Wondering where to live in Singapore? It’s always good to talk to the neighbours, so here we talk to a family that live on Springleaf Avenue. That’s near the top of Upper Thomson and relatively close to the Singapore Zoo – if that helps you get your bearings! Before you choose a house, it’s always good to check which international schools are nearby, what your commute time to work will be and what the public transport is like – for starters. We chat to Rachel Sellers from the UK about why she loves her neighbourhood.
The Specifics
What’s the name of the street where you live? Springleaf Avenue.
Closest MRT station? Khatib MRT (North South Line).
How long have you lived here? For a year.
Why here? The size of the property is value for money and much bigger than similar properties that are more central. We really enjoy rural living and being surrounded by nature, with no high-rise buildings. We see wildlife on a daily basis such as kingfishers, turtles, otters and monitor lizards.
The Scene
When you walk out of your place, the first thing you see is: Greenery and wildlife.
The closest store to your front door is: Wine Mansion.
Your street would make the perfect backdrop for a remake of: The Jungle Book.
When you’re in need of a dose of culture, you: Head to town to see the latest bands. We love going to Haji Lane to enjoy live music by local bands and yummy food. We also like catching touring bands at the National Stadium and other venues.
If you’re missing home, you: Go to Smiths Fish and Chips in Bukit Timah.
A mandatory stop for out-of-town guests is: My kids would vote the Skyline Luge on Sentosa!
A common myth about your neighbourhood is: It’s too far away. But in reality, the SLE is so close and there is a great public transport system.
A massive late-night rager on your street is likely to be: A big deal is made of Halloween and Christmas parties in this neighbourhood.
The Superlatives
Your hands-down favourite neighbourhood joints are: Wine Mansion, Sher North Indian Casual Dining & Bar and the famous Springleaf Prata Place.
You won’t find better local food than at: ORTO in Yishun – we love the food and atmosphere. It’s nicely busy and was a great venue to watch the World Cup!
The strangest thing you’ve ever seen on your street is: A family of five otters in the canal.
We love a good bargain. The best deals in your neighbourhood are: $10 pints at Wine Mansion; it’s a five-minute walk from our home. It has an amazing wine selection plus lovely staff who make you feel really welcome.
One thing you’d never change is: The peace and quiet of the area.
But one thing you wouldn’t mind seeing go is: People on motorised scooters.
The city gives you $5 million to soup up your street. You use it to: Increase the number of workers on the new MRT station that is being built close by so it’ll be completed more quickly!
Looking to lease a home in Singapore? Call 6223 5223 or head to fareast.com.sg/homes-for-rent.
Like this? Read more at our neighbourhood guides section:
Guide to living in Charlton Park
This article first appeared in the October 2018 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase a copy or subscribe so you never miss an issue!
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