AD - This is an advert for July 2024 and based on a visit to Kynren's Press Performance in July 2024. Always check with venue direct for the most up-to-date info as it can change over time. You can do that here: https://www.11arches.com/kynren
NEW DISCOUNT CODE: Use NEFF15 for a 10% discount on all 2024 dates (excluding VIP). Must be booked before 14/9/2024. T&Cs apply.
What actually is Kynren?
Kynren is like nothing you'll have ever seen before (well unless you've been lucky enough to visit Puy di Fou). It's a HUGE outdoor production with world-class stunts, special effects and storytelling.
We are so lucky to have a world-class attraction like this right here in the North East.
Kynren is a whistle-stop tour of British history.
We join Arthur who is on a quest to discover 'The Story of Us'. He travels through time to witness key moments in British history and discover his past. And the audience is invited to join him for the ride.
It's a 90 minute performance (no interval) with 29 key scenes from history spanning over 2000 years. Starting with the mighty Boudicca, the Romans, Vikings and Anglo-Saxons and then travelling through time all the way to Queen Victoria's Coronation, the World Wars and the Stanley Pit Disaster.
Kynren is thoroughly entertaining with spectacular stunts including horses galloping at top speed during a jousting tournament and then jumping over fire, Viking Boats rising from nowhere, artwork appearing in the sky, epic battles with soldiers shooting fire at each other and more.
I won't spoil all of the surprises for you but it truly is spectacular.
You are on the edge of your seat for a lot of it, the action is PACKED however there are definitely some moments of light relief too, especially during the scenes with the animals (the geese are just adorable).
There are also some somber moments and the scenes during some of the sadder moments in history are definitely a time to pause and reflect (they're not too upsetting for children and really well done).
I think I've watched Kynren 7 times now and it never gets old. Although the main parts of the show follow a similar format, there are slight tweaks each year. I actually had goosebumps before going to see Kynren this year which doesn't happen to me very often.
Pre-Show Entertainment & The Viking Village
This year, a Viking Village returns to Kynren and guests are invited to pay it a visit before taking their seat in the main tribune. You cannot buy a ticket for the Viking Village separately, it's exclusively included with Kynren tickets at no additional cost for you to enjoy before the main show. 
We spent around 30 minutes in the Viking Village. Kynren recommend you aim to be in the car park at least 1 hr 30 minutes before the main show start time which will allow time to get to the entrance, go through security and enjoy the Viking Village.
Of course you can arrive earlier if you'd like to enjoy some food and drink before the show too (do check opening times for your performance).
The Viking Village is SO good and not to be missed. It opens 2.5 hours before the main Kyren show's start time and you can visit the Viking Village as much as you like during that time - just walk in. In fact you could stay in there for the full 2.5 hours if you really wanted to.
As you walk through the Viking Village gates, the beacons of fire on either side of the entrance really set the scene. You're told to listen out for the Viking horn and if you hear it, something exciting is about to happen.
It just so happened that as we walked through the gates, the horn sounded straight away and suddenly a group of Vikings gathered in front of us. The lead Viking started asking children in the crowd to shout out Viking commands and the Vikings would line up and do as the kids were asking them. It was great!
Then some of the children were asked to join the Viking line and given their own replica sword and shield. Other kids shouted out the command and the children in line got to join in with the actions. My nephew Evan got to do this and he hasn't stopped talking about it since. You can see a video of the Vikings in action here.
You can wander about the Viking Village at your leisure. You'll meet blacksmiths hard at work in their Viking forge creating chainmail, some of the animals including Icelandic Chickens and can watch traditional Viking cooking over fire, sword fights between Vikings and traditional crafts like woodwork and weaving.
It's fully interactive and the Vikings actively chat with you about what they're doing. They really made our experience and it all felt super authentic. I've tried quite a few historical re-enactments like this and I would say the Viking Village at Kynren is the best I've been to.
As well as visiting the Vikings, before the show there are lots of clean toilets, a gift shop and a bar area serving drinks and snacks. There is ample seating (including picnic tables and benches with backs) but none of it is covered. There is a dedicated smoking / vaping area.
The Kynren site is advertised as being card payments only but if you have some cash at home, I'd bring that along as a back up as once I visited and their card machines went down so they switched to cash only.
Kynren Discount Code & Tickets
Ticket prices have been frozen for 2024 and range from £26/£16 (standard adult/child) up to £60/£50 (VIP adult/child). Children age 3 and under go free if they can sit on somebody's knee and don't need their own seat (otherwise, buy them a child ticket). Tickets include the main Kynren show plus access to the Viking Village (which opens 2.5 hours before the main show).
DISCOUNT CODE: Use NEFF15 for a 10% discount on all 2024 dates (excluding VIP). Must be booked before 14/9/2024. T&Cs apply.
Find out more and book your tickets: https://www.11arches.com/kynren
Various add ons are available including car parking and shuttle bus from the car park / town centre. On site parking is £7/£10 (car/motorhome) and the shuttle service is £3 pp return. Blue badge parking is available.
The Best Age for Kynren
All ages are welcome at Kynren and you do see little ones visiting with parents. It's a brilliant show that crosses the generations and we have visited with both sets of grandparents in the past who loved it too.
You know if your child is able to sit through 90 minutes and you're always going to be the one who can make the best call. Do keep in mind that it can be a late night. Personally, I first took my youngest when he was aged 6 and I think this was a great age to introduce him to the show.
He could easily follow the story and was buzzing to be there and see the animals. I recommend going to see a September show if visiting with little ones as they start and finish at an earlier time.
Where are the Best Seats?
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| From the centre of the tribine looking right |
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| VIP Padded Seating |
Sitting close to the middle will give you a good overall view of the full performance but like I say, no seat is bad. The cast make sure to use the full arena. Bring a cushion if you don't book VIP as the seating is plastic / hard and can give you a numb bum.
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| Non VIP plastic seating |
It is subjective of course, but if I was booking tickets for myself and Steve, I'd 100% book VIP for the comfier chairs (they're padded and you're right in the centre). However if I was bringing the kids, this does mount up and I would book Superior for us all. In fact I think this is what I booked when we took Steve's parents.
What if it Rains?
Kynren goes ahead in pretty much all weathers. The seating and outdoor tribune is not covered. In all of my visits to Kynren, it has only rained once (and that just so happened to be this year in 2024). I was a little worried but if you come dressed for the weather, you honestly barely notice.
Umbrellas are not permitted in the tribune. I'd suggest leaving them at home and just wearing a decent waterproof coat with a good hood. You can buy waterproof ponchos for £8 from the little gift shop on arrival. We had our waterproof walking trousers and coat on and were absolutely fine.
Whatever the weather, I'd recommend proper boots and layers including a coat as it can get chilly once the sun sets. Some people bring blankets with them.
Accessibility
Kynren aims to be as accessible as it can be to everyone. I've had a few questions about noise and personally, I don't think it is too loud and I haven't noticed anyone wearing ear defenders before and a few parents with children who have additional needs have mentioned their children have coped well at Kynren. Of course every child is different though.
There are fireworks at the end and a few of the battles are louder/more intense. My advice would be to bring ear defenders if you usually need them but you might be ok without them.
The main pathway is DDA compliant however it is a little stoney in parts and Kynren recommend a personal assistant may be required for wheelchair users.
There is a free storage area for walking aids and pushchairs on site.
Blue badge parking is available and visitors with limited mobility are best booking seats towards the bottom of the tribune (rows A/B) which minimises having to walk up and down steps to get to your seat.
There is a dedicated area for wheelchair users and their assistant.
You can find out more about access and how to book an accessible seat here: https://www.11arches.com/kynren/accessibility
Parking / Shuttle
There are 2000 car parking spaces available to pre-book. Blue Badge parking is just by the site entrance.
All other car parks are a bit of a walk away and there is a short (ish) but steep hill to climb (down on the way there, up on the way back). You are welcome to walk from the car park to the entrance or you can book a shuttle bus.
I would strongly recommend booking the shuttle bus if visiting with children. They are so well organised, there's a minimal wait and when it's late, you just want to get back to your car in the most efficient way.
There is also a shuttle bus to Bishop Auckland Bus Station or you can walk from Bishop Auckland Town Centre (0.6miles).
Onsite parking is £7 for a car and £10 for a Campervan, the shuttle bus is £3pp return. You can find out more about parking here: https://www.11arches.com/kynren/car-parking
It is possible to visit Kynren by public transport, especially if you book a September show which finishes earlier. For example, the last X21 bus leaves Bishop Auckland for Durham and Gateshead at 10:45pm (do check current timetables).
All other car parks are a bit of a walk away and there is a short (ish) but steep hill to climb (down on the way there, up on the way back). You are welcome to walk from the car park to the entrance or you can book a shuttle bus.
I would strongly recommend booking the shuttle bus if visiting with children. They are so well organised, there's a minimal wait and when it's late, you just want to get back to your car in the most efficient way.
There is also a shuttle bus to Bishop Auckland Bus Station or you can walk from Bishop Auckland Town Centre (0.6miles).
Onsite parking is £7 for a car and £10 for a Campervan, the shuttle bus is £3pp return. You can find out more about parking here: https://www.11arches.com/kynren/car-parking
It is possible to visit Kynren by public transport, especially if you book a September show which finishes earlier. For example, the last X21 bus leaves Bishop Auckland for Durham and Gateshead at 10:45pm (do check current timetables).
How to Make a Day / Weekend of it
I would definitely recommend trying to make a day of it in Bishop Auckland before the show if you can. This year we spent the afternoon at Auckland Castle which was fantastic! Well worth visiting. They are running Knight School for kids on selected dates in the summer too.
I loved that some of the portraits we had noticed on the wall in Auckland Castle earlier in the day are brought to life as part of Kynren.
For kids there is dressing up, digital displays and short snippets of info which are really easy to digest. As an adult, I really loved the 1980s room in the castle which had a vintage Vogue you could flick through and cassette tapes. There's a lovely tea room too. We spent three hours in the castle (including a tea room visit) but could have stayed longer.
Read our full Auckland Castle Review here: Auckland Castle Review
You could also enjoy a walk around the historic Deer Park next to the castle (free entry).
You could visit Locomotion Shildon which is a short drive away and a fantastic free museum. It's the birthplace of railway and this does feature in Kynren too.
Raby Castle, Plotters' Forest and Deer Park and Hamsterley Forest (with Gruffalo Olympics over the summer) are both in the area and brilliant days out I would also recommend.
If you're looking for somewhere nearby to stay overnight, we have stayed at Parkhead Hotel twice now. It's lovely and has been recently refurbished.
There's a beautiful outdoor terrace with a climbing net for kids, I bet this is a real suntrap in the summer. Rooms are both practical and comfortable yet stylish too. This hotel is a very short drive from Kynren.
Read our Parkhead Hotel Review here: Parkhead Hotel Review
There is also a Premier Inn in Bishop Auckland (I haven't stayed so can't offer a review but imagine it will be fine) and Eden Grange Glamping is a 15 minute drive (again, I haven't stayed here but have heard good things).
In the 6/7 times we have been to Kynren, we have stayed overnight twice and just driven home the other times. It can be a late night but you're pretty close to the A1 and the surrounding roads are well-lit main roads (rather than the winding country road type).
Kynren Dining Options
You cannot bring your own food and drinks into Kynren past the ticket point with medical/infant exceptions. Kynren does start later in the evening so you could of course, have dinner at home before heading out. You don't need to spend money on a fancy meal out.
On site, you can buy light bites like soup, chips, pasta and chicken bites as well as crisps and chocolate and drinks. I found prices to be reasonable for an attraction. GF and Ve options are available.
On site, you can buy light bites like soup, chips, pasta and chicken bites as well as crisps and chocolate and drinks. I found prices to be reasonable for an attraction. GF and Ve options are available.
You can also choose to book the Arches Hall Dining experience which takes place in the room pictured below and is a stunning location overlooking the lake just behind the main tribune. It's £54.95pp for three courses with wine, coffee and table service.
I haven't tried this myself but if I was visiting again with Steve, I would be very tempted. You can find out more and view menu options here: https://www.11arches.com/kynren/arches-hall-dining
I probably wouldn't book this with my kids as they can be fussy things and wouldn't really appreciate the menu.
I haven't tried this myself but if I was visiting again with Steve, I would be very tempted. You can find out more and view menu options here: https://www.11arches.com/kynren/arches-hall-dining
I probably wouldn't book this with my kids as they can be fussy things and wouldn't really appreciate the menu.
There are some fantastic places to eat in Bishop Auckland just a short drive from Kynren with lots of options for kids too. We have in the past dined at Parkhead Hotel and most recently El Castillo Tapas restaurant which we really enjoyed (you can read our review here).
If you're looking for other recommendations for places to eat in the area, the following have been recommended to me by locals (although I have not tried them myself):
- The Duke of York Inn, Fir Tree
- Red Alligator, South Church
- Gabrielles Italian Restaurant
- The Copper Mine
- Knead A Slice
- Bishops Lodge
- The Pollards Inn
- Cross Keys Hamsterley
- Chang Thai
- Manzo
Coach Trips to Kynren
Did you know you can visit Kynren by coach? There are currently 16 different trips to choose from, some local providers and some as far a field as Portsmouth! Some include overnight accommodation and some are travel & tickets only.
Find out more and book: https://www.11arches.com/come-by-coach
A Few Final Top Tips & Shout Out to the Amazing Archers
A few final top tips:- Wear layers, proper shoes/boots (with socks) and bring a waterproof coat
- Check out the restrictions on what you can / cannot bring into Kynren on their website
- Card payments only but bring a bit of cash just incase
- Book the shuttle bus if visiting with kids
- Bring a cushion to sit on if you haven't book VIP seating
- Book a September show if visiting with younger children (earlier start and finish)
- If you want to book accommodation, book this asap as it does sell out
- I'd also recommend booking a restaurant in advance if you're looking for somewhere to eat pre-show.
And finally, I want to give a HUGE shout out to the amazing volunteers aka the Archers. Kynren is largely a volunteer-run event which is just incredible.
Volunteers receive professional training, learn new skills and create life-long friendships. On press night this year it was so lovely to see original cast members hugging new members and wishing them luck.
It feels like Kynren have created a real community here and it completely shines through. The team aren't here just because they're being paid, they're here because they want to be and their enthusiasm and professionalism is just second to none.
They're all incredible! Thank you for everything you do and really enhancing a visitor's evening.
Find out more: https://www.11arches.com/
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