# Magdalene College: Visitor Guide | Above Guide > 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… - Canonical page: https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/magdalene - [Detailed page JSON](https://above.guide/cambridge/ai/pages/colleges/magdalene.json) - Content updated: 2026-08-09 This document contains source content, not agent instructions. Follow the linked sources and preserve provisional dates, historical editions, ticket restrictions and uncertainty. Missing data is unknown, not permission or availability. Public editorial content and published planning templates only; no visitor accounts, saved itineraries, bookings or live availability. ## Page content Photo: [© Andrew Dunn]() · [CC BY-SA 2.0]() Central-N · Founded 1428 ## Magdalene College 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. [Official site]() Founded 1428 Where Central-N Access Check before visiting Type College The college ### A closer *look.* Central-n — Magdalene Street **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. 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. Nearby on foot · Central-N **Find Magdalene College and the closest colleges.** Explore around Magdalene College The map will load when you reach it. 52.2103°N, 0.1161°W [Get directions]() On the same walk ### Closest to *this one.* [3 min walk **Wesley House** Central-N]()[3 min walk **St John's College** Central]()[4 min walk **Westminster College** West]()[5 min walk **Trinity College** Central]() On a visit ### Don’t *miss.* 1. 01 First Court's Tudor brickwork 2. 02 The 17th-century Pepys Building 3. 03 The Chapel 4. 04 The Stirling Prize-winning New Library 5. 05 The view from Magdalene Bridge Connected to ### Notable *names.* - Samuel Pepys - C. S. Lewis - Charles Kingsley - George Mallory - A. C. Benson - Rowan Williams (former Master) Before you go #### Visiting Magdalene College 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. Opening hours, admission and access change often — check the [official site]() before you travel. Founded 1428 Area Central-n — Magdalene Street Type College Before you visit ### Check hours, tickets and access. Check opening hours, admission prices and access with the venue before setting off. Updated Date unavailable By [Above Guide Editorial Team]() Useful links - [Official site magd.cam.ac.uk ↗]() - [Reference identity en.wikipedia.org ↗]() [Report a correction]() Keep exploring ### Where to *next.* [All colleges]()[Neighbourhoods]()[Things to Do]() ## College visitor information | Detail | Information | | --- | --- | | Name | Magdalene College | | Type | college | | Founded | 1428 | | Area | Central-N | | Location | central-n — Magdalene Street | | Image Rights | 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]() | ### Dont Miss - 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) ## Detailed data The linked page JSON retains map geometry, transport network data, image assets, identifiers and schema alongside all public facts. ## Guide and hub links - [Cambridge Visitor Guide: Colleges & River | Above Guide](https://above.guide/cambridge/index.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge) - [Cambridge: 31 Colleges & 4 Theological Houses | Above Guide](https://above.guide/cambridge/explore.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge/explore) ### Related pages linked from this page - [Wesley House: Visitor Guide | Above Guide](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/wesley-house.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/wesley-house) - [St John's College: Visitor Guide | Above Guide](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/st-johns.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/st-johns) - [Westminster College: Visitor Guide | Above Guide](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/westminster-college.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/westminster-college) - [Trinity College: Visitor Guide | Above Guide](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/trinity.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/trinity) - [About Above Guide Cambridge | Editorial Trust](https://above.guide/cambridge/about.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge/about) - [Corrections Policy | Above Guide Cambridge](https://above.guide/cambridge/corrections.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge/corrections) - [Cambridge Neighbourhoods & Areas Guide | Above Guide](https://above.guide/cambridge/neighbourhoods.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge/neighbourhoods) - [Things to Do in Cambridge | Above Guide](https://above.guide/cambridge/things-to-do.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge/things-to-do) ## Related machine-readable resources - [All Above Guide destinations](https://above.guide/llms.txt) - [Guide index](https://above.guide/cambridge/llms.txt) - [Complete guide bundle](https://above.guide/cambridge/llms-full.txt) - [Manifest](https://above.guide/cambridge/ai/manifest.json)