5 Leisure Spaces To Discover in Central Singapore: A Journey Into Heritage and Culture
Downtown Singapore is known for being the business centre of Singapore but look beyond the hustle and bustle, and towering skyscrapers, you’ll find much more. In fact, some of Singapore’s most well-known national monuments are in the Civic District, including the National Museum of Singapore, the country’s oldest museum. Next to it is Fort Canning Park, a green leisure spot that is also a testament to Singapore’s history, and if you venture a little further out, you’ll arrive at the Brash Basah and Bugis precinct, a vibrant arts destination.
So whether you’re looking for activities to do or to unwind while you’re in the city, we got you covered. Here are five spaces we’ve shortlisted where you can visit for leisure while discovering Singapore’s heritage and culture at the same time.
1. The National Museum of Singapore
First established in 1849, the National Museum of Singapore building is designed with a neo-Palladian style, characterised by a symmetrical facade and use of pediments above the windows. One of the most striking features of the building is its rotunda, topped with a dome that stands 27 meters high and adorned with fish-scale tiles. The dome’s coloured glass panels and arched windows allow natural light to fill the interior.
Across its three levels and basement, the museum hosts both permanent and periodic exhibitions with the Glass Rotunda being one of the exhibition spaces in the museum. At level one, you can catch Singapore, Very Old Tree,which features 17 images of trees around Singapore, captured by renowned local photographer and artist Robert Zhao. At level two, you’ll find Story of the Forest, an installation which transforms the 69 drawings from the William Farquhar Collection of Natural History Drawings into three-dimensional animations.
You can also visit the Singapore History Gallery, a permanent exhibition that features an extensive selection of photos, paintings and artefacts that hell to vividly tell the story of Singapore.
Unsure where to start? The museum offers guided tours to help walk you through Singapore’s historical milestones. You could also attend workshops, from talks on Singapore’s history and culture to family-friendly programmes.
2. Bras Basah.Bugis
Bras Basah.Bugis reflects Singapore’s thriving arts and cultural scene. Known as the arts district of the city, the area is home to numerous museums, art galleries, and institutions. The Singapore Art Museum, which houses a spectacular collection of contemporary Southeast Asian Art, the National Design Centre, and the National Library Building, are situated here.
You can also visit Bugis Street Market, one of the biggest and affordable markets in the city, where you’ll find a range of things from clothes, to souvenirs, and street food. Just nearby, there is also Bras Basah Complex, a favourite haunt for book lovers.
The district’s interesting architecture, from the colourful shophouses and the iconic Sultan Mosque in Kampong Glam, adds to its charm. The well-known Haji Lane also enlivens the Bras Basah.Bugis district with its street art, and eclectic mix of shops from thrift shops to cafes and bars.
3. Central Public Library
Located at basement one of the National Library Building, Central Public Library is a Singapore-focused library right in the heart of city. As you enter the library, you’ll see features reminiscent of traditional local architecture and beautiful Singapore-themed murals that were created in collaboration with renowned local artists such as Ah Guo and Lee Xin Li, and students from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. The library also features exciting new spaces including:
Singapore Alcove
An immersive space which integrates the Singapore collection and an exhibition that tells Singapore stories. The inaugural exhibition, Lepak Landscapes: Life and Leisure in Singapore, focuses on our leisure culture through four content zones.
You can also generate a personalised QR code, which you can scan to interact with the content in various zones. This includes exploring stories on recreational practices in Singapore over time through digital storybooks, artefact displays and interactive elements.
Children’s Biodiversity Library by S.E.A. Aquarium
The Children’s Biodiversity Library by S.E.A. Aquarium is the first marine biodiversity-themed learning space for children at a public library in Singapore.
The library includes features such as a floor-to-ceiling column with coral-like features, a collection of marine specimens, mesmerising video projections of sea jellies and other marine creatures, and The Submarine, a room for educational programmes.
Children can also interact with the gamification kiosks to colour an avatar from NLB’s well-loved Book Bugs series and see them appear on the projection screen.
Immersive Room
The Immersive Room showcases a curved wall projection that displays immersive content through technology tools such as kinetic sensors for interactivity.
From now till 31 March 2024, you can put your own twist to well-loved stories with StoryGen, an NLB’s ExperienceIT prototype that uses generative AI to transform stories in text form into a visual experience.
Memories Corner
Memories Corner merge the lines between the indoors and outdoors. Here, you can catch a multimedia showcase by award-winning artist Brian Gothong Tan, titled The Library of Memory, screened on the 5,000 red bricks retained from the old National Library at Stamford Road.
4. Fort Canning Park
Fort Canning Park is a green oasis nestled in the heart of the city, with a rich history that dates back centuries. The hill was once the site of the palaces of 14th-century Kings, and also served as the Headquarters of the Far East Command Centre and British Army Barracks during the second world war.
Today, Fort Canning Park is a unique leisure space that allows you to immerse in nature and learn about Singapore’s history and heritage. The park features nine historical gardens.
For history lovers, you’ll find Pancur Laragan (or the Forbidden Spring) fascinating. The garden features a reconstruction of the eponymous freshwater spring in the style of a 14th-century Javanese bath. The area also has a mural wall depicting life in Fort Canning Park from the 14th century to the 19th century, as well as the socio-cultural influence of water in the different eras.
You can get active at Jubilee Park, located on the western slope of the park. The area is a family-friendly node with swings, see-saws, logs, and slides hugging the hill slope. There is also dedicated space for outdoor art installations, performances, and events.
Fort Canning Park is a popular venue for celebrations and events, and its sprawling lawns are the stage for concerts, theatre productions, and festivals like Shakespeare in the Park, Ballet Under the Stars, and Films at the Fort.
5. Esplanade Park
Esplanade Park is one of the oldest Singapore’s heritage parks. Built in 1943 and redeveloped in 1991, the park showcases many of Singapore’s historical landmarks.
Besides giving you views of the Marina Bay waterfront, a stroll along the park will take you past Lim Bo Seng Memorial and the Cenotaph, which honour the sacrifices made by soldiers. There is also the Victorian-styled Tan Kim Seng Fountain, which was built in 1882 to commemorate the contributions to Singapore by the famous Chinese philanthropist.
And as the name of the park suggests, it’s located just by the Esplanade, where you can catch a wide range of art and music showcases as well as theatrical productions. The outdoor theatre plays host to a diverse range of performances from music, dance, theatre and even circus arts. These events can be enjoyed for free every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and on public holidays.
For your next trip
These are many gems in the city to be explored. The next time you’re in the city and looking for a leisure space away from malls, check out these spaces and discover Singapore’s heritage and culture while you’re at it.
