The population of adults with congenital heart disease is growing. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance can provide functional as well as structural data even in the setting of complex anatomy. Due to the lack of ionizing radiation cardiovascular magnetic resonance lends itself to serial follow-up of patients with adult congenital heart disease and can be used for the investigation of altered symptoms or signs, planning of transcatheter or surgical intervention, and for baseline post-operative assessment. Both in clinical practice and in research, cardiovascular magnetic resonance has distinct advantages for assessment of the right as well as left ventricle, as no geometrical assumptions are made, and it can quantify ventricular volumes, function and mass. The utility of cardiovascular magnetic resonance and its potential lifelong contribution to the management of different adult congenital heart disease patients is discussed below.