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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

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Original poster

To tell you about kynren?

50 replies

Dancinginthedark1234 · 26/03/2019 11:15

Shamelessly using AIBU for traffic!

But I found this amazing thing called Kynren last summer.

It's a fantastic night show with fireworks, animals, sword fighting, dancing and it's performed by volunteers!

It's based in Bishop Auckland - a small town in country Durham. We were up there visiting family and stumbled across it but it was such an amazing night out and a celebration of Britain. We're planning on going again as our kids loved it! The 5 year old was sat open mouthed through the whole thing!

Everyone I've spoken to has never heard of it so I'm trying to spread the word!

It's not far from Durham and York so we're making a week of it and doing a tour of the North!

I'd recommending giving it a Google and watching the trailer to get a feel for it.
My family loved it and I imagine many of yours would too!

OP posts:
Original poster
Dancinginthedark1234 · 26/03/2019 11:16

Whilst I'm here.... Does anyone have any other must see places in the Durham area that I can Add to my itinerary while I'm up there?

OP posts:
Treaclesweet · 26/03/2019 11:20

Beamish! Definitely go there it's incredible, a living museum, with old fashioned sweet shop, photographer, a manor house, a mine a farm etc etc

BlueMerchant · 26/03/2019 11:20

Beamish Museum is great.

Original poster
Dancinginthedark1234 · 26/03/2019 11:21

I've looked at Beamish! It does look good! Looks like at least one day will be spent there :)

OP posts:
Treaclesweet · 26/03/2019 11:24

Also Forbidden Corner I absolutely loved as a child. It's a weird and wonderful folly type thing, quite hard to explain but very enjoyable.

Original poster
Dancinginthedark1234 · 26/03/2019 11:32

Just googled the forbidden corner! Looks very interesting and looks good for the children too! I'm going to try and make this holiday as interactive as possible with minimal technology!

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PlayingForKittens · 26/03/2019 11:45

Kynren is great isn't it.

Absolutely Beamish. Plus the lovely Northumberland coast, depending how far north you want to go then cragside national trust.

In Durham the cathedral is beautiful, the castle does tours, often exhibitions at palace green library and there is the open treasures at the cathedral. Take a look at when there are events at ushaw college too as that is worth a visit. As are the old Durham gardens, part of a project to regenerate the old gardens and riverbank.

Original poster
Dancinginthedark1234 · 26/03/2019 11:53

Kynren was amazing last year! I can't believe something of that scale is in such a place! Can't wait to go back!

We will have the car with us and are thinking of a 2 week stay. So a bit of time visiting the relatives in Redcar and the rest out exploring! Ive been to Durham cathedral and it was beautiful and there was a lovely Market on the green the last time I went. We at venture into Northumberland if we get time! :)

OP posts:
MorningRichie · 26/03/2019 12:48

Forbidden corner is absolutely shite. Complete waste of time, money and effort.

Beamish is outstanding though.

Nanny0gg · 26/03/2019 12:58

Depends how far into Northumberland, but Alnwick castle is fab. If the weather's nice the kids will love the interactive fountains

Traveler001 · 27/03/2019 00:45

What animals do they have there?

WarCat · 27/03/2019 00:55

I saw Kynren in the summer too, it was wonderful

Treaclesweet · 27/03/2019 06:33

Oo second Alnwick Castle if you can, there's also a huge second hand bookshop in Alnwick which is great if you're on a day out.
If you're already down in Redcar I would make the trip down to Whitby for the day. I absolutely love Whitby for a day out.

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 27/03/2019 06:35

A show with fireworks and animals is cruel to the animals. They are scared of fireworks.

sweetheartyparty · 27/03/2019 06:40

I live near Bishop Auckland. I second Beamish Museum for a day out, its excellent. Theres also the Locomotion train museum in Shildon which is a nice visit for a couple of hours.
Durham, Newcastle or York are an hour away. I really like Bamburgh too x

RevokeRemainRebuild · 27/03/2019 06:45

What are they doing with the animals?

werideatdawn · 27/03/2019 06:51

Fireworks and animals?

MrsW85 · 27/03/2019 06:56

The life science centre and the discovery museum in Newcastle are brilliant too. Definitely beamish. It's amazing!

Original poster
Dancinginthedark1234 · 27/03/2019 06:58

@traveler101 if you mean at kynren, I saw horses(jousting!) , cows, geese(stole the show) sheep, a donkey and goats - can't remember any others. It's the history of England so no exotics.

In terms of the fireworks. I didn't know it was possible to get quiet ones but the ones they used didn't have any big BANGS and there were no animals on stage at that time. Talking to the volunteers before the show, the animals are safely tucked in bed before the fireworks start.

Im a big Potter head so Alnwick Castle was on my list but it seems quite a drive but I'll try to convince DH. Ice fond childhood memories of whitby so I'd love to return. Looking for fossils on the beach and finishing the day with fish and chips!

OP posts:
Haggisfish · 27/03/2019 06:59

Oooh placemarking-we are going to alnmouth for a beach holiday this year so will go to some of these!

Ragnarthe · 27/03/2019 07:15

@Haggisfish
Make sure you visit Bamburgh and Holy Island

Disfordarkchocolate · 27/03/2019 07:19

The Forbidden Corner is fantastic, a wonderful day out. If you're in Yorkshire Richmond and Middleham have excellent castles and free for English Heritage members. Wonderful castles and beaches in Northumberland, you'll be spoilt for choice.

bert3400 · 27/03/2019 07:20

We are going to Beamish in the Easter Holidays. When is this Kynran festival...sounds interesting

Disfordarkchocolate · 27/03/2019 07:25

Dancinginthedark1234 I've never done the castle but the gardens at Alnwick are worth a trip, take a picnic and sit on the grass and enjoy the fountain. You can easily spend a whole day if you do the castle.

Princessmushroom · 27/03/2019 07:28

The treehouse restaurant at Alnwick Gardens. You have to book but it’s amazing