{
  "tenant": "cambridge",
  "route": "/colleges/magdalene",
  "destination": {
    "slug": "cambridge",
    "name": "Cambridge"
  },
  "scope": "Public editorial content and published planning templates only; no visitor accounts, saved itineraries, bookings or live availability.",
  "data": {
    "college": {
      "id": "magdalene",
      "name": "Magdalene College",
      "type": "college",
      "founded": 1428,
      "foundedNote": "Originating in 1428 as a Benedictine hostel for student-monks of Crowland Abbey, later known as Buckingham College, it was refounded in 1542 by Thomas, Lord Audley as the College of St Mary Magdalene after the Dissolution of the Monasteries.",
      "era": "Mellow medieval and Tudor brick courts face Magdalene Street beside the river, with the 17th-century Pepys Building holding Samuel Pepys's library in his original bookcases, and Níall McLaughlin's New Library, winner of the 2022 Stirling Prize, marking the newest era.",
      "why": "Keeper of Samuel Pepys's 3,000-volume library in his own bookcases, set in mellow brick courts beside Magdalene Bridge, and famous for dining by candlelight in its unelectrified Hall.",
      "dontMiss": [
        "First Court's Tudor brickwork",
        "the 17th-century Pepys Building",
        "the Chapel",
        "the Stirling Prize-winning New Library",
        "the view from Magdalene Bridge"
      ],
      "notable": [
        "Samuel Pepys",
        "C. S. Lewis",
        "Charles Kingsley",
        "George Mallory",
        "A. C. Benson",
        "Rowan Williams (former Master)"
      ],
      "area": "Central-N",
      "location": "central-n — Magdalene Street",
      "visiting": "Visitors are welcome year-round except from mid-April to mid-June during exams, checking in at the Porters' Lodge on arrival, and the Chapel is open through the day for quiet reflection. The Pepys Library is closed to visitors until 2027 for refurbishment of its Grade I listed building.",
      "imageRights": "freely-depictable-exterior: the Tudor brick street front runs along Magdalene Street at Magdalene Bridge, a public thoroughfare",
      "url": "https://www.magd.cam.ac.uk"
    }
  },
  "missingData": [],
  "schemaVersion": 2,
  "canonical": "https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/magdalene",
  "tenantRoot": "https://above.guide/cambridge/",
  "markdownUrl": "https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/magdalene.md",
  "dataUrl": "https://above.guide/cambridge/ai/pages/colleges/magdalene.json",
  "title": "Magdalene College: Visitor Guide | Above Guide",
  "description": "Keeper of Samuel Pepys's 3,000-volume library in his own bookcases, set in mellow brick courts beside Magdalene Bridge, and famous for dining by candlelight…",
  "language": "en-GB",
  "pageKind": "college",
  "pageType": "WebPage",
  "contentUpdated": "2026-08-09",
  "generatedAt": "2026-10-11T19:51:11.426Z",
  "indexable": true,
  "navigation": {
    "siteIndex": "https://above.guide/llms.txt",
    "guideIndex": "https://above.guide/cambridge/llms.txt",
    "home": {
      "route": "/",
      "title": "Cambridge Visitor Guide: Colleges & River | Above Guide",
      "canonical": "https://above.guide/cambridge",
      "markdownUrl": "https://above.guide/cambridge/index.md",
      "dataUrl": "https://above.guide/cambridge/ai/pages/index.json"
    },
    "parent": {
      "route": "/explore",
      "title": "Cambridge: 31 Colleges & 4 Theological Houses | Above Guide",
      "canonical": "https://above.guide/cambridge/explore",
      "markdownUrl": "https://above.guide/cambridge/explore.md",
      "dataUrl": "https://above.guide/cambridge/ai/pages/explore.json"
    },
    "children": [],
    "related": [
      {
        "route": "/colleges/wesley-house",
        "title": "Wesley House: Visitor Guide | Above Guide",
        "canonical": "https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/wesley-house",
        "markdownUrl": "https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/wesley-house.md",
        "dataUrl": "https://above.guide/cambridge/ai/pages/colleges/wesley-house.json"
      },
      {
        "route": "/colleges/st-johns",
        "title": "St John's College: Visitor Guide | Above Guide",
        "canonical": "https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/st-johns",
        "markdownUrl": "https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/st-johns.md",
        "dataUrl": "https://above.guide/cambridge/ai/pages/colleges/st-johns.json"
      },
      {
        "route": "/colleges/westminster-college",
        "title": "Westminster College: Visitor Guide | Above Guide",
        "canonical": "https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/westminster-college",
        "markdownUrl": "https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/westminster-college.md",
        "dataUrl": "https://above.guide/cambridge/ai/pages/colleges/westminster-college.json"
      },
      {
        "route": "/colleges/trinity",
        "title": "Trinity College: Visitor Guide | Above Guide",
        "canonical": "https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/trinity",
        "markdownUrl": "https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/trinity.md",
        "dataUrl": "https://above.guide/cambridge/ai/pages/colleges/trinity.json"
      },
      {
        "route": "/about",
        "title": "About Above Guide Cambridge | Editorial Trust",
        "canonical": "https://above.guide/cambridge/about",
        "markdownUrl": "https://above.guide/cambridge/about.md",
        "dataUrl": "https://above.guide/cambridge/ai/pages/about.json"
      },
      {
        "route": "/corrections",
        "title": "Corrections Policy | Above Guide Cambridge",
        "canonical": "https://above.guide/cambridge/corrections",
        "markdownUrl": "https://above.guide/cambridge/corrections.md",
        "dataUrl": "https://above.guide/cambridge/ai/pages/corrections.json"
      },
      {
        "route": "/neighbourhoods",
        "title": "Cambridge Neighbourhoods & Areas Guide | Above Guide",
        "canonical": "https://above.guide/cambridge/neighbourhoods",
        "markdownUrl": "https://above.guide/cambridge/neighbourhoods.md",
        "dataUrl": "https://above.guide/cambridge/ai/pages/neighbourhoods.json"
      },
      {
        "route": "/things-to-do",
        "title": "Things to Do in Cambridge | Above Guide",
        "canonical": "https://above.guide/cambridge/things-to-do",
        "markdownUrl": "https://above.guide/cambridge/things-to-do.md",
        "dataUrl": "https://above.guide/cambridge/ai/pages/things-to-do.json"
      }
    ]
  },
  "structuredData": [
    {
      "@context": "https://schema.org",
      "@graph": [
        {
          "@type": "Organization",
          "@id": "https://above.guide/#organization",
          "name": "Above Guide",
          "alternateName": "above.guide",
          "url": "https://above.guide",
          "description": "Independent publisher of contextual destination guides, practical visitor information and immersive city experiences.",
          "logo": {
            "@type": "ImageObject",
            "url": "https://above.guide/cambridge/favicon.svg",
            "contentUrl": "https://above.guide/cambridge/favicon.svg",
            "caption": "Above Guide"
          },
          "email": "hello@above.guide",
          "contactPoint": {
            "@type": "ContactPoint",
            "contactType": "Editorial corrections",
            "email": "hello@above.guide",
            "url": "https://above.guide/cambridge/corrections",
            "availableLanguage": "English"
          },
          "publishingPrinciples": "https://above.guide/cambridge/editorial-policy",
          "ethicsPolicy": "https://above.guide/cambridge/editorial-policy",
          "correctionsPolicy": "https://above.guide/cambridge/corrections",
          "subjectOf": {
            "@id": "https://above.guide/cambridge/about/#webpage"
          },
          "areaServed": {
            "@type": "City",
            "name": "Cambridge"
          },
          "knowsAbout": [
            "Cambridge travel",
            "Cambridge visitor planning",
            "Cambridge colleges",
            "Cambridge neighbourhoods"
          ]
        },
        {
          "@type": "WebSite",
          "@id": "https://above.guide/cambridge/#website",
          "name": "Above Guide Cambridge",
          "url": "https://above.guide/cambridge",
          "inLanguage": "en-GB",
          "publisher": {
            "@id": "https://above.guide/#organization"
          },
          "about": {
            "@id": "https://above.guide/cambridge/#destination"
          },
          "publishingPrinciples": "https://above.guide/cambridge/editorial-policy"
        },
        {
          "@type": "Organization",
          "@id": "https://above.guide/cambridge/about#editorial-team",
          "name": "Above Guide Editorial Team",
          "url": "https://above.guide/cambridge/about#editorial-team",
          "description": "The editorial team responsible for researching, writing and reviewing Above Guide Cambridge.",
          "parentOrganization": {
            "@id": "https://above.guide/#organization"
          },
          "publishingPrinciples": "https://above.guide/cambridge/editorial-policy"
        },
        {
          "@type": "WebPage",
          "@id": "https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/magdalene/#webpage",
          "url": "https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/magdalene",
          "name": "Magdalene College: Visitor Guide | Above Guide",
          "description": "Keeper of Samuel Pepys's 3,000-volume library in his own bookcases, set in mellow brick courts beside Magdalene Bridge, and famous for dining by candlelight…",
          "isPartOf": {
            "@id": "https://above.guide/cambridge/#website"
          },
          "breadcrumb": {
            "@id": "https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/magdalene/#breadcrumb"
          },
          "inLanguage": "en-GB",
          "dateModified": "2026-08-09",
          "reviewedBy": {
            "@id": "https://above.guide/cambridge/about#editorial-team"
          },
          "author": {
            "@id": "https://above.guide/cambridge/about#editorial-team"
          },
          "publisher": {
            "@id": "https://above.guide/#organization"
          },
          "primaryImageOfPage": {
            "@id": "https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/magdalene/#primary-image"
          },
          "about": {
            "@id": "https://above.guide/cambridge/#destination"
          },
          "mainEntity": {
            "@id": "https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/magdalene/#editorial-article"
          }
        },
        {
          "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
          "@id": "https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/magdalene/#breadcrumb",
          "itemListElement": [
            {
              "@type": "ListItem",
              "position": 1,
              "name": "Cambridge",
              "item": "https://above.guide/cambridge"
            },
            {
              "@type": "ListItem",
              "position": 2,
              "name": "Colleges and theological houses",
              "item": "https://above.guide/cambridge/explore"
            },
            {
              "@type": "ListItem",
              "position": 3,
              "name": "Magdalene College",
              "item": "https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/magdalene"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "@type": "ImageObject",
          "@id": "https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/magdalene/#primary-image",
          "url": "https://above.guide/cambridge/_guide/images/colleges/cambridge/magdalene.webp",
          "contentUrl": "https://above.guide/cambridge/_guide/images/colleges/cambridge/magdalene.webp",
          "width": 1134,
          "caption": "Magdalene College, Cambridge"
        },
        {
          "@type": "TouristDestination",
          "@id": "https://above.guide/cambridge/#destination",
          "name": "Cambridge",
          "description": "Understand the city before you arrive — the colleges, the river and the Backs, the free museums and the commons — then build a visit that fits the time you have.",
          "url": "https://above.guide/cambridge",
          "containedInPlace": {
            "@type": "AdministrativeArea",
            "name": "Cambridgeshire, England"
          }
        },
        {
          "@type": "Article",
          "@id": "https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/magdalene/#editorial-article",
          "headline": "Magdalene College: visitor guide",
          "description": "Keeper of Samuel Pepys's 3,000-volume library in his own bookcases, set in mellow brick courts beside Magdalene Bridge, and famous for dining by candlelight…",
          "url": "https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/magdalene",
          "mainEntityOfPage": {
            "@id": "https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/magdalene/#webpage"
          },
          "author": {
            "@id": "https://above.guide/cambridge/about#editorial-team"
          },
          "creator": {
            "@id": "https://above.guide/cambridge/about#editorial-team"
          },
          "editor": {
            "@id": "https://above.guide/cambridge/about#editorial-team"
          },
          "publisher": {
            "@id": "https://above.guide/#organization"
          },
          "copyrightHolder": {
            "@id": "https://above.guide/#organization"
          },
          "inLanguage": "en-GB",
          "dateModified": "2026-08-09",
          "image": {
            "@id": "https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/magdalene/#primary-image"
          },
          "thumbnailUrl": "https://above.guide/cambridge/_guide/images/colleges/cambridge/magdalene.webp",
          "isPartOf": {
            "@id": "https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/magdalene/#webpage"
          },
          "about": {
            "@id": "https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/magdalene/#institution"
          },
          "spatialCoverage": {
            "@type": "City",
            "name": "Cambridge"
          },
          "audience": {
            "@type": "Audience",
            "audienceType": "Visitors and trip planners"
          },
          "genre": "Travel guide",
          "articleSection": "Colleges and theological houses",
          "citation": [
            "https://www.magd.cam.ac.uk",
            "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magdalene_College,_Cambridge"
          ],
          "publishingPrinciples": "https://above.guide/cambridge/editorial-policy"
        },
        {
          "@type": "CollegeOrUniversity",
          "@id": "https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/magdalene/#institution",
          "name": "Magdalene College",
          "url": "https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/magdalene",
          "sameAs": [
            "https://www.magd.cam.ac.uk",
            "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magdalene_College,_Cambridge",
            "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q776807"
          ],
          "identifier": [
            {
              "@type": "PropertyValue",
              "propertyID": "wikidata",
              "value": "Q776807"
            }
          ],
          "foundingDate": "1428",
          "description": "Keeper of Samuel Pepys's 3,000-volume library in his own bookcases, set in mellow brick courts beside Magdalene Bridge, and famous for dining by candlelight in its unelectrified Hall.",
          "image": "https://above.guide/cambridge/_guide/images/colleges/cambridge/magdalene.webp",
          "hasMap": "https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=52.21028,0.11611",
          "geo": {
            "@type": "GeoCoordinates",
            "latitude": 52.21028,
            "longitude": 0.11611
          },
          "mainEntityOfPage": {
            "@id": "https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/magdalene/#webpage"
          },
          "parentOrganization": {
            "@type": "CollegeOrUniversity",
            "name": "University of Cambridge",
            "sameAs": "https://www.cam.ac.uk"
          },
          "location": {
            "@type": "Place",
            "name": "central-n — Magdalene Street",
            "geo": {
              "@type": "GeoCoordinates",
              "latitude": 52.21028,
              "longitude": 0.11611
            },
            "address": {
              "@type": "PostalAddress",
              "streetAddress": "central-n — Magdalene Street",
              "addressLocality": "Cambridge",
              "addressRegion": "Cambridgeshire",
              "addressCountry": "GB"
            }
          }
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "editorialMarkdown": "Photo: [© Andrew Dunn](<https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MagdaleneCollegeCamFirstCourt.jpg>) · [CC BY-SA 2.0](<https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>)\n\nCentral-N · Founded 1428\n\n## Magdalene College\n\nKeeper of Samuel Pepys's 3,000-volume library in his own bookcases, set in mellow brick courts beside Magdalene Bridge, and famous for dining by candlelight in its unelectrified Hall.\n\n[Official site](<https://www.magd.cam.ac.uk/>)\n\nFounded  1428\n\nWhere  Central-N\n\nAccess  Check before visiting\n\nType  College\n\nThe college\n\n### A closer\n*look.*\n\nCentral-n — Magdalene Street\n\n**Founded 1428.** Originating in 1428 as a Benedictine hostel for student-monks of Crowland Abbey, later known as Buckingham College, it was refounded in 1542 by Thomas, Lord Audley as the College of St Mary Magdalene after the Dissolution of the Monasteries.\n\nMellow medieval and Tudor brick courts face Magdalene Street beside the river, with the 17th-century Pepys Building holding Samuel Pepys's library in his original bookcases, and Níall McLaughlin's New Library, winner of the 2022 Stirling Prize, marking the newest era.\n\nNearby on foot · Central-N **Find Magdalene College and the closest colleges.**\n\nExplore around Magdalene College\n\n The map will load when you reach it.\n\n52.2103°N, 0.1161°W [Get directions](<https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=52.21028,0.11611>)\n\nOn the same walk\n\n### Closest to\n*this one.*\n\n[3 min walk **Wesley House** Central-N](<https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/wesley-house>)[3 min walk **St John's College** Central](<https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/st-johns>)[4 min walk **Westminster College** West](<https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/westminster-college>)[5 min walk **Trinity College** Central](<https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/trinity>)\n\nOn a visit\n\n### Don’t *miss.*\n\n1. 01  First Court's Tudor brickwork\n2. 02  The 17th-century Pepys Building\n3. 03  The Chapel\n4. 04  The Stirling Prize-winning New Library\n5. 05  The view from Magdalene Bridge\n\nConnected to\n\n### Notable\n*names.*\n\n- Samuel Pepys\n- C. S. Lewis\n- Charles Kingsley\n- George Mallory\n- A. C. Benson\n- Rowan Williams (former Master)\n\nBefore you go\n\n#### Visiting Magdalene College\n\nVisitors are welcome year-round except from mid-April to mid-June during exams, checking in at the Porters' Lodge on arrival, and the Chapel is open through the day for quiet reflection. The Pepys Library is closed to visitors until 2027 for refurbishment of its Grade I listed building.\n\nOpening hours, admission and access change often — check the [official site](<https://www.magd.cam.ac.uk/>) before you travel.\n\nFounded\n\n1428\n\nArea\n\nCentral-n — Magdalene Street\n\nType\n\nCollege\n\nBefore you visit\n\n### Check hours, tickets and access.\n\nCheck opening hours, admission prices and access with the venue before setting off.\n\nUpdated\n\nDate unavailable\n\nBy\n\n[Above Guide Editorial Team](<https://above.guide/cambridge/about#editorial-team>)\n\nUseful links\n\n- [Official site magd.cam.ac.uk ↗](<https://www.magd.cam.ac.uk/>)\n- [Reference identity en.wikipedia.org ↗](<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magdalene_College,_Cambridge>)\n\n[Report a correction](<https://above.guide/cambridge/corrections>)\n\nKeep exploring\n\n### Where to\n*next.*\n\n[All colleges](<https://above.guide/cambridge/explore>)[Neighbourhoods](<https://above.guide/cambridge/neighbourhoods>)[Things to Do](<https://above.guide/cambridge/things-to-do>)"
}
