Why does a college named after Mary Magdalene answer to the pronunciation "Maudlin"?

If you want to sound like a true Cambridge insider, you must never pronounce this college the way it is spelled. It is pronounced “Maudlin” College. When it was refounded in 1542 by Lord Audley, the name was intentionally chosen to honor Mary Magdalene, but it secretly contained a clever phonetic pun on Lord Audley's own name (“M-Audley-n”).

Originally established way back in 1428 as a hostel for Benedictine monks, Magdalene holds the title of the absolute last college in Cambridge to admit women, holding out until 1988. This deep tie to old monastic traditions makes it one of the most structurally preserved, peaceful, and fiercely independent colleges in the entire university. At We Are Cambridge, our student teams walk through these low-roofed brick courts every single day. Here is your definitive, insider introduction to the history, architectural wonders, and hidden student traditions of Magdalene.

The Architecture: An Elegant Riverside Library and Ancient Monastic Brick

You cannot talk about Magdalene without talking about how it retains the cozy, low-ceilinged atmosphere of a medieval monastery, contrasting beautifully with its stunning new architectural additions.

• The Baroque Treasure: Tucked away in Second Court sits the magnificent Pepys Library. Completed in the late 17th century, this grand, symmetrical brick-and-stone building was specifically constructed to house the private book collection of Magdalene’s most famous alumnus.

• The Award-Winning Masterpiece: At the back of the college stands the New Library, completed in 2021. Built with rich red brick, timber gables, and soaring vaulted reading rooms, it won the prestigious RIBA Stirling Prize for the best new building in the UK, seamlessly blending 21st-century design with medieval textures.

• How to see it: Because Magdalene sits slightly north of the main tourist rush on the far side of the river, its courts are blissfully quiet. Make sure to check out our step-by-step entry tips on Visit Cambridge to see the library's strictly limited public opening hours.

  
  

The Hidden History: Secret Diaries and Literary Inventions

Magdalene’s historic archives house one of the most famous, scandalous, and revealing primary sources in British history.

• The Coded Diary of Samuel Pepys: The Pepys Library contains the original, unexpurgated diary of Samuel Pepys, written between 1660 and 1669. Pepys witnessed the Great Fire of London and the Great Plague firsthand. Fearing his scandalous personal secrets would be discovered, he wrote all 3,000 pages in a highly complex, secret shorthand code that took scholars decades to crack.

• The Chronicles of Narnia: This is the academic home of legendary author C.S. Lewis, who served as a Professor of Medieval and Renaissance English at Magdalene from 1954 until his death. He did much of his writing inside his college rooms, and local students still swear the gas lamps in the college gardens inspired his description of Narnia.

• The Great Anchor Prank: Magdalene sits right next to the busiest bridge on the river. In a legendary midnight stunt, a group of mischievous engineering students sneaked out and chained a massive, heavy iron ship's anchor to the college's main lawn, daring the porters to try and lift it.

The Student Vibe: Candlelit Dining and Riverside Lounging

What is it actually like to live behind these ancient brick walls today? Magdalene students enjoy a tight-knit, fiercely traditional community that takes full advantage of its unique location.

• The Candlelit Hall: Magdalene is the absolute last college in Cambridge to reject electric lighting in its 16th-century Great Hall. Every single evening, students dine entirely by the romantic, ambient glow of hundreds of real wax candles, served beneath the historic portraits of old Tudor masters.

• The Bridge Privilege: Because the college directly borders the sweeping lawns of Magdalene Backs, students spend their summer terms lounging on the grass right next to the river, watching the chaotic tourist punts squeeze through the narrow arches of the public bridge.

How can you get the ultimate view of Magdalene College?

Because Magdalene directly lines the northernmost bends of the river, its historic timber-framed student rooms drop straight down into the water, looking like a historic postcard from the water level.

If you want to glide smoothly past the oldest monastic walls on the river and get an uninterrupted view of the college's beautiful riverfront facades, slide onto the water with us. Our standard Cambridge punting tours cruise right past the Magdalene gardens, giving you a completely unique photographic angle. For groups or couples wanting an unhurried, personalized experience to capture the brickwork in the golden afternoon light, booking a private punting tour lets you set your own relaxed pace on the water.

Prefer to explore the medieval courts, the Pepys Library, and seek out C.S. Lewis's old paths on foot? Let our passionate student guides show you the hidden doorways and share the real university gossip on a classic Cambridge walking tour. Or, if you want a deeply academic dive into the coded diaries, monastic foundations, and architectural prizes of the university, join our exclusive Cambridge PhD tours.

No matter how you choose to explore, our team of real university researchers is ready to help you unlock the magic of Visit Cambridge.

No matter how you choose to explore, our team of real university researchers is ready to help you unlock the magic of Visit Cambridge.

Written by a Cambridge guide at We Are Oxbridge.

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