We might not be living in Asgard, but the UK still has some pretty cool Viking links due to being invaded by the Scandinavian pirates at the end of the 8th Century. So why not grab your horned helmet and axe, and set out on your longship to discover the Top 5 Viking adventures in the UK.
Channel your inner viking with this guide to the best UK Viking Adventures
JORVIK Viking Centre, York
Award winning and world famous, Jorvik should be at the top of the list for any aspiring Norseman! Between 1976 and 1981, archaeologists discovered a series of surviving buildings from the Viking-Age city of Jorvik from 1,000 years ago. Today, the JORVIK Viking Centre is built on the very site where the excavations took place, and visitors can - on the ride through experience - journey through a reconstruction of the Viking-Age streets of 10th Century York. With the help of animatronic characters, the Viking period will come to life before your eyes. Authenticity really is the name of the game too, as the characters wear meticulously researched clothes, there are artefacts on display from the original investigation, and even flora and fauna present that would have been around at the time of the Norsemen!
Image Credit: JORVIK Viking Centre via Twitter
Jorvik Viking Centre is located at Coppergate Shopping Centre, 19 Coppergate, York YO1 9WT
House of Manannan, Isle of Man
Named after the Isle of Man’s mythical sea god, House of Manannan is a museum that explores the diverse history of the island and contains a variety of life size reconstructions to explore, including that of a Celtic Roundhouse. Whilst the Celts are cool, vigilant Viking devotees will be most excited to experience the opportunities in the museum to find out what life was like in Viking longhouse, join the crew of the Odin’s Raven Viking longship, and to peruse Nordic artefacts in the Kingdom of Mann Gallery. Whilst on the Isle of Mann, also check out the Manx Museum, which is full of artefacts in their Viking Galleries, and Castle Rushen, which was built in 1190 for a Norse King and is one of the best preserved medieval castles in the world.
Image Credit: Odin's Raven via Manx National History website
The House of Manannan is located at Mill Rd, Peel IM5 1TA, Isle of Man
Whistle Punks, Nationwide / Valhalla Indoor Axe Throwing, Sheffield
We all know that Vikings loved throwing their axes, and now, you can too (in a safe environment of course!) With venues in Birmingham, London and Manchester, Whistle Punks describe themselves as an urban axe throwing experience that combines the sport with great music, atmosphere and a chance to socialise in between hurls. If you get that much of a Viking for it, you can even join one of their leagues, where you can chuck axes for 6 weeks and be in with the chance of winning the title “Urban Axe Throwing Champion!â€
Image Credit: Whistle Punks via Twitter
Or, if you’re in Sheffield and want to join in the axetravaganza, check out Valhalla Indoor Axe Throwing at Sheaf Bank business park. With a range of Viking style shields, helmets and axes on hand to help you get into character and remind you of Yorkshire’s long history of Viking settlement, you’ll be hitting bullseyes in no time, and enjoying that great “thunk†sound that you just don’t get from a dart. You can read our interview with Valhalla’s founder, Luke Ireland here.
Image Credit: Valhalla Indoor Axe Throwing via Facebook
Whistle Punks Axe Throwing Centres are located at Arch 25, Handel Business Centre, 73 Bondway (London) Great Northern Warehouse, Deansgate, (Manchester) and 93-99 Holloway Head (Birmingham).
Valhalla Indoor Axe Throwing is located at Sheaf Bank Business Park, 20 Prospect Road, Sheffield S2 3EN
The Ancient Technology Centre, Dorset
Started up as an Outdoor Education Centre offering authentic experiences linked to the National Curriculum, The Ancient Technology Centre in Dorset is also open to the general public on select dates throughout the year. Norse nerds should head to their upcoming Saxon & Viking Cookery Workshop on 2 September where you can cook a 2-3 course meal over a fire using utensils and techniques from the era. And, for an additional fee, you can sleep in the centre’s traditional Viking longhouse for a night!
Image Credit: Viking Longhouse via the Ancient Technology Centre website
The Ancient Technology Centre is located at Damerham Road, Cranborne, Dorset BH21 5RP
Lindisfarne Priory, Northumberland
Visiting Lindisfarne, or Holy Island as it is known, is an exciting experience in itself, but it is particularly enjoyable for the Nordic know-it-alls amongst you! After making your way along the dramatic causeway, head to Lindisfarne Priory, which, was built by the monks who first came to the island in 634, and were violently attacked by the Vikings in 793 AD. Whilst the ruins you see today are actually from the 12 Century when the threat of attack had receded, there’s nothing to stop you enacting an attack with your friends underneath the Rainbow Arch, the Priory’s most dramatic feature, or gazing out at the very same breathtaking coastal views the monks did all those years ago. Remember to keep an eye out for any signs of long boats…
Image Credit: Samantha Allard via Flickr
Lindisfarne Priory is located at Holy Island, Berwick-Upon-Tweed, Northumberland, TD15 2RX