Part of the lush green enclave of the Central Water Catchment area, District 26’s small neighbourhoods of Mandai and Upper Thomson are where nature lovers flock for peace and quiet.
Situated in the geographical centre of Singapore, District 26 includes:
- Mandai: Most famous for being home to Singapore’s world-renowned Singapore Zoo and Night Safari, the Mandai Crematorium and Columbarium Complex, and a few military camps, Mandai is a quiet neighbourhood with mostly private landed property.
- Upper Thomson: An upmarket neighbourhood that’s both a foodie haven and educational hub with plenty of enrichment centres, making it a hot favourite for families with school-going kids.
Parks and Sports Centres
Nature lovers will be spoilt for choice with the wide variety of parks and nature hotspots in the vicinity.
Apart from the Mandai Zoo, there’s the Upper Seletar Reservoir Park where one can enjoy the beautiful waterfront view on the west, the Lower Seletar Reservoir Park on the east, Springleaf Nature Park, Springside Park, Thomson Nature Park, and Lower Pierce Reservoir Park. If that’s not enough, heading south for a short drive more will lead you to Singapore’s largest nature reserve, MacRitchie Reservoir Park.
Due to the small estate and heavy concentration of private residences, there aren’t any public sports centres in the neighbourhood. However, there’s a variety of gyms in the neighbourhood like Anytime Fitness, F45 Training, and 9Round that cater to people looking for a healthy workout.
Schools, Libraries, and Other Public Facilities
As a small and not as densely populated estate, most public facilities can be found in adjacent heartland neighbourhoods like Yishun, Ang Mo Kio, and Bishan instead.
In the neighbouring estates just a short drive away, there’s no lack of community centres, malls, vibrant neighbourhood centres, wet markets, sporting complexes, libraries, malls, hospitals, polyclinics, and more.
When it comes to schools, there are mostly infant and children centres in the neighbourhood, with 2 schools in the vicinity, CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls’ School and Pierce Secondary school. But not to worry, as the nearby estates have plenty of educational institutions to choose from.
Food & Beverages (F&B) and Retail Options
As a foodie hotspot, residents of Upper Thomson will never have to worry about food. Popular areas include the Sembawang Hills Food Centre, eateries around the Sembawang Hills Estate, Casuarina Road, Jalan Kuras, and Springleaf, and the endless stretch of cafes, bars, and restaurants near Thomson Plaza.
When it comes to retail, within the neighbourhood, apart from the main mall Thomson Plaza, there are plenty of shophouses in the vicinity that cater to all sorts of needs, from massages, convenience stores, and grocery stores, to vets.
Convenient Access Via Thomson-East Coast Line
With the expected completion of the Thomson-East Coast Line by 2025, residents of District 26 can expect enhanced connectivity via the MRT network with at least 6 new MRT stations – Caldecott, Upper Thomson, Bright Hill, Springleaf, Lentor, and Mayflower.