Following years of planning, design, and construction, Kynren – The Storied Lands officially opened its gates to the public on Saturday 18 July.
The opening marks the arrival of the UK's very first live-action show park, transforming a 150-acre site in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, into a world of immersive storytelling.
Created by the team behind the award-winning night show Kynren – An Epic Tale of England, the daytime attraction brings history, myth, and legend to life through live performance, spectacular sets, original music, animals, and immersive outdoor worlds.
Ahead of the public launch, Theme Parks UK attended an exclusive preview event to experience the new attraction first hand. You can read our in-depth review here: Review: Kynren – The Storied Lands.
Five Large-Scale Productions
Visitors to the park experience five distinct live-action productions, each staged within its own purpose-built performance area:
- The Lost Feather: A free-flight bird experience featuring sea eagles, vultures, African crowned cranes, macaws, and owls flying directly overhead, exploring humanity's connection with the natural world.
- Land of the Vikings: An interactive experience where guests explore a recreated Norse settlement before watching an action-packed battle and fire show.
- The Trusty Steed: A celebration of horsemanship featuring stunt riding that highlights the partnership between horse and rider.
- Legend of the Wear: A dramatic lakeside retelling of the famous North East myth of the Lambton Worm.
- Victorian Imaginariums: An outdoor zone inspired by Victorian curiosity, invention, and imagination.
Two of the productions, The Lost Feather and Legend of the Wear, feature original musical scores recorded by the BBC Concert Orchestra.
Years in the Making
Anna Warnecke, CEO of Kynren, said:
"Opening day marks far more than the launch of a new attraction. It represents years of ambition, creativity, and dedication from an extraordinary team who believed we could create something completely new for the UK. For the past 10 years we've welcomed audiences to Kynren – An Epic Tale of England, and now we've opened an experience that allows visitors to spend an entire day immersed in spectacular live entertainment."
Charlotte Boissinot, Creative Director, highlighted the emotional journey behind bringing the concepts to life:
"For years these shows have existed only in sketches, storyboards, rehearsals, and the imagination of our creative team. To finally stand in each arena and see audiences experiencing them exactly as we imagined is incredibly emotional."
Graham Emerson, Chief Technical Officer, added:
"Creating five completely different live action productions, each with its own purpose-built performance space, specialist effects, and complex technical systems, has been an enormous undertaking."
Visitor Information and Tickets
Kynren – The Storied Lands is open through to 12 September 2026, running Tuesday to Sunday (closed Mondays). Guests receive a personalised itinerary upon entry to ensure they can catch all five live productions during their visit.
Advance Saver tickets are priced from £30 for adults and £20 for children, with children under three admitted free.
Visitors can also extend their day into the evening, as Kynren – An Epic Tale of England continues its main outdoor evening show on Saturday nights throughout the summer season, with additional Friday performances on 21 August and 4 September.
