Kynren at Bishop Auckland, County Durham

Stuart Forster heads into County Durham to attend Kynren at Bishop Auckland and provides an overview of the show dubbed ‘an epic tale of England’.

Disclosure: Stuart Forster, the author of this post, was invited to attend a press preview of Kynren, which has not reviewed or approved this article. Some of the links below and banners are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Thinking of visiting Bishop Auckland to watch Kynren? The outdoor show tells a tale of England’s history from Roman times. The tribune at the outdoor arena on the outskirts of Bishop Auckland in County Durham holds up to 8,000 spectators.

The 2023 edition of Kynren takes place each Saturday evening until 9 September.

I’ve been to see Kynren twice and enjoyed it on both occasions. Attending is an evening out that works either as a date night, a family outing or a meet-up with friends.

I missed the first couple of years of Kynren due to work-related commitments. Having read only positive reviews, praising the scale and visual impact of the spectacle, I hadn’t stayed away by choice. Family members had been impressed and talked passionately about the show, encouraging me to attend. The big question in my mind was would it really be as good as everyone suggested?

In a word, yes. It’s a spectacle that impressed me because of its scale and grandeur. It’s also a fine example of what communities can achieve when people pull together.

Kynren: An Epic Tale of England

This short video features footage filmed during the 2022 Kynren season. It provides an overview of what you can expect when arriving at 11Arches Park in Bishop Auckland. It includes a series of images from the spectacular show:

Kynren at Bishop Auckland

Kynren is performed only on Saturday evenings. The cast, crew and stewards are all volunteers from Bishop Auckland and nearby. Over 1,000 people give up their time to ensure Kynren can be staged. Cumulatively, the participants have dedicated hundreds of thousands of hours to rehearsals and performances since Kynren was conceived.

My first contact with any of the personnel associated with Kynren was in the car park, where attendants wearing hi-vis jackets greeted me with smiles and exchanged pleasantries. They explained that the tribune was a 15-minute walk along a winding marked trail or I could wait a couple of minutes and hop on the next available bus. The buses drop attendees close to Kynren‘s entrance gate.

By the main gate, volunteers asked if they could search my bag before scanning my ticket and showing me in the direction of the tribune. All the time stewards were courteous and welcoming. The atmosphere remained upbeat despite the thorough security.

Kynren’s Viking village

A Viking-style village was built in 11Arches Park ahead of the 2019 edition of Kynren. It remained closed during the 2022 edition of the show and will not be open for 2023 shows either.

Ringed by a palisade and overlooked by two watch towers, the Viking village features buildings, shelters and a pond. Return when it is open and you may see women fishing in the village pond. Look out for people tending livestock and blacksmiths hammering metal, causing sparks to fly.

The Vikings first raided Northumbria in 793. During the show, you’ll see axe-wielding warriors form a shield wall. They scowl and holler as if about to stride out and ravage northern England again.

Impressively, a longship with a sweeping prow and billowing red and white sails rose from the artificial lake forming the centrepiece of the vast arena in which the action of Kynren unfolds. Pyrotechnics symbolised the burning of villages as the Vikings advanced southward through England.

Described as ‘an epic tale of England’, Kynren begins with a boy called Arthur kicking a football about with friends. Accidentally putting the ball through the window of the house to the right of the set leads to him meeting with the character Old Arthur. Young Arthur discovers a secret that enables him to travel through time and observe key scenes from English history.

Scenes from England’s history

The Roman and Norman invasions, the cultural flourishing of the Elizabethan Age and the turmoil of the Civil War count among the nationally significant episodes depicted during the 90-minute show. The appointment of Bishop Bek of Durham and North East England’s role in powering the Industrial Revolution count among those with a more local focus.

Narrated in part, Kynren also features projected light animations. Humans are not the only members of the vast cast. Geese are herded during a rustic Georgian scene and horses feature several times. For me, one of the highlights of the show was seeing a galloping rider exhibit accuracy with a lance while dressed as a medieval knight.

The entire cast re-enters the arena for the rousing grand finale. A union jack is unfurled amid a spectacular light show. Fireworks burst into the night sky, illuminating nearby Auckland Castle and ensuring Kynren concludes making a big visual impact.

Handy tips for Kynren

The trails leading towards the arena get muddy when it’s wet, so wear appropriate footwear.

The outdoor show begins as dusk begins to fall and ends in darkness. Dress warmly and take waterproofs if rain is forecast.

Travel to Bishop Auckland

Bishop Auckland is 11 miles southwest of Durham City. It takes around 25 minutes to drive between Durham and Bishop Auckland on the route that includes the A167 and A688.

Allow around an hour to drive to Bishop Auckland from Newcastle upon Tyne. The County Durham town is 30 miles south of Newcastle.

Travelling by train on the East Coast Main Line? Change at Darlington to reach Bishop Auckland.

Map of Kynren in Bishop Auckland

Kynren is held at 11 Arches Park in Bishop Auckland. The map below shows where Kynren takes place:

Car parking at Kynren

Car parking is available in three car parks (£7 per car) and should be booked online, in advance of the performance. Approximately 2,000 parking spaces are available in Bishop Auckland for shows.

On-site car parking cannot be paid for on arrival. Nor can shuttle services to the Kynren entrance be booked on the day of the shows.

A shuttle scheme is available (return tickets cost £3 per person when booked in advance for the 2023 shows). A shuttle ticket back to the car parks can be bought at the Kynren site for £5.

Hotels in County Durham

Looking for hotels near Kynren? Search and book hotels in Bishop Auckland’s surroundings and elsewhere in Great Britain via HRS:

Kynren tickets

The 2023 Kynren season runs until Saturday 9 September. Adult Kynren ticket prices for the 2023 edition range from £26 (Standard) to £60 (VIP). Superior tickets cost £36 each and Deluxe tickets are priced at £48. Tickets for children aged between four and 17 are £10 cheaper than standard adult prices.

The start time of Kynren becomes earlier during its seven-show run. The first performance begins at 6.45 pm while the last two, in September, start at 5.00 pm. See the 11 Arches website for more information about the show, including timings, and to book tickets for Kynren.

Further Information

Find out more about things to see and do in County Durham via the This is Durham and Visit England websites.

Photographs illustrating this post are by North East England-based Why Eye Photography.

Stuart Forster, the author of this post, is a travel writer and photographer based in North East England. His work has been published by The Independent, Rough Guides and The Telegraph.

Thank you for visiting Go Eat Do and reading this post about Kynren at Bishop Auckland. If you’re planning a trip to County Durham you may enjoy posts about visiting the Lumiere Durham festival of lights and Lumley Castle Hotel in County Durham.

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