walk through environment of characters, encounters and stories inspired by the Victorian period.
Alongside the shows, the site includes landscaped environments, themed food and drink, retail and family focused areas including a prehistoric themed play space.
A nest-inspired arena will host bird show The Lost Feather featuring 250 birds in free flight
Kynren is also developing a larger Victorian offer following the acquisition of the Flambards Victorian Village collection. From 2026, visitors will see an early introduction through the Birch & Birch general store within Victorian Imaginariums, with a wider development planned for 2027, subject to planning approval.
What else is planned for the future?
The Storied Lands is intended as a long-term project, and we are planning additional themed areas to extend the experience over time.
Concepts in development include:
The Lone Centurion – A Roman-era production exploring power and conflict in Britain.
Conquest of the Seas – A maritime-themed show built around Britain’s seafaring history.
Stories such as Excalibur and Robin Hood also sit within the longer-term creative direction, bringing myth and folklore into future phases of the site.
Whereabouts is Kynren located?
Kynren is based in Bishop Auckland, around 25 minutes from Durham and 45 minutes from Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
The surrounding area offers a mix of coastline, countryside, heritage sites and cultural attractions. We expect Kynren's expansion to encourage longer stays and position the North-East of England more strongly as a touring destination.
Visitors will explore the Viking Settlement before taking the seats for the Viking Show
How is Kynren funded and who manages it?
Kynren is operated by 11Arches, the charity established to support long-term regeneration and cultural development in Bishop Auckland and the wider North East.
The project was originally conceived by city investor and philanthropist Jonathan Ruffer. Through a series of significant investments in heritage, culture and tourism, he has helped reposition the town as a destination, with Kynren forming one part of a broader, coordinated programme of change.
Ruffer’s approach has been deliberately long term. Rather than a standalone development, his focus has been on creating a cluster of cultural assets that support each other, encourage repeat visits and generate wider economic impact for the area.
Today, Kynren operates as a major charitable cultural organisation, with professional teams led by our chief executive Anna Warnecke working alongside a large volunteer community to deliver both the established night show and these new daytime experiences.
What is the link between Kynren and the local community?
At Kynren’s core is a large volunteer base. Around 1,000 volunteers, known as Archers, are involved in delivering the night show, gaining experience across performance, technical production, costume and operations.
Impressive horsemanship and stunt performances will be showcased in The Trusty Steed
Our wider aim is to create a sustainable cultural destination that supports tourism, employment and skills development. All proceeds are reinvested into future productions and community programmes.
Can travel agents book Kynren?
Absolutely, this is a side of the business we want to expand. Travel trade rates are available for groups of 20+ when booked in advance. For now, we encourage agents and operators to contact us via groups@kynren.com or call 01388 436030 but coming soon trade partners will be able to book through a dedicated travel trade portal and support team, with group rates and agreed terms available for eligible operators and agents.
Tickets for the general public go on sale from Monday 18 May, and the 2026 season will run from 18 July to 12 September.
Kynren – The Storied Lands day park will operate Tuesday to Sunday, closing on Mondays. Kynren – An Epic Tale of England takes place on Saturday evenings, with additional Friday performances on selected dates in August and September. On the dates when there is a night show, you can buy night and day show tickets, or night-only tickets but not day-only tickets.
Advance online pricing for Kynren – The Storied Lands (day park) starts from £30 for adults and £20 for children, while Kynren – An Epic Tale of England (night show) starts from £30 adult / £20 child for a standard ticket up to £65 adult / £55 child for a VIP ticket.
