The Gayer-Anderson Museum occupies two joined Ottoman-era houses built against the outer wall of the 9th-century Mosque of Ibn Tulun in El Sayeda Zeinab. Beit al-Kritliyya dates to 1632 and Beit Amna bint Salim to 1540. British army doctor Major John Gayer-Anderson restored both in the 1930s and bequeathed them, with his collection, to Egypt (source: [EgyTickets](https://egytickets.com/en/sites/gayer-anderson-museum)).
Inside, carved mashrabiya screens filter light into a marble-floored qa’a (reception hall) with a central fountain. A bridge connects the two houses at upper-floor level. Gayer-Anderson furnished the themed rooms with pieces gathered on his travels, including the richly decorated Persian Room, a Damascus Room with painted wood panelling, and Chinese and Queen Anne rooms (source: [World Museum Guide](https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/gayer-anderson-museum/)). The rooftop terrace looks out over the mosque’s minaret. Film fans may recognize the courtyard from the 1977 James Bond film *The Spy Who Loved Me*.
Visitor Highlights & Practical Info
Standard foreign admission is about EGP 100 (source: [World Museum Guide](https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/gayer-anderson-museum/)). Students under 25 with valid ID pay reduced rates. Book through the official ministry portal, and arrive at least one hour before closing (source: [Egymonuments](https://egymonuments.com/details/GayerAndersonMuseum)). Crowds are usually moderate (source: [OffPeakTrip](https://offpeaktrip.com/en/guide/cairo/gayer-anderson-museum)). Weekday mornings avoid tour groups and the afternoon heat. Allow one to two hours. Pair your visit with Ibn Tulun’s spiral minaret next door. The Sultan Hassan Mosque and the Citadel are about a 15-minute walk away.
