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- 20th May 2026
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Kynren opens the UK’s first live-action historical theme park this summer – tickets are now live
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It’s the new opening in Bishop Auckland we’ve all been waiting for. Kynren – The Storied Lands is the UK’s first live-action historical theme park, and tickets are on sale right now.
Opening on Saturday 18th July in County Durham, The Storied Lands is a full day of extraordinary live shows and immersive experiences – five in total – all rooted in the history, legends and folklore of England. There is nothing else like it in the UK.
Anna Warnecke, CEO of Kynren, explains what makes it so different: “What excites me most is that people genuinely will not have seen anything quite like this before in the UK. Kynren – The Storied Lands has been designed as a place where stories, legends and history are brought thrillingly to life through live shows and immersive experiences. You can walk through a Viking settlement while blacksmiths work beside you, watch spectacular free-flying birds, see world-class horse riding, extraordinary water stunts and epic live performances unfolding throughout the day.”
“It is a hugely ambitious and multi-sensory experience, all rooted in storytelling, spectacle and history. We are so proud that something on this scale is being created here in the North East – and I think many people will be genuinely taken aback by what has been created here.”
Here’s everything you need to know about Kynren – The Storied Lands …
THE LOST FEATHER
More than 250 birds take flight above you in a breathtaking live show set in a spectacular nest-inspired arena. Pelicans, African grey crowned cranes, scarlet macaws, falcons, eagles, owls – all flying freely, swooping, soaring and gliding through a living landscape of water, mist and light.
The story follows a young bird guardian and a wise guardian exploring humanity’s timeless connection with birds and the natural world, accompanied by an original score recorded by the BBC Concert Orchestra. The finale – a sweeping mass flight that fills the entire sky above the audience – is the kind of moment you’ll be talking about long after you’ve driven home.
LEGEND OF THE WEAR
One of the North East’s most beloved legends gets the show it deserves. Legend of the Wear takes the Lambton Worm story and transforms a vast lake into its stage – water erupting, ancient forces moving beneath the surface, daring stunts unfolding before your eyes.
At the heart of it is John, a young local hero whose courage and compassion are tested to breaking point as superstition turns neighbour against neighbour and something vast and ancient stirs in the deep. Whether you grew up with this legend or you’re hearing it for the first time, it will grip you from the first moment.
LAND OF THE VIKINGS
This one is a two-part experience, and it’s all the better for it. Before the show, explore a fully realised Viking Settlement at your own pace. Feel the heat of the forge. Watch sparks fly from the blacksmith’s hammer. Wander through cookhouse gardens planted with heritage herbs, meet the village’s goats, sheep and Icelandic chickens, and soak up the rhythms of Viking life going on all around you.
Then take your seat in the 1,250-seat arena for Land of the Vikings – a high-energy live show where fire rages, shields clash and a Norse community is torn apart by ambition, betrayal and the call of the sea. The contrast between the peaceful settlement and the explosive show makes both hit harder.
THE TRUSTY STEED
A young woman’s world collapses overnight – her father imprisoned, her land seized. All she has left is a wild horse that no one believes can be tamed. What follows is a story of trust built slowly between two wounded souls, and the courage that grows when you have nothing left to lose.
The Trusty Steed combines elite trick riding, fearless physical horsemanship and genuine emotional storytelling in a live arena setting. The horses are extraordinary, the lead character is magnetic, and by the end of it you’ll have forgotten to breathe. See what’s in store at
VICTORIAN IMAGINARIUMS
The wildcard and completely wonderful. Wander through a one-way outdoor maze and stumble upon a cast of larger-than-life Victorian characters: a sharp-eyed writer watching the world change around them, a maid who hints she knows far more than she should, a good-humoured pick-pocket asking questions others would rather avoid.
It’s warm, playful and full of unexpected moments and because the characters shift throughout the day, no two visits are ever quite the same. A perfect palate cleanser between the bigger shows, or a favourite in its own right. Find out more.
BOOK NOW FOR SUMMER 2026
Kynren – The Storied Lands opens Saturday 18th July in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, and tickets are on sale now. This is genuinely new ground for the UK – a full day of live storytelling, world-class performance and immersive history in one extraordinary place.
And if you want to make a full occasion of it, the legendary Kynren evening show – An Epic Tale of England – runs every Saturday from 18th July to 12th September, from sunset to starlight. Book both, and you’ve got one of the great days out of the summer.
Kynren, Bishop Auckland, County Durham DL14 7SF
Rachael Ellis
Head of Content
After gaining a first in her BA Media and Journalism degree at Northumbria University, Rachael worked at Newcastle’s leading regional newspaper with her stories being picked up in national and global newspapers. She spent two very successful years giving a voice to those communities across the North East who otherwise…
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