A NEW, first-of-its-kind historical theme park has finally opened in the UK – and I was the first to experience it.
Kynren – The Storied Lands, at Bishop Auckland, has no rides or rollercoasters; just a day full of spectacle, followed by an evening extravaganza like nothing you’ve seen before.
With 1,000 volunteers bringing to life the tale of England against the backdrop of Auckland Palace, it is the newest addition to the family attraction scene in the UK.
If you love knights on horseback, Vikings fighting with flaming axes, exotic birds swooping overhead, clever aquatic acrobatics and a fireworks finale – this is the experience for you.
There’s five immersive experiences to enjoy over the course of the day, as well as a wooden kids’ play space for little ones to let off steam.
Visitor are given an itinerary to follow to maximise their time on site and we started with the Trusty Steed, which showcases the jaw-dropping horseback prowess of its performers.
Then it was on to the Lost Feather, featuring more than 250 birds in a huge arena built to look like a nest.
This is certainly an ambitious undertaking – the sheer range of animals from ravens to cranes, from macaws to birds of prey, is unlike anything I’ve seen at other falconry shows.
The stunning set and the theming are quite something to behold, but what I really love is how the whole park feels at one with its surroundings, drawing on the the fields, trees and the 11 arches of the nearby viaduct.
Eventually the park will expand to include 11 experiences based on different eras, including adding more to the Victorian village over the next year.
For now, we got a taster of what’s to come with characters from the age, including a maid, a pickpocket and the aptly named Professor Flambard inside his Imaginarium.
That’s where you’ll find the first of the shops brought here from Flambards Theme Park in Cornwall, which closed after almost 50 years in 2024.
Our next stop was the Viking amphitheatre, where flaming torches and the wreckage of longboats set the scene for the combat to come.
Outside the arena is a Viking village, with tents and workshops showcasing day-to-day life.
The finale to our tour through time was the Legend of the Wear, loosely based on the local tale of the Lambton Worm, a monster that terrorised villagers in the time of the crusades.
This show draws on the elements of witchcraft and water in the story with its aquatic stunts and parkour.
Obviously launching a new theme park with animals, special effects and plenty of performers is a tricky business, but thanks to the high standards at Kynren, you’re in safe hands when it comes to the old adage that the show must go on.
Whether it’s dealing with a burning bush set alight by falling fireworks, an eagle going AWOL or just a horse pooing as it arrives centre stage, there’s an authenticity in these unexpected moments that somehow adds to the experience.
Kynren’s evening show, An Epic Tale of England, has been running for a decade now, takes place on Saturdays and a couple of Fridays over the summer (this is booked separately from the daytime park).
It’s a romp through time, with buildings and boats rising up from nowhere, a huge cast of performers, animals and vehicles to marvel over and memorable moments aplenty during its 90 minutes.
The new daytime park takes all the impressive elements from this evening extravaganza and builds on them, weaving in local and national history.
It’s something that’s proved popular at parks on the continent and it’s great that we finally have it here too, in homage to the rich heritage of this corner of the British Isles.
One extra experience that’s been introduced this summer is the Time Travellers‘ Feast, which takes place early evening, so you can add it on to your day or night ticket.
For £68, you get a Roman-inspired welcome cocktail, three-course sharing feast, a glass of wine with your main, and tea or coffee to finish, all inspired by the Roman and Viking era.
Food stalls offering pizza, curry, sweet treats and drinks are also available for those not feasting.
If you’re travelling from further afield, the Auckland Project has some great accommodation options to make a weekend of it.
We enjoyed a cosy heritage stay at Churchill Cottage, perfectly positioned on the historic Market Place and steps away from the newly renovated Auckland Palace and its deer park.
Park Head Hotel is another great shout for a place to stay.
Kynren is the Anglo-Saxon word for generations and this park more than lives up to its name – building on the success of the past decade to offer visitors something unique in the present with much more to come over the next few years.
The experience opens on July 18, running until September 12. Tickets start from £20.