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’.

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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.

Kynren 2025

The 2025 Kynren season runs from 19 July until 13 September. Performances are on Saturday evenings. Start times of the 90-minute performance vary, and the showground at 11 Arches Park opens two-and-a-half hours before it begins.

Bishop Auckland’s Kynren

I’ve been to see Kynren in Bishop Auckland 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, could 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. Image from the spectacular show are included:

Kynren at Bishop Auckland

Kynren’s 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 is a 15-minute walk along a marked trail. Alternatively, I could wait a couple of minutes and hop on the next available bus.

Buses drop attendees near 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 mood remained upbeat and pleasant despite thorough security checks.

Kynren’s Viking village

A Viking-style village was built in 11Arches Park ahead of the 2019 edition of Kynren. It will be open ahead of the 2025 Kynren performances.

Ringed by a palisade and overlooked by two watch towers, the Viking village features buildings, shelters and a pond. 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 that is the centrepiece of the vast arena in which Kynren’s action unfolds. Pyrotechnics symbolise the burning of villages as the Vikings advanced 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 a house to the right of the set leads him to meet 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 show’s highlights 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, ensuring Kynren’s conclusion has 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 including 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. The train journey from London King’s Cross to Bishop Auckland has duration of about three hours and 20 minutes.

Map of Kynren in Bishop Auckland

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

Hotels near Kynren

Search and book accommodation near Kynren using the map below:

Car parking at Kynren

Car parking is available in two car parks (£12 per car) or on-site (£8 per car) for Blue Badge holders. Kynren parking must be booked online, in advance of the performance

Approximately 2,000 parking spaces are available in Bishop Auckland for Kynren shows. Parking includes a complimentary bus transfer service between the car park and Kynren for all passengers.

A shuttle bus runs between Bishop Auckland’s Market Place and Kynren. Return tickets cost £3 per person when booked in advance for the 2025 shows.

Scene from Kynren depicting how coal from County Durham helped fuel the Industrial Revolution.

Kynren Tickets

The 2025 Kynren season runs from Saturday 19 July until Saturday 13 September. Adult Kynren ticket prices range from £30 for Standard tickets to £62 for VIP tickets. Superior tickets cost £40 each and Deluxe tickets are priced at £50. Tickets for children aged between four and 17 are priced £10 cheaper than for adults.

Start times of Kynren performances become earlier during its nine-show run. The first three performances begin at 9.15 pm while the last one starts at 7.45 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.

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.

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.

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