From cow pastures to modern living, dining, and shopping, Serangoon is a popular neighborhood that exhibits the best of Singapore's Indian culture.
Serangoon is an area located in the North region of Singapore and comprises of seven subzones: Serangoon Central, Lorong Chuan, Upper Paya Lebar, Serangoon Gardens, Serangoon North, Seletar Hills, and Serangoon North Industrial Estate. In the early 19th century, Tamil Muslim traders from India pioneered the settlement of Serangoon, working in the brick kilns and cattle industries located here. Though the kilns stopped in 1860 and cattle sheds were removed in 1936, much of the Indian culture that existed has persisted here, with Serangoon now being home to the vibrant “Little India” enclave, and the majority of residents in the area are Indian.
With its fairly central location and being conveniently serviced by multiple MRT lines and public bus routes, Serangoon is a popular choice for home hunters. Several primary, secondary, and tertiary schools can be found in the area which makes it a great location for families.
For your retail therapy needs, NEX is the biggest mall in the region, boasting 7 levels of retail and dining options conveniently integrated with the Serangoon Bus Interchange and Serangoon Interchange Station. Local hawker centers such as Chomp Chomp Food Centre and Serangoon Garden Market & Food Centre offer a wide variety of local fare to satiate those hunger pangs. Dive deeper into local culture by savouring an authentic Indian meal at one of the many restaurants in Little India, choose your own fabric and get a hand-made Indian sari at the local tailor, or adorn a new outfit with sparkling jewelry from one of the handicraft/jewelry stalls that line Serangoon Road. Several supermarket brands such as Cold Storage, Sheng Siong, and NTUC Fairprice have outlets spread out across the area, making it easy for residents to grab their necessary amenities.
The combination of an integrated transport system, the availability of good amenities, presence of schools and healthcare facilities, as well as a harmonious blend of modern shopping comforts with more local and culturally rich shopping experiences, makes Serangoon an interesting and lively neighbourhood to live in. With choices between local HDB apartments and newer condominiums and terraced house complexes, the area is popular with both locals and expatriates. Housing in this area is relatively affordable, making it attractive for families, couples, professionals, and singles who are looking to flat-share.
Serangoon is bordered on the north by Seletar Hills, on the east by Trafalgar, Hougang, Kovan, and Upper Paya Lebar, on the south by Lorong Chuan, and on the west by Bishan, Chong Boon, and Cheng San.
Commute:
CBD: 11.3 km / 15-30 minutes by car / 40 minutes by transit
Changi Business Park: 14.2 km / 20-55 minutes by car / 65-75 minutes by transit
Jurong International Business Park: 17.9 km / 20-40 minutes by car / 65-80 minutes by transit
One North Buona Vista: 13.3 km / 20-40 minutes by car / 45-55 minutes by transit
Tuas: 39 km / 40-65 minutes by car / 120 minutes by transit
Serangoon LOCAL schools
Serangoon Local Flavor 
The largest mall in North Singapore and one of the largest suburban malls in the country, Nex (stylized as “nex”) is a large shopping mall within the Serangoon area. Conveniently integrated with Serangoon Bus Interchange and Serangoon MRT Station, the mall is home to some 340 brand outlets spread across 7 levels. You’ll find retail and dining options, as well as other services such as banking, ATMs, medical clinics, hair and beauty services, jewelry, and gift shops.
Chomp Chomp Food Centre is a popular choice for local foodies to enjoy their favorite hawker fares and barbecued food. Though smaller in size compared to other local hawker centers, Chomp Chomp does not disappoint with the astonishing amount of great food stalls on offer. Tucked away in a quiet corner of the neighborhood, be sure to get there early on evenings to get yourself a table.
Serangoon Garden Bakery and Confectionery is a local secret with 32 years of heritage. Their handmade buns and breads are handmade fresh daily, and are known to sell out by around 3.30pm. Be sure to get there early in the morning or join the long snaking queues waiting to get their hands on some warm baked goodness. The stall is closed on Mondays, but opens daily at 7.30am.
Fighting against the stereotype of “soulless malls” in Singapore, myVillage aims to marry light-hearted nostalgia and modern convenience in their outlet. You’ll find shopping and dining options with supermarkets to fulfill your daily grocery needs, as well as unique events such as film festivals and music concerts on the mall’s cosy alfresco rooftop!
Whether it’s for fun or fitness, SkyHigh Trampoline Park is a great place to check out for a bit of active weekend fun. Dive into foam pits, bounce around from trampoline to trampoline, or dunk a basketball with a bit of added boost, and let your inner child loose! The space can also be booked out for private events and parties.
Primarily aimed at children with classes designed to let children experience the world of arts and crafts in a nurturing environment, Art Speaks Studio also allows you full-grown humans to channel your inner Michelangelo in a number of different programmes available at their studio. You can pick up oil painting or portrait lessons with their experienced instructors, or participate in an Art Jamming session where you can chill out and paint your masterpiece over a relaxing cup of coffee.
Photo Credits: Thanks to @nastia_aleshkina, @kris.etk, @braddell_heights, @mshauket.developer, @jl12ho, @xiaoben93, @ronnieyeap, @aaronunited1990, @teobengtee2, @genki530, @prawiroyudo, @oget45, @ekaputri_a, @rita_phian, @celia1976pay, @leeliloo, @ederzacharias, @darrapspta, @argyaday, @whatisntthere, @miine16 for your great photos of this neighborhood!
