The Kynren Time Travellers’ Feast – Is It Worth It?
Recently, I was lucky enough to attend the first ever Time Travellers’ Feast at Kynren, a new addition to the myriad of other immersive experiences that Kynren has to offer.
Launching for the 2026 season, the Time Travellers’ Feast is a pre-show dinner that takes place before the main 90-minute spectacle, Kynren – An Epic Tale of England.
The Kynren website promises ‘an immersive dining experience – theatre, storytelling, and spectacle,’ and proclaims the Time Travellers’ Feast to be ‘the ultimate way to begin your Kynren evening,’ but is it really worth it? Let’s find out.
The Kynren Time Travellers’ Feast – Is It Worth It?
In this blog post, I’m going to provide an honest review of my experience at the Time Travellers’ Feast at Kynren.
We’ll get into what you can expect from the experience, how good the food is, what’s included (and what’s not), and whether I think it’s worth the £68 price tag.
Are you ready? Then let’s get into it.
What is Kynren?
If you’ve found this article through Google, I’m going to assume you’re familiar with Kynren and are looking for Time Travellers’ Feast reviews specifically, but just in case you aren’t, here’s a quick overview.
Kynren is a history-themed outdoor attraction in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, most famous for its spectacular 90-minute live-action show, An Epic Tale of England, that covers a whopping 2000 years of British history, myth, and legend.
The show is performed under the stars and features mass choreography, pyrotechnics, water effects, 39 horses, an entire flock of sheep, a cast and crew of 1000 volunteers, and lots more.
For the 2026 season, Kynren are introducing a whole host of new experiences, including a Viking settlement, a Victorian Imaginarium, and an exotic bird show called The Lost Feather, which I was lucky enough to preview at a press launch.
There’s also, of course, the Time Travellers’ Feast.
What is the Time Travellers’ Feast?
Described as ‘the opening chapter of a full Kynren evening,’ the Time Travellers’ Feast is an immersive dining experience, combining theatrical storytelling with a three-course feast inspired by various time periods.
It’s designed to be the precursor to the main show, and you must have a ticket to the main show in order to purchase tickets to the Time Travellers’ Feast.
Performances take place before (and sometimes during) each course, with the actors interacting with the audience to make the experience as engaging as possible.
Below is my full review of the Time Travellers’ Feast.
The Time Travellers’ Feast at Kynren
The experience begins outside, with a Roman-inspired welcome cocktail (a non-alcoholic version is also available).
I’ve no idea what was in the Forum Fizz, but it was bright, citrusy, and refreshing. After a few sips, a Roman emperor emerged and welcomed us to Kynren, before ladies carrying torches led us to the banquet hall, which was decked out to resemble the great dining halls of Tudor England.
After we’d taken our seats around the long tables, Henry VIII emerged with a gaggle of ladies and officially welcomed us, calling on us to raise our glasses for the first toast of the evening, and putting on a short theatrical performance.
The feast had begun.
We started with baskets of rustic bread, served with two flavoured butters – sun-blushed tomato, and lemon and thyme.
To follow were huge plates piled high with Tudor-inspired grub – ham and leek terrine, gala pie, marinated olives, Somerset brie, cured meats, and pickled red onion.
I loved the slice of chunky gala pie, with its thick crusty pastry and hard-boiled egg in the middle – I know that pork pies aren’t for everyone, but I can never say no, and this one was excellent.
The food is all served sharing-style to encourage a communal, convivial atmosphere, and trust me when I say that the portions were very generous.
There was certainly more than enough for everyone, and the beauty about sharing plates is that there’s always someone who doesn’t want to eat their allocated slice of pie or terrine, leaving more for everyone else!
After the starters were over, the hall was stormed by a gang of Vikings, roaring and brandishing swords and axes. The Vikings went all in on the audience participation, creeping up behind us, raising toasts with us, and battling beside us as we guzzled on our main course.
Inspired by Viking fire feasts, we were served flame-grilled beef sirloin, Hasselback potatoes, purple heritage carrots with caraway, pickled fennel and red cabbage salad, with a rich roast jus.
The meat was cooked perfectly – medium, with a hint of pink in the middle, and the fat left on to give it extra flavour. The roasted veg was also delicious, and that savoury beef jus just pulled everything together perfectly.
IMG courtesy of my friend Joanna from The World In My Pocket
After the Vikings left, Charles Dickens emerged to accompany us for the final course, a selection of Victorian-inspired desserts served with tea and coffee.
It’s worth mentioning at this point that the ticket price includes two alcoholic drinks – a welcome cocktail, and a glass of wine with dinner. It is possible to purchase additional drinks, and this is exactly what we did (needless to say, my recollections of Charles Dickens’ performance is a little hazy!).
Is It Worth It? My Verdict
I thoroughly enjoyed the Time Travellers’ Feast.
I hadn’t been expecting too much from the food – experiences like this can often favour style over substance – but I was actually very impressed with the quality of this meal.
Something to be aware of if you’re a fussy eater is that you don’t get to choose what you eat, which may not be for everyone.
If you have any dietary requirements, the team at Kynren will try and accommodate you, but for the most part, the menu is fixed. I understand that some people will also not enjoy the communal way that the food is served, but I personally found that it added to the authenticity of the evening, and didn’t mind at all.
The volunteers were all fantastic, and you can tell that they really love what they do.
I also thought the concept of travelling through the ages was really interesting, and unlike anything I’ve ever seen before.
The experience costs £68, which is a premium price point, and personally I think that’s a little on the steep side, especially when you factor in purchasing tickets for the main show, plus any additional drinks etc.
With that being said, the price is in line with other similar events in the UK, with many UK castles offering medieval banquets for more than £85!
Overall, I do think that the experience was worth it, and if you’re looking to elevate your experience at Kynren, I can absolutely recommend it.
You can learn more and get your tickets here.
FAQ
What is the Time Travellers’ Feast at Kynren?
The Time Travellers’ Feast is an optional pre-show dining experience at Kynren, combining a three-course sharing feast with live storytelling and theatrical characters from Roman, Tudor, Viking and Victorian eras, hosted in Arches Hall before the main outdoor show.
How much does the Time Travellers’ Feast cost?
It’s priced at £68 per person, which includes a welcome cocktail, the three-course sharing feast, a glass of wine with the main course, and tea or coffee to finish.
Can I book the Time Travellers’ Feast without a Kynren show ticket?
No. It’s an add-on experience and must be booked alongside a valid ticket for Kynren – An Epic Tale of England; it can’t be purchased on its own.
What’s included in the three courses?
A Roman-inspired welcome cocktail to start, a Tudor-style sharing starter, a Viking-inspired main course, and a Victorian dessert, all prepared by Kynren’s in-house chefs. A glass of wine and a tea or coffee is also included.
Do I need to arrive at a specific time if I book the Feast?
Yes. Guests booking the Time Travellers’ Feast need to select the earliest arrival time slot for their visit that day.
Is the food served sharing-style or individually plated?
Sharing-style, served on platters along banquet tables rather than as individual plates.
Is the Feast available on every Kynren show date?
It’s only available on select night show dates, with limited capacity per performance, so advance booking is essential.
Is Kynren accessible?
Yes, Kynren is accessible. You can find more information on their accessibility page.
Is Kynren dog-friendly?
Dogs are not permitted at Kynren, with the exception of registered assistance and guide dogs, which must be pre-booked. No dogs are allowed at The Lost Feather show.
How to Get to Kynren
Getting to Kynren by car
Kynren sits just off the A689, northwest of Bishop Auckland, and driving there is straightforward.
From the north, take the A1(M) to junction 61, then follow the A688 towards Bishop Auckland; you’ll see signs for Eleven Arches and the car park from the New Coundon roundabout.
From the south, come off the A1(M) at junction 63, take the A167 to Neville’s Cross in Durham, then the A690 through Brancepeth and Willington. Turn onto Hunwick Lane, go through Hunwick village on the B6286, then follow the signs from there.
If you’re coming from the north west, head south on the A68 towards Darlington, and at Fir Tree (just past the Duke of York pub) turn towards Howden-le-Wear, following signs for the A689 into Bishop Auckland.
Whichever route you take, the car park is well signposted once you’re within a few miles, and there’s a shuttle bus if you’ve parked further out. If you’re using Google Maps, the postcode can sometimes route you slightly off, so it’s worth following the signposted route if you’re in doubt.
Parking at Kynren
Visitors can park in the onsite car park, or use one of the offsite car parks. Parking starts at £12.
A shuttle bus operates between the Green and Yellow car parks and the main site. The cost of this is included with your car parking ticket.
You must pre-book a parking spot in advance.
If you’re taking a taxi to Kynren, there are designated pick-up and drop-off zones.
Getting to Kynren using public transport
Kynren is easy to reach without a car too.
Bishop Auckland railway station is about a 15-minute walk from the site, or you can catch a pre-booked shuttle bus straight to the site. The cost of the Kynren shuttle is £3 for a return trip.
Final Thoughts
I loved visiting Kynren and experiencing the Time Travellers’ Feast, and if you’re looking for a fun foodie experience that elevates the main show even higher, this is it.
With good food, passionate actors, and plenty of merriment, the Time Travellers’ Feast is the perfect way to start your evening at Kynren, and if I got the chance to go back and do it all again, I would, without a doubt.
I would also recommend checking out my huge post about the best food and drink experiences in and around Newcastle if this is your type of travel, and heading to the Kynren website for more information about the feast, night show, and everything else that Kynren has to offer.
That’s all I have for today’s post! I tried to make this review as comprehensive as possible, but if you have any questions that I didn’t answer in the article, do let me know in the comments section below and I’ll do my best to answer them!
Until next time,
XOXO
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