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Atmospheric streets come alive with intriguing characters, hidden secrets and unfolding stories – placing visitors at the heart of the action

Visitors will feel as though they have crossed into another time when a major new immersive Victorian adventure opens at Kynren – The Storied Lands in County Durham in 2027.

The Victorian Imaginariums will transport visitors into a living world of winding passageways, shadowy alleys and atmospheric cobbled streets, where intriguing characters and unfolding stories bring the town to life around them.

The experience develops the story introduced during the park’s first season, when the eccentric Professor Flambard revealed his ambitious plans for a remarkable new town. Now the town has been built, its streets are inhabited and the next chapter is ready to begin.

Visitors will not simply walk around and observe the setting. Surrounded by the sights, sounds and smells of Victorian Britain, they will find themselves inside the action as the town’s characters draw them into their world.

They might exchange gossip with the Society Sisters, encounter a mischievous maid or become entangled in the schemes of a light-fingered rogue. A whispered secret, unexpected commotion or chance meeting could lead their adventure in a new direction.

More than 40 richly detailed, life-size shops and scenes will create a world that feels lived in, rather than displayed. Filled with thousands of genuine period artefacts, costumes, horse-drawn carriages and an original Victorian fire engine, the setting will make visitors feel they have crossed into Victorian Britain before its stories begin to unfold around them.

Visitors will discover an apothecary, pawnbroker, corsetière, cobbler, blacksmith, schoolroom and sweet shop, alongside the fashions, toys and everyday objects of the period. There is even a corner pub, complete with its own clientele.

Inside the Victorian Imaginariums, it is always dusk. The streets grow darker, the atmosphere changes and the stories gather pace. Around every corner, another encounter could be waiting.

The remarkable collection was originally created at Flambards Theme Park in Cornwall, where its Victorian Village became a much-loved attraction for generations of visitors.

Following the closure of Flambards in November 2024, the collection was at risk of being broken up and sold in individual lots. Kynren acquired it in its entirety, ensuring that its thousands of artefacts and period scenes would remain together.

The whole collection was carefully dismantled and wrapped for its 400-mile journey from Cornwall to County Durham. It is now stored in seven 40-foot shipping containers, while its costumes are held in specialist care. Everything was preserved for its new home – even the cobblestones were individually lifted and transported.

Rather than simply recreating the former attraction, Kynren will transform the collection into the setting for a living, theatrical adventure in which visitors become part of the story.

“The first season of The Storied Lands introduced visitors to Professor Flambard and his plans for an extraordinary Victorian town,” said Kynren Chief Executive Anna Warnecke. “In 2027, those plans will become a reality and the next chapter of the story will begin.

“The Victorian Imaginariums will not be a conventional heritage experience. Visitors will not stand back and watch history from a distance; they will step inside a living story and become part of the world unfolding around them.

“The richness of the setting will create the feeling of real Victorian streets, with lives and stories unfolding all around. Visitors might overhear a piece of gossip, become caught up in an argument or realise that one of the town’s more suspicious characters has taken an interest in them.”

“The scale of the collection is astonishing. It fills seven 40-foot shipping containers and includes thousands of artefacts, complete shop settings, costumes, carriages and an original Victorian fire engine. Even the cobbled streets were carefully lifted so they could become part of the experience here in County Durham.

“Unwrapping, conserving and positioning every element will be a mammoth undertaking, but it means this extraordinary collection will remain together and begin an entirely new chapter.

“We want Kynren – The Storied Lands to continue growing, giving visitors new stories and experiences to discover each time they return,” she added.

Kynren – The Storied Lands experiences

The Victorian Imaginariums will join the spectacular live shows and immersive experiences introduced during the opening season of Kynren – The Storied Lands.

The Lost Feather is a visually stunning bird spectacle staged within a dramatic nest-inspired arena. Eagles, vultures, owls, macaws and cranes soar freely above the audience as the story explores humanity’s connection with nature and shares a powerful conservation message.

In Land of the Vikings, visitors enter a detailed Viking settlement where sparks fly as blacksmiths work and warriors prepare for battle. Inside the arena, shields clash and fires rage in a high-energy live show filled with action and spectacular stunts.

North East folklore takes centre stage in Legend of the Wear, where a vast lake becomes the setting for a dramatic live show inspired by the legendary Lambton Worm tale. Water erupts, chaos unfolds and mysterious forces move beneath the surface in one of the attraction’s most visually spectacular experiences.

Medieval action arrives in The Trusty Steed, where horses take centre stage alongside horseback stunts, sword fighting and knights charging into combat. At the heart of the story, a fearless young woman sets out to prove her courage and skill.

New for 2027, The Victorian Imaginariums continue the story begun during the park’s opening season. Professor Flambard’s planned town has now been built, transporting visitors into an immersive adventure filled with intriguing characters, unfolding stories and unexpected encounters.

A Neolithic-inspired adventure play area will also give younger visitors the opportunity to climb, explore and create stories of their own.

Unlike a traditional theme park centred on rides, Kynren – The Storied Lands is built around live performance and immersive storytelling. Visitors journey between dedicated arenas and environments, entering different worlds inspired by history, myth and legend across the day.

The 2027 season

The 2027 Kynren season will run from 7 July to 11 September.

Kynren – The Storied Lands will initially open from Wednesday to Sunday, moving to Tuesday to Sunday from 27 July.

Advance Saver admission, available online, remains at 2026 prices of £30 for adults and £20 for children aged four to 16. Standard admission is £40 for adults and £30 for children. Children under three are admitted free.

The daytime attraction will again run alongside Kynren – An Epic Tale of England, the spectacular outdoor night show that takes audiences through 2,000 years of English history in a single unforgettable evening, brought to life by a cast and crew of around 1,000 volunteers.

Kynren – An Epic Tale of England night show will be performed every Saturday evening from 17 July to 11 September 2027, with additional Friday performances on 13 and 27 August.

Ticket prices for the night show also remain unchanged for 2027, starting at £30 for adults and £20 for children.

For further information and tickets, visit Kynren.com.