Middle Eastern Museums

Brunei Gallery

Part of the University of London's School for Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), the Brunei Gallery hosts a programme of changing exhibitions that reflect subjects and regions studied at the school. Typically you can expect collections of Islamic art, contemporary paintings or examples of applied arts from the Arab world.

Leighton House Museum

The home of classical painter Frederic, Lord Leighton, built between 1864-79, is an homage to the Oriental fantasies of the age. Leighton House Museum has more to do with the Victorian Britain perhaps than the realities of the Middle East but there's no denying how striking is the fabulously opulent Arab Hall. The house also hosts changing exhibitions, often on an Arab world theme.

Museum of London

Part of the Museum of London's collection of prints, photographs and other items is catalogued under the heading of Arab London.

Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A)

The Jameel Gallery of the V&A dedicated to Islamic art opened in 2006. It houses over 400 objects, including ceramics, textiles, carpets, metalwork, glass and woodwork. Although some of the pieces come from Moorish Spain and Central Asia, most are from the Arab lands, Turkey and Iran. The highlight of the collection is the Ardabil Carpet, the oldest carpet and one of the largest carpets in the world.