AD - This post is based on a press preview visit and a regular visit on the first day they were open to the public as well as previous visits to Kynren. As always, information can change so it's super important you check with the venue itself for the most up to date information when booking. Kynren has less than 250 employees and this post complies with HFSS guidance.
The Storied Lands is a much-anticipated live action day time park that takes you on a whirlwind tour of history. It shares the same site as our fantastic Kynren evening show and is open every day except Mondays until 12 September 2026 (and will then take a break over winter and re-open next summer).
Prices
There are a few options for visiting: - Day Park Only (Tues/Wed/Thurs/Sun and selected Fridays) - £30 adults / £20 children
- Evening Kynren Show Only (Saturdays and selected Fridays) - from £30 adults / £20 children
- Day & Evening Park Combined (Saturdays and selected Fridays) - from £60 adults / £40 children
These prices are based on prices checked in July 2026 and booked online in advance. Children aged 3 and under go free (seated on an adult's knee during the evening show).
There are a few add-ons including car parking from £12-£18 (I recommend the Purple Car Park which is close to the entrance) or a shuttle bus from Bishop Auckland for £3.
You can also book the Time Travellers Feast for £68pp which is an immersive character dining experience taking place between the day and evening shows (there are other things to do / places to dine during this time which do not required pre-booking).
Kynren is a charity and every penny you spend here is reinvested into the programme.
Find out more and book: https://kynren.com/
Across the day we stopped here for a slice of pizza (which is served super quickly so easy to grab between performances), coffee and ice cream. There's also a licensed bar and lots of yummy cakes for sale.
The map did show a salad and sandwich bar but this was closed on the day of our visit.
The pizza was yum and the ice cream is by local legends Ciccarelli.
Menus & Prices below:
The Trusty Steed takes place in the main Kynren tribune. It's unallocated seating and my tip is to head to the brown seats in the middle of the stand as these are the VIP padded ones.
If you're visiting on a day that includes an evening show, there are a few ways to spend your time between day and night. The first is the Time Travellers Feast which is an optional extra. It's £68 per person and an immersive character-led dining experience through the ages.
Dishes are shared amongst the table and it's the same price for kids as well as grown ups. I personally would not book this if visiting with my children (too expensive and I know they wouldn't eat it all) but I think it's a good option if visiting with a group of friends or as a couple and you want to treat yourself / are celebrating something / really want to make the most of your day.
It's not fine dining but it is tasty - I would say en-par with the quality of meals you would enjoy at a Christmas party in a 4* hotel.
There are magical moments, clever staging, incredible pyrotechnics, fireworks, dancing, pagents, horses and farm animals. It's a real celebration of English History and a chance to reflect too.
It does get chilly as the sun sets so dress warmly / bring a blanket and enjoy.
Final Tips
You can also book the Time Travellers Feast for £68pp which is an immersive character dining experience taking place between the day and evening shows (there are other things to do / places to dine during this time which do not required pre-booking).
Kynren is a charity and every penny you spend here is reinvested into the programme.
Find out more and book: https://kynren.com/
Itinerary & Timings
You select a start time during the booking process and will be emailed a bespoke itinerary a few days before your visit and handed a physical copy and map on arrival.
If you're visiting on a day which includes day and evening performances, you can expect to start at lunch time and your day experience to end between 6:30pm and 7:30pm depending on your group schedule.
There's then a bit of time between the evening show which starts between 7:45pm and 9:15pm depending on the date of your visit (the later in the season you visit, the earlier your evening show begins).
If you're visiting on a day which includes no evening performance, your itinerary will take place between 10:30am and 4:30pm.
We visited on a day which included both day and evening shows and were part of the 'Knights' group which was as follows:
Please use the above as guidance only - this may be tweaked as the season progresses and your itinerary may differ. Remember if you're visiting on a day with no evening performance, your day takes place between 10:30am and 4:30pm.
The stage / theatres / arenas open around 30 minutes before each performance and on paper, it may look like we had lots of time between shows but in reality, we never felt as if we were sitting around waiting. The timings worked so well.
TOP TIP: Your itinerary includes free time to visit the Victorian Imaginariums & Viking Settlement. Check the opening times of these attractions before you visit and make a note of when you're going to fit them into your day. This ensures you don't miss anything.
I also found it helpful to check when our longest gaps were and planned to stop for a snack / coffee in these breaks.
I would recommend The Storied Lands to all ages. We visited as adults and teens and had a brilliant time. We also noticed lots of families with younger children who seemed to be enthralled by it all (the playground was a huge hit too). Pushchairs are welcome and there are buggy stores at each arena.
The only thing to be mindful of is your child does need to be able to sit for around 25 minutes, especially during the bird show. With everything going on, the shows do hold their attention so I think this should be ok for most. Kids can sit on adults knees. Some children were dressed up as little Vikings which looked really cool (kids can but adults are not permitted to dress up).
The Storied Lands is also a brilliant day out without kids and there were many groups of adult friends / couples enjoying a day out when we visited.
Just a note to say that The Storied Lands is accessible for wheelchairs and there's a changing places toilet on site. I noticed people using electric wheelchairs, mobility scooters, manual wheelchairs and walking aids when we visited and they didn't seem to run into any issues. There is plenty of space for wheelchairs in every arena and lots of helpful staff around to point you in the right direction if needed.
The Storied Lands and Kynren take place in all weathers and they do ask that you come prepared for all weathers. I checked the forecast and no rain was predicted but you have to remember, this is England and of course it started raining on arrival. Luckily, you can purchase a good quality reusable poncho with carry pack for £5 adults / £4 kids on arrival. These were super useful and I will be keeping ours in the car from now on.
On our visit we seemed to go through all weathers and I would recommend wearing layers including a t shirt and hoodie and bring a waterproof and sunscreen & sunglasses/ a cap in a bag too. It does get cool as the sun sets so you'll be glad of the layers. Some people bring a blanket for the evening. I would recommend wearing closed toed trainers or comfortable boots. We walked around 8k steps across the day.
Kynren is cashless.
You can also purchase a seat cushion with carry handle for £6 on arrival (or bring your own). Most of the seating is on wooden benches with no back and although not too bad, you're definitely not sitting on a luxury sofa. There are proper seats with backs for The Trusty Steed and evening Kynren show.
I generally find prices to be pretty reasonable. We decorate our Christmas Tree with North East decorations so had to pick a Kynren bauble up to add to our collection (£10).
The main gift shop is just after arrival and there's a Viking Shop near the Viking Settlement and a Bird Emporium near The Lost Feather.
We planned to arrive in plenty of time and enjoy a spot of lunch first. There are a few options but we decided on the main food court which is the first area you will see as you enter. There is covered and uncovered seating and ordering is easy / well managed with quick service. Click on the above image and zoom in to see the menu & prices.
We ordered BBQ Brisket Burgers and Chips and felt like it was decent enough and absolutely fine for lunch.
I really enjoyed this, more than expected and it's definitely not an after-thought / side attraction. It's a real feast for the senses as and you walk amongst the gardens, the planting and flowers smell divine. There's water feature, Victorian music playing and traditional games to try on the lawns.
You'll also meet a whole host of Victorian characters who were fantastic and interacted really well with everyone (especially the children who were delighted).
There's then a bit of time between the evening show which starts between 7:45pm and 9:15pm depending on the date of your visit (the later in the season you visit, the earlier your evening show begins).
If you're visiting on a day which includes no evening performance, your itinerary will take place between 10:30am and 4:30pm.
We visited on a day which included both day and evening shows and were part of the 'Knights' group which was as follows:
- 12:15pm - Arrival
- 1:30pm - 1:50pm - Land of the Vikings
- 2:45pm-3:25pm - The Lost Feather
- 4:15pm - 4:45pm - The Trusty Steed
- 5:45pm - 6:15pm - The Legend of the Wear
- 9:15pm - 10:45pm - Kynren : An Epic Tale of England
Please use the above as guidance only - this may be tweaked as the season progresses and your itinerary may differ. Remember if you're visiting on a day with no evening performance, your day takes place between 10:30am and 4:30pm.
The stage / theatres / arenas open around 30 minutes before each performance and on paper, it may look like we had lots of time between shows but in reality, we never felt as if we were sitting around waiting. The timings worked so well.
TOP TIP: Your itinerary includes free time to visit the Victorian Imaginariums & Viking Settlement. Check the opening times of these attractions before you visit and make a note of when you're going to fit them into your day. This ensures you don't miss anything.
I also found it helpful to check when our longest gaps were and planned to stop for a snack / coffee in these breaks.
Age Recommendations & Accessibilty
I would recommend The Storied Lands to all ages. We visited as adults and teens and had a brilliant time. We also noticed lots of families with younger children who seemed to be enthralled by it all (the playground was a huge hit too). Pushchairs are welcome and there are buggy stores at each arena.
The only thing to be mindful of is your child does need to be able to sit for around 25 minutes, especially during the bird show. With everything going on, the shows do hold their attention so I think this should be ok for most. Kids can sit on adults knees. Some children were dressed up as little Vikings which looked really cool (kids can but adults are not permitted to dress up).
The Storied Lands is also a brilliant day out without kids and there were many groups of adult friends / couples enjoying a day out when we visited.
Just a note to say that The Storied Lands is accessible for wheelchairs and there's a changing places toilet on site. I noticed people using electric wheelchairs, mobility scooters, manual wheelchairs and walking aids when we visited and they didn't seem to run into any issues. There is plenty of space for wheelchairs in every arena and lots of helpful staff around to point you in the right direction if needed.
Arrival at The Storied Lands
The Storied Lands and Kynren take place in all weathers and they do ask that you come prepared for all weathers. I checked the forecast and no rain was predicted but you have to remember, this is England and of course it started raining on arrival. Luckily, you can purchase a good quality reusable poncho with carry pack for £5 adults / £4 kids on arrival. These were super useful and I will be keeping ours in the car from now on.
On our visit we seemed to go through all weathers and I would recommend wearing layers including a t shirt and hoodie and bring a waterproof and sunscreen & sunglasses/ a cap in a bag too. It does get cool as the sun sets so you'll be glad of the layers. Some people bring a blanket for the evening. I would recommend wearing closed toed trainers or comfortable boots. We walked around 8k steps across the day.
Kynren is cashless.
You can also purchase a seat cushion with carry handle for £6 on arrival (or bring your own). Most of the seating is on wooden benches with no back and although not too bad, you're definitely not sitting on a luxury sofa. There are proper seats with backs for The Trusty Steed and evening Kynren show.
I generally find prices to be pretty reasonable. We decorate our Christmas Tree with North East decorations so had to pick a Kynren bauble up to add to our collection (£10).
The main gift shop is just after arrival and there's a Viking Shop near the Viking Settlement and a Bird Emporium near The Lost Feather.
Lunch at The Storied Lands
We planned to arrive in plenty of time and enjoy a spot of lunch first. There are a few options but we decided on the main food court which is the first area you will see as you enter. There is covered and uncovered seating and ordering is easy / well managed with quick service. Click on the above image and zoom in to see the menu & prices.
We ordered BBQ Brisket Burgers and Chips and felt like it was decent enough and absolutely fine for lunch.
Land of the Vikings
Land of the Vikings was our first show and I think it was my favourite. It's a 20 minute performance absolutely packed with action and you feel really close to it all. Expect epic sword fighting, stage combat, Viking battles, lots of fire and action. It's jam-packed and at times you don't know where to look.
There's a short story woven into the scene which has a lovely message too.
TIP: If you're sitting with very small children, pick a seat that's not in the front row as there is no barrier between the stage and seating and if it was me, I would worry my toddler would jump up and run onto the stage in the excitement of it all.
Seating in all of the performances is unallocated.
There's a short story woven into the scene which has a lovely message too.
TIP: If you're sitting with very small children, pick a seat that's not in the front row as there is no barrier between the stage and seating and if it was me, I would worry my toddler would jump up and run onto the stage in the excitement of it all.
Seating in all of the performances is unallocated.
The Victorian Imaginariums
You can visit the Victorian Imaginariums in your own time but do check opening times before you visit as on the day of our visit, this was limited to 2 hours. There may be a small queue but it goes down quickly. You can walk through at your own pace and spend 10 minutes here or a lot longer. The choice is yours.I really enjoyed this, more than expected and it's definitely not an after-thought / side attraction. It's a real feast for the senses as and you walk amongst the gardens, the planting and flowers smell divine. There's water feature, Victorian music playing and traditional games to try on the lawns.
You'll also meet a whole host of Victorian characters who were fantastic and interacted really well with everyone (especially the children who were delighted).
You can walk around a small Victorian Street, peer in the windows and even visit one of the stores. It's brill and a real immersive experience. This is just the start though and the Victorian area is going to expand quite a bit next year - I'm excited to see how this turns out.
I wish this area was open for longer as I definitely would have popped back for a second visit later in the day.
The Viking Settlement
You may have visited this area if you have visited the Kynren evening show in previous years. It's open for most of the day / early evening and you can pop by at any time.
You can chat with the Vikings, learn more about traditional skills / watch demos and say hello to the animals - it's like a mini farm. We visited twice on our visit. Once during the day and again between the day and evening.
The Lost Feather
The Lost Feather was a big hit in our family and our teens' favourite show. I won't completely ruin it but the setting is like no other - it's like you're stepping inside a giant nest. Very creative!Just to mention, I know some people are scared of birds. If this applies to you, you don't have to watch the show and could just go and grab a coffee or something instead (although your ticket price will be the same).
This 40 minute experience set to music is a bird show like no other in the UK. The Owls were a real highlight for us. They are silent as they swoop so close to your head and are incredible to watch up close. Another highlight was the Vultures. Watching them fly in such proximity was just fantastic and you're left in awe. How do they fly when they are so big?
The variety of birds on display is brilliant and you'll see over 250 birds flying across the performance. Watching them altogether makes you really realise how different yet alike they all are. The show is educational too and as you leave you can read information boards and learn more about each bird.
TOP TIP : I think the best seats are in the top corners in line with a perch.
A show with big wow moments you won't forget in a while.
The variety of birds on display is brilliant and you'll see over 250 birds flying across the performance. Watching them altogether makes you really realise how different yet alike they all are. The show is educational too and as you leave you can read information boards and learn more about each bird.
TOP TIP : I think the best seats are in the top corners in line with a perch.
A show with big wow moments you won't forget in a while.
There is a Bird Emporium Gift Shop at the entrance / exit to the arena selling lots of cute bird-themed gifts. The large bird soft toys are £20 and come with their own carry case (similar to build a bear). Lots of kids seemed to be carrying these around and they were very popular so if you're looking for a souvenier, I would say this is the one to budget for.
Not that I'm condoning bribing but if I was visiting with young children, I would probably visit the gift shop on arrival, mention to my children that if they stay seated and watch the birds during the show they can pick their favourite bird soft toy to take home afterwards. It's important that kids stay seated during this performance as some of the birds do fly pretty low.
Not that I'm condoning bribing but if I was visiting with young children, I would probably visit the gift shop on arrival, mention to my children that if they stay seated and watch the birds during the show they can pick their favourite bird soft toy to take home afterwards. It's important that kids stay seated during this performance as some of the birds do fly pretty low.
Fruma & Playground
The Fruma area is close to The Lost Feather and Legend of the Wear arenas but also a short walk from everywhere else. It's a nice place to chill between performances with covered and uncovered seating and a fab playground (check here for a full playground review and photos).
Across the day we stopped here for a slice of pizza (which is served super quickly so easy to grab between performances), coffee and ice cream. There's also a licensed bar and lots of yummy cakes for sale.
The map did show a salad and sandwich bar but this was closed on the day of our visit.
The pizza was yum and the ice cream is by local legends Ciccarelli.
Menus & Prices below:
You can bring and empty drinks bottle (not aluminium) and there are free water refill points.
The Trusty Steed
The Trusty Steed takes place in the main Kynren tribune. It's unallocated seating and my tip is to head to the brown seats in the middle of the stand as these are the VIP padded ones.
It's a 30 minute performance featuring incredible horsemanship, stunts, acrobatics and a thrilling jousting competition. There's a storyline and the crowd all ends up getting involved clapping and cheering along. It stars a female horserider as the heroine of the story which we love to see!
I left this performance in awe and the bond the trainers have with their horses is a joy to see.
I left this performance in awe and the bond the trainers have with their horses is a joy to see.
The Legend of the Wear
This was our final performance of the day and the staging is again, absoutely stunning. The 30 minute performance takes place across the full set and there's lots to see with over the top stunts, people swinging from ropes and being pushed off towers and some unfortunate folk even end up falling in the lake.
I really enjoyed watching the witch and how she controlled the beast that lives under the water (watch closely and you may notice his scales popping up just above the surface).
I don't know if it was because this was our last daytime show and I was tired but although I did still enjoy it, our group unamiously agreed that this was our least favourite performance and I just felt like there was maybe something a bit lacking in the storytelling.
Still fun though and a show that's filled with magic. If you love horses, try and get a front row seat as you'll be really close as one trots past.
I don't know if it was because this was our last daytime show and I was tired but although I did still enjoy it, our group unamiously agreed that this was our least favourite performance and I just felt like there was maybe something a bit lacking in the storytelling.
Still fun though and a show that's filled with magic. If you love horses, try and get a front row seat as you'll be really close as one trots past.
The Time Travellers Feast / Between Day & Night
If you're visiting on a day that includes an evening show, there are a few ways to spend your time between day and night. The first is the Time Travellers Feast which is an optional extra. It's £68 per person and an immersive character-led dining experience through the ages. 
Dishes are shared amongst the table and it's the same price for kids as well as grown ups. I personally would not book this if visiting with my children (too expensive and I know they wouldn't eat it all) but I think it's a good option if visiting with a group of friends or as a couple and you want to treat yourself / are celebrating something / really want to make the most of your day.
It's not fine dining but it is tasty - I would say en-par with the quality of meals you would enjoy at a Christmas party in a 4* hotel.
Other options include enjoying a pint in the sunshine, ordering food from the food court / other kiosks (we ordered a curry which was nice), enjoying a coffee as the kids play in the playground or re-visiting the Viking Settlement. If you book an evening show towards the end of August / September, the gap between day and night is shorter. It is a long day but was manageable for us.
Kynren Evening Performance
And finally, onto the grand finale. The 90 minute Kynren evening performance is a spectacle like no other. Expect a real journey through English history featuring Victorians, Vikings, Knights of the Round Table, Boudicca, Kings, Queens, Wars, Revolutions and more.There are magical moments, clever staging, incredible pyrotechnics, fireworks, dancing, pagents, horses and farm animals. It's a real celebration of English History and a chance to reflect too.
It does get chilly as the sun sets so dress warmly / bring a blanket and enjoy.
We had such a good time and as I mentioned at the start of this post, how lucky are we to have something of this calibre right here on our doorstep. I'm in awe of how the team have put this together and will be telling everybody I know to book up.
Final Tips
- Bring / purchase a cushion
- You are permitted to bring a picnic and there are plenty of picnic tables on site. However you cannot eat food inside the performance arenas
- Dress for all weathers with layers, a hat and waterproof
- Kynren is cashless
- Bring an empty water bottle (not aluminium) - there are free water refill stations
- Bring a bag (within size limits) as you will end up carrying extra clothing / drinks etc...
- Make a plan around your itinerary with when you'll visit the Victorian Imaginariums & Viking Settlement before you visit so you don't miss them
- And plan stops for snacks / drinks in your largest gaps between performances
- Kynren is pushchair friendly and accessible
- Budget £20 for a Bird Stuffed Toy if you're looking for a treat for kids (or adults!)
- The Purple Car Park is my preferred option and close to the entrance with no hills to climb
- If visiting with younger children, either visit The Storied Lands only and save the Kynren evening show for a later date or book a combined ticket for late August / September when there is a smaller gap between day and night and the evening shows finish earlier. If visiting with adults / older kids, the gap doesn't feel too long and there is plenty to fill your time
- Check the list of restricted items listed on Kynren's website before you visit
- If you're looking to make a weekend of it, I recommend staying at The Parkhead Hotel which is just along the road. If your budget allows, do try and visit Beamish as part of the trip
- Wear trainers / comfy walking boots
- It does get cold in the evening as the sun sets - some people bring a blanket. Definitely do not forget a coat
- Officially, photos and videos cannot be taken during performances (ours were taken during press day). You can take photos in the Viking Settlement and Victorian Imaginarium and there are photo ops around the site
- Listen to stewards and prep kids that they need to stay in their seats during the shows
Any questions? Check out their FAQs here: https://kynren.com/frequently-asked-questions/
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