Abstract Adults with congenital heart disease are a growing population, and now outnumber children with congenital heart disease in the United Kingdom. Many patients with repaired hearts can now, with specialist care, expect to live a normal or near normal lifespan. Other survivors have complex, surgically altered hearts and circulations that reflect the surgical and interventional practices of the preceding two decades. Their long-term outlook is unknown and they remain at lifelong risk of complications that may require further intervention. The organization of services to provide specialist care is key to their long-term survival. As the population of adults with congenital heart disease ages, so the number developing heart failure increases. Services caring for patients need to develop a robust end-of-life pathway that focuses on symptoms and quality of life, and runs in parallel with other therapies.