Eden Camp Modern History Museum, one of North Yorkshire’s most iconic visitor attractions, has been put up for sale by specialist leisure property adviser Christie & Co.
The museum, based in Malton, occupies the original site of a prisoner of war camp built in 1942 to house Italian POWs. Transformed into a museum in 1987 by Stan Johnson after a £750,000 investment, Eden Camp has since become renowned for its immersive exhibits that bring Britain’s wartime social history to life.
Over nearly four decades, the family-owned business has evolved into a major educational and cultural resource. Recent investments of over £1.25m have seen the addition of new features, including the “Blitz Experience,” updated exhibition spaces, and the Heritage Exhibition Hall, which showcases rare military vehicles and equipment.
Howard Johnson, son of the late founder, said: “Since our father passed away in 2015, my sister and I have continued as custodians of this incredible business. We have consistently invested in improving the facilities and customer experience and have a fantastic team we work with here, but we too are at that time in our lives where it makes sense to pass the reins to new owners. I’ve been contacted a number of times over the years asking if we would sell, and so this tremendous opportunity now becomes a reality.”
The museum attracts around 125,000 visitors annually, including 25,000 schoolchildren in 2023, and has been recognised with multiple awards, including TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice and Certificates of Excellence. Eden Camp has also embraced digital technology, making its archive available online and offering activity workshops aligned with the KS2 syllabus to engage younger audiences.
Jon Patrick, Head of Leisure & Development at Christie & Co, said: “There are many people, particularly those from Yorkshire, who will have visited Eden Camp as a child and returned with their own children, parents and even grandparents as there is something here for everyone. With over 105,000 items of memorabilia, we can see Eden Camp appealing to a national and even international buyer audience, such is the interest in the subject matter.”
Christie & Co are inviting substantial offers for the freehold property and business, with rare military vehicles owned by the family available separately for purchase or lease.
For more information about Eden Camp and its sale, visit Christie & Co’s website.
