TV historian and broadcaster Michael Wood is to officially open the Viking: Rediscover the Legend exhibition at a special private preview on Thursday 29 March.



The Atkinson is the only North West venue to have the touring exhibition in partnership with the British Museum and the Yorkshire Museum.

Special guests have been invited to the opening of the event that sees the most significant Viking treasure hoards ever discovered in Britain on display for the first time together.

Star objects from the British Museum will feature alongside the Yorkshire Museum’s world-class collections and will be interpreted in new ways to give a fresh perspective on how Vikings shaped every aspect of life in Britain.

Visitors will see the most famous Viking collections in this country, including the Vale of York Viking Hoard, Cuerdale Hoard and the Bedale Hoard.
As well as featuring ground-breaking research by archaeologists and new discoveries by metal-detectorists which will challenge our perceptions of what it means to be Viking.

As part of the celebrations Micheal Wood will be deliving a special talk and book signing on Thursday 29 March at 3pm- Vikings! History and Legend with Michael Wood. Tickets are on sale for £10 and all proceeds are going to The Atkinson Development Trust. Tickets are selling fast!

Michael Wood TV Historian & broadcaster said:

“I’m really looking forward to being back in Southport for the Vikings launch. Its a brilliant exhibition with some really fascinating and unique items, including extraordinary treasures from Viking hoards buried in the North West-one or two discovered only very recently. The Vikings left a real imprint on our region, on its society, dialect and place-names.

In the Middle Ages, as St Patrick said, the Irish Sea was mare nostrum, ‘our sea’, and it was criss-crossed by Viking longships sailing to and from Dublin, Angelsey Cumbria and Chester with warriors and pirates, traders and travellers: no wonder then that south Lancashire and the Wirral were the setting for some of the most dramatic events of this turbulent time.

In my talk I’ll be talking about those events, weaving stories around some of the most exciting and intriguing exhibits.”

Cllr Trish Hardy, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member Communities and Housing said:

“The Liverpool City Region is truly proving to be a powerhouse for cultural tourism this year with Vikings and the Chinese Terracotta Army – both with such national and worldwide significance.This is a great time for both Sefton and the wider city regions’ tourism ambitions.
It’s also a testament to the wonderful Atkinson and its staff that we can host such incredible exhibitions such as the Vikings all year round.”

Viking: Rediscover the Legend opens to the public on Saturday 31 March with a special family open day. Come and see the 2 Viking Ships and Viking re-enactors showing you how life was like for the Vikings and making themed artifacts.
Viking: Rediscover the Legend is on display from Saturday 31 March – Saturday 7 July 2018. Tickets are on sale now online at theatkinson.co.uk via Box Office 01704 533333 or over the counter.