Planning for a fun day out with the whole family, friends or going on a solo adventure? Seniors can explore some affordable and convenient places once they head out of the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) stations. Having its construction delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, our newest MRT line - the TEL - started service on 13 November 2022. While the TEL is not fully opened yet, it adds to Singapore’s five MRT lines, and provides more route options with eight interchange stations that connect to all the major lines.
And it’s fast too, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) says that trains on the TEL will arrive at stations every six minutes during off-peak hours. Peak-hour train frequency for the TEL is at five minutes.
Senior commuters with mobility or visual difficulties will be able to get around easily on the TEL. Lifts equipped with wheelchair access, accessible toilets, brighter and larger signages and ergonomic seats are available at all the stations. There’s even a hearing enhancement system installed at all passenger service centres, to help folks with hearing aids communicate with the staff. So grab your senior concession card, and hop aboard a TEL train for some senior-friendly activities near the MRT!
Jump to the following sections:
- TE1 Woodlands North Station - Woodlands Waterfront Park
- TE2 Woodlands Station - Woodlands Regional Library
- TE9 Caldecott Station - Thomson Road/ SAVH
- TE12 Napier Station - Singapore Botanic Gardens
- TE15 Great World Station - Singapore River/Kim Seng Park
- TE22 Gardens by the Bay Station - Gardens by the Bay
Photo credit: National Parks Board
TE1 Woodlands North Station - Woodlands Waterfront Park
View the Coastal Park and Straits of Johor
13 minutes walk from Woodlands North MRT Station (TE1)
Near the first stop along the TEL line is a 11-hectare park that houses a large playground with a wide range of equipment and a 1.5-kilometre-long waterfront promenade. This makes Woodlands Waterfront Park an ideal spot for intergenerational family activities.
Seniors can enjoy an unobstructed and panoramic view of the entire coastal park and the Straits of Johor from high vantage points and rest shelters placed along the scenic trail. The undulating terrain of the park is also fitted with dedicated jogging and cycling tracks apt for active seniors!
Photo credit: National Library Board
TE2 Woodlands Station - Woodlands Regional Library
Learn Something New
3 minutes walk from Woodlands Station (TE2 | NS9)
Home to a massive collection of over 340,000 books and audio-visual materials, the four-storey Woodlands Regional Library is the ultimate location for hours of free entertainment and interactive activities to keep your mind nimble. It’s also easily accessible to wheelchair users coming from Woodlands station via this route guide.
Seniors can embark on a literary adventure at a dedicated section on large print books - apt also for patrons with low vision. Fans of asian literature will rejoice at the library’s special collection of local literary works.
Bring the grandkids along for the crowd-pleasing story-telling sessions and interactive e-reading kiosks. There’s also a safe space for sensory-friendly reading that children living with autism will appreciate.
If reading isn’t your thing, look out for the free workshops. Popular choices include photography, painting, sewing, and a senior digital literacy course, where you can learn basic digital skills in a safe and supportive environment.
Woodlands Regional Library
Address: 900 South Woodlands Drive #01-03, Singapore 730900
Opening hours: Mon-Sun 10am-9pm | PHs Closed
Also accessible via the North South line - NS9 Woodlands Station
TE9 Caldecott Station - Thomson Road/ SAVH
Visit Plant Nurseries
4 minutes walk from Caldecott Station (TE9|CC17) via Toa Payoh Rise
Plant lovers, this is for you. This whole stretch of plant nurseries along Thomson Road is a one-stop destination for anyone looking for houseplants, fresh flowers or gardening supplies at wholesale prices.
Pop into different nurseries to discover their unique offerings. You’ll find everything from rare and exotic plants, edible potted herbs, hardy succulents, medicinal plants and even air-purifying flora.
If you’re new to the plant scene, we recommend getting a low maintenance plant such as a money plant. Plant therapy studies have shown that tending to plants, or even being around them can be great for reducing stress1. All the more reason to bring home that indoor snake plant, which also converts carbon dioxide to oxygen at night to help you breathe better.
Be sure to visit Far East Flora’s cold room for a gorgeous array of imported cut flowers like roses, hydrangeas, peonies, lilies, and orchids. Just remember to bring along a jacket as it gets chilly in there.
Far East Flora @ Thomson
Address: 555 Thomson Road, Singapore 298140
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 8am-9pm | Sun&PHs 8am-9pm
Contact: 6254 6662
Also accessible via the Circle line - CC17 Caldecott Station
Book a Massage and Meal
1 minute walk from Caldecott MRT Station (TE9|CC17)
For a place to sit and relax after a walk at the nurseries, why not drop by The Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped (SAVH) for a rejuvenating massage?
Seniors will be able to boost their physical and mental well-being, and show support for the visually impaired masseurs at the same time. Pre-booking is recommended.
Also, forget regular meals. The SAVH also offers a unique dine-in-the-dark experience that’s perfect for novelty seekers. Gather one's friends to enjoy this sensory adventure, made possible by visually impaired servers. Expect a lot of laughs, a little mess (bring an extra T-shirt!), and a meaningful lesson on empathy for the visually handicapped.
Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped (SAVH)
Address: 49 Toa Payoh Rise, Singapore 298104
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 8am-9pm | Sun&PHs 8am-9pm
Contact: 6251 4334 (Massage) | 6251 4333 (Dine in the dark)
Also accessible via the Circle line - CC17 Caldecott Station
Photo credit: National Parks Board
TE12 Napier Station - Singapore Botanic Gardens
Tour the Singapore Botanic Gardens
4 minutes walk from Napier MRT Station (TE12)
Gazetted as a UNESCO Heritage Site in 2015, our Singapore Botanic Gardens has everything seniors need for a fun-filled day out with the whole family! It's the ideal place for gentle exercise, an educational tour, or an awesome picnic! Just remember to put on comfortable shoes, and pack essentials like a water bottle, mosquito repellent, sunscreen, and an umbrella before heading out.
Stop by to observe the majestic White Mute Swans at Swan Lake, and if one is lucky, one might even spot some playful otters.
Take a leisurely stroll through the Healing Garden, where one can learn about the 400 varieties of medicinal plants and their various uses. For an aromatic experience, head over to the Fragrant Garden in the evening, when the plants emit their strongest scents.
If a structured way to explore the gardens is preferred, sign up for the free guided tours which are wheelchair-friendly and available on Saturdays.
For a perfect end to a lovely family outing, settle down on the lawns of Palm Valley for a picnic surrounded by nature’s best. Alternatively, enjoy all-day-dining at any of the cafes located within the Botanic Gardens.
Singapore Botanic Gardens
Address: 1 Cluny Road, Singapore 259 569
Opening hours: Mon-Sun 5am-12mn (Hours differ for specific attractions)
Also accessible via Downtown line and Circle line - DT9/CC19 Botanic Gardens
Photo credit: Instagram
TE15 Great World Station - Singapore River/Kim Seng Park
Stroll along the Singapore River
4 minutes walk from Great World Station (TE15)
Take a stroll along the Singapore River and stop by Kim Seng Park. For those living around Kim Seng Road, River Valley Green and Martin Road, the park provides a small green space. Notably, it also has a nature playgarden which features a ring of tree stumps where kids can hop about practising their balancing skills from stump to stump. It also has a sand pit and blue garden swings.
For an instagram-worthy shot, stop by the Jiak Kim Bridge at night. It lights up!
Kim Seng Park/ Jiak Kim Bridge
Address: River Valley Green, Singapore 237993
Opening hours: 24 Hours
Immerse into the Local Food Culture
8 minutes walk from Havelock MRT Station (TE9|CC17)
Young or old, Singaporeans love our local food, making this the perfect spot for a weekend outing for the entire family.
It's best to start the day early at the Tiong Bahru Wet Market to get the best produce. Make a beeline through aisles of colourful fruits and vegetables, dried provisions, exotic cut flowers, and a diverse selection of fresh seafood and meat. Clean and wide pathways between stalls ensure easy access for wheelchair users, and a safe environment for the young ones to explore the charms of a wet market.
After a grocery run, head upstairs to the Tiong Bahru food centre for some affordable and tasty hawker fare. There’s a lift and also movable seats to accommodate wheelchair users.
Tuck into delectable local foods such as chwee kueh, fried hokkien prawn mee and kway chap, and don’t forget to use the CDC vouchers!
Tiong Bahru Wet Market & Food Centre
Address: 30 Seng Poh Rd, Singapore 168898
Opening hours: Daily 7am-1pm (Wet market) | Daily 7am-10pm (Food Centre)
Also accessible via East West line - EW17 Tiong Bahru
TE22 Gardens by the Bay Station - Gardens by the Bay
Tour World-acclaimed Attractions or Visit the Active Garden
2 minutes walk from Gardens by the Bay Station (TE22)
Gardens by the Bay stretches out over about 250 acres of reclaimed land in Marina Bay. One can tour the world-acclaimed wheel-chair accessible attractions including the SuperTrees, Flower Dome and Cloud Forest - senior citizen rates are available. But why not give a non-touristy spot a chance too? From the Flower Dome, there is a shuttle service that goes to the Active Garden. It's free for wheelchair users, but caregivers are required to purchase a $3 ticket.
Photo Credit: National Parks Board
The Active Garden has spaces for the young and old to enjoy. At the Outdoor Fitness Gym, senior gym buffs can use the knee-lift high bar, flat bench, body-curl bench, spring-up board whilst getting some free organic vitamin D. Young children can climb around on the monkey bars and swinging bridges.
Seniors who are ambulant but tire easily can also consider wheelchair loan services. Wheelchair rental is available at S$2 per day at the Arrival Gift Shop.
Gardens by the Bay
Address: 18 Marina Gardens Dr, Singapore 018953
Opening hours:
Cloud Forest, Flower Dome and OCBC Skyway: Daily 9am-9pm
Active Garden: Daily 5am-2am
Also accessible via Downtown Line and Circle Line - DT16/CE1 Bayfront
Summary
With the opening of more TEL stations, places and activities can be more accessible. A future extension, the TEL extension was mentioned in the Land Transport Master Plan 2040. While waiting for that, why not join a supportive community to help you stay active? Hop on a TEL train to Woodlands North (TE1) or Woodlands South (TE3) or take the North-East Line to Admiralty (NS10) and head over to our Active Ageing Centre (Kampung Admiralty) for a variety of fun activities! Seniors can also consider NTUC Health’s Senior Gyms for fitness programmes.
1Study shows plants have a positive effect on stress levels (link)
