Far away from the bustling city life downtown, District 27, located in the northern-most part of Singapore, is the epitome of what suburban life in Singapore would look like – what with its recreational country clubs, military camps, a shipyard, nature parks, and all.
Situated in the northern region of Singapore, District 27 includes:
- Sembawang: A relatively new residential heartland that has lots of promise as new developments start to pick up in recent years.
- Yishun: One of the most well-developed HDB estates in the north, Yishun has just about everything one looks for in a suburban town – plenty of recreational options, large shopping malls for getting your retail fix, and a good mix of educational institutions nearby.
Parks and Sports Centres
Being located near the borders of the island, District 27 residents get to enjoy the added benefit of indulging in nature with a waterfront view.
The three notable parks in the district which offer this amazing benefit, include Sembawang Park which has its very own jetty and natural beach that overlooks Malaysia, Rower’s Bay Park which offers a scenic view of the picturesque Yishun Dam, and lastly the Lower Seletar Reservoir Park where residents can enjoy boating, and fishing within the reservoir.
That aside, there are plenty of outdoor recreational activities too! These include the family-friendly ORTO waterside hub where kids can experience Kampung life, visit the Live Turtle & Tortoise Museum, sweat it out at a trampoline park, and enjoy a relaxing session of prawning and fishing, or check out the Sembawang Hot Spring Park.
Sports enthusiasts, on the other hand, will appreciate the many options within the district. Yishun’s Sport and Recreation Centre has everything from a gym, sports hall, stadium, track, and a swimming complex while Sembawang’s Sports & Community Hub comes with a massive 500-seater indoor sports hall, multi-pool swimming complex, and outdoor gym.
Heritage Attractions
With its history as a military base and a town after the establishment of the Singapore Naval Base in Sembawang, it is no wonder there is plenty of interesting places of historical interest to be found in the district.
Some notable places include the Old Admiralty House, a national monument that was once home to the headquarters of the British Armed Forces, the Black and White Bungalows along Queen’s Avenue that used to house military personnel, the Holy Tree Sri Bala Subramaniar Temple, Hwee San Temple, amongst many others.
Schools, Libraries, and Other Public Facilities
With recent developments in both estates, both Yishun and Sembawang have enjoyed a boom in terms of new public amenities in recent years.
From being home to a good mix of major shopping malls, bustling neighbourhood centres, MRT stations, libraries, two hospitals, a polyclinic, large sporting complexes, places of worship, and more, residents of District 27 have everything at their fingertips.
To cater to families with kids of school-going ages, there are plenty of educational institutions to choose from – at least 15 primary schools, 11 secondary schools, Yishun Innova Junior College, and the GEMS World Academy (an international school).
Food & Beverages (F&B) and Retail Options
Within the heartland’s estate of Yishun and Sembawang, residents have malls like Northpoint City (the largest mall in the north of Singapore), Junction None, Wisteria Mall, Sembawang Shopping Centre, Canberra Plaza, and Sun Plaza that offer a comprehensive mix of retail, entertainment, and dining options.
Outside the malls, there are of course also the typical heartland neighbourhood eateries like the famous Chong Pang Market & Food Centre, Yishun Park Hawker Centre, and the popular cluster of eateries opposite Sembawang Shopping Centre.
Easy Access Via MRT
Currently served by 4 MRT stations, Sembawang, Canberra, Yishun, and Khatib, along the North-South Line, residents are just a few stops away from transport hubs like Woodlands and Bishan MRT stations to access different parts of the island.