There can't be any more suitable places for a Second World War museum than a former POW camp.

Simply walking around the site of Eden Camp is enough to recall the spirit of the times.

It sets the scene perfect for the brilliantly created displays inside the old prisoners' huts.

The walls are filled with memorabilia, photographs, newspaper cuttings and posters from 1940s.

Many have evocative recreations, with full-sized dummies, of scenes from those desperate years.

Eden Camp, near Malton, with almost three dozen huts, is no glorification of war and the military machine.

In fact, displays about the battles are consigned to six huts at the far end of the camp.

The focus of the museum is more on the human side of the war for civilians as well as soldiers.

There are excellent -- and sometimes scary -- recreations of the Home Front and the Blitz.

There's even a wartime street -- complete with hat and lingerie shops -- and a display about women at war.

There's a U-boat mock-up that atmospherically, and quite frighteningly, portrays the Battle of the Atlantic.

Other huts recreate a Bomber Command control room, a Bevin Boys' mine, Civil Defence and an actual prisoners' hut.

Elsewhere there are displays looking at the rise of Hitler, World War One, and post-war conflicts.

Even the picnic rooms have treasures such as a Human Torpedo used by divers to sink ships.

Entertaining in a slightly surreal way is a music hall where puppets perform to recordings of famous wartime entertainers.

A sunny day lets children bassault course, and there are full-size wartime vehicles, fighter planes and a V1 rocket around the site.

Eden Camp is always a nostalgic journey for those who lived through the Second World War.

And there are few better ways for schoolchildren to learn what life was like back then.

But people of any age should be fascinated by a trip through these atmospheric time tunnels.

In short: depending on your age, an evocative, nostalgic or fascinating day out.

Duration: three to four hours.

Age suitability: young children will be frightened by some parts, other children and adults should be very interested, unmissable for those who lived through the war years.

Access: whole site on ground level; wheelchair access to all huts; toilets and seating around the site; free wheelchair loan (phone beforehand).

Extras: shop, cafe, bar, indoor picnic facilities, though Junior assault course.

Open: 10am-5pm, last admission 4pm.

Prices: £5 adults, £4 children, disabled and senior citizens.

Getting there: follow A64 York Road from Leeds, continue past Malton, museum is on roundabout at the junction with Pickering and Scarborough roads.

Car park: free.

Phone: 01653 697777.

Website: www.edencamp.co.uk