The main college site, situated on the outskirts of the village of Girton, about 2+1⁄2 miles (4 kilometres) northwest of the university town, comprises 33 acres (13 hectares) of land.

Among Girton's notable alumni are Queen Margrethe II, former UK Supreme Court President Lady Hale, HuffPost co-founder Arianna Huffington, the comedian/author Sandi Toksvig, the comedian/broadcaster/GP Phil Hammond, the economist Joan Robinson, and the anthropologist Marilyn Strathern, who also held the position of Mistress from 1998 to 2009.

In 1865, with the help of Henry Tomkinson, Trinity College alumnus and the owner of an insurance company with good contacts within the University,[8] 91 female students entered the Cambridge Local Examination.

[17] The first term started on 16 October 1869, when five students began their studies: Emily Gibson, Anna Lloyd, Louisa Lumsden, Isabella Townshend and Sarah Woodhead.

[26] In the following year, Caroline Croom Robertson joined the management team as secretary to reduce the load on Emily Davies.

By summer 1923 the committee had completed the task, and on 21 August 1924 the King granted the charter to "the Mistress and Governors of Girton College" as a Body Corporate.

Social and cultural changes in the post-war period led to an increasing number of British universities to become co-educational.

[30] Girton had already amended its statutes in 1971 in such a way as to allow the admission of men, should the Governing Body vote in favour at an unspecified date in the future.

[31] The decision to become mixed came in November 1976, when the Governing Body voted to act upon the statute, which made Girton the first women's college to admit men.

The mistress is elected by the council, and has to reside at the college precincts for at least two-thirds of each term, or 210 days of each academic year.

The college consults regularly with the JCR and MCR on its policy of charging equal rents for all non-en suite rooms.

It was funded by the 1969 Centenary Appeal, and designed in 1971 by Cambridge architects David Wyn Roberts and Geoffrey Clarke.

[42] The red-brick design (English bond) is typical of Victorian architecture, and is enhanced by black mortar courses and terracotta details to the eaves, windows and doorways.

On the left are the entry into Jerusalem, the Betrayal of Judas and the Ecce Homo: on the right, the Scourging, Christ bearing His Cross, the Crucifixion.

[67]In the original statement of aims and scope for the "Proposed College for Women" in 1867, it was announced that religious services and instruction would be in accordance with the principles of the Church of England, but where conscientious objections were entertained, attendance would not be necessary.

[79] The Egyptian collection also holds four mummified baby crocodiles, which were thought to bring favour of Sobek, the ancient god of fertility and water.

The exhibition, aimed at showing and representing "ordinary" British people at the verge of the 21st century, toured Britain in 2000.

[89] Following an initial masterplan submission in 2016 and resubmission in 2022, an outline planning application to construct new residential accommodation, ancillary meeting space, an auditorium and relocated sports facilities was approved by South Cambridgeshire District Council in June 2023.

[90] New buildings would provide 405 rooms for student accommodation mostly to allow for relocation from Swirles Court along with long-term planned growth of postgraduates.

[92] There are men's and women's teams for badminton, football, hockey, rowing (Girton College Boat Club) and rugby.

Admitting undergraduate students studying all subjects except for the History of Art and Education Triposes,[101] the college hosts a variety of student-run societies which cater for a wide range of interests.

Finally, Girton Amnesty and the Orchestra on the Hill[102] serve students with specific interest in human rights and music, respectively.

The college applied for a coat-of-arms derived from the arms of its founders and benefactors: H. R. Tomkinson, Madame Bodichon (née Leigh Smith), Henrietta Stanley, Baroness Stanley of Alderley (daughter of the 13th Viscount Dillon), and Emily Davies who did not have arms and was instead represented by the Welsh colours, vert and argent.

Mr Tomkinson's fascinating martlets and Lady Stanley's lion had to be abandoned with regret, as was also a design of green and silver chequers which would have given more prominence to Miss Davies.

However, to remember the time when women were not allowed to obtain degrees of the University of Cambridge, no gowns are worn during the college feast, when students in their final year are celebrated.

Benedic Domine, nobis et omnibus huius collegii alumnis, donisque tuis quae de munificentia tua sumus iam sumpturi; et illis salubriter nutriti debitas tibi gratias pie reddamus.

Custodi, quaesumus, Domine, filios et filias et consule necessitatibus animarum et corporum, hoc ipso momento et in aeternum.

Protect, we beseech thee, O Lord, thy sons and daughters and provide for the needs both of our souls and bodies, at this present time and for evermore.

[21] For example, the second stanza reads: But when I climb up Castle Hill In the wind and squall A strong desire does then me fill To be-e at New Hall.

The first two stanzas go as follows: In a wheat field, west of Cambridge, Off a lane called Clarkson Road, Wolfson Court is standing proudly; Let its story now be told