It’s about time we give clock towers in Singapore their flowers! These are the ones we’ve spotted around the Little Red Dot.
Despite being small, we’re pretty lucky to have such impressive architecture in our country. Have you seen the number of magnificent mosques and iconic churches? Now, we want to shine the spotlight on clock towers. These nondescript spires are like that one friend in your group – unassumingly quiet, but once you pay attention to them, you realise how cool and interesting they are. So let’s kill some time and discover these fascinating clock towers in Singapore.
Clock towers in Singapore that are absolutely timeless
1. Block 307 Serangoon Avenue 2
Like Helen of Troy, this is the face that launched a thousand ships this article. Look up from the Lorong Chuan and Serangoon Avenue 2 junction, and you’ll spot the clock on the facade of Block 307. Day or night, rain or shine, the clock continues operating, informing all road users of the time. It’s also a good landmark when you need to tell people your whereabouts. Just be careful of that neck crick since you have to keep looking up to admire the clock. We’re not sold on the housing block’s colours, but we put our hands up to the location. She exudes main character energy, and we’re here for it.
2. Block 235 Bukit Batok East Avenue 2
This whimsical clock tower can be found in this quiet Bukit Batok East estate. Surrounded by greenery, the structure features a ballerina (hold me closer, tiny dancer) ready to take the stage while two pillars with bells of varying sizes flank the clock. Do the bells work? That’s what we were wondering as we admired the design. If you have kids and are trying to teach them to tell time, this clock tower is not the best example – the face only has plain lines to indicate the hours and minutes!
3. Singapore Botanic Gardens
Ah yes, our pride and glory. What’s an expansive green space without a steel clock tower in its midst? This gorgeous 3.5-metre sculpture was originally installed at the Nassim Gate Visitor Centre in 1998 before it was moved to the Orchid Plaza in front of the National Orchid Garden in 2014. The four clocks indicate the times for Singapore, Tokyo, London, and Vancouver. If you want to see this tower up close, it’s roughly a kilometre away from both Botanic Gardens and Napier MRT stations. It’s a good time to enjoy a leisurely stroll through the garden.
4. Tampines Central Park
When you’re done with Our Tampines Hub, we recommend walking around this nearby park. Besides the iconic watermelon and mangosteen playgrounds, Tampines Central Park also has a clock tower. It’s slightly different from the others we’ve seen: it’s supported by eight beams and features simple geometric shapes. Even though it’s been some time since the tower was painted, we’re still drawn to it like bees to honey. The clock comes with proper numerals, so you can tell what time it is if you don’t have your watch (or phone). Psst: it may be tempting to climb the structure, but please don’t do it.
5. Block 807 Yishun Ring Road
Yishun is known for many unsavoury things, but one thing you don’t know about this ‘hood is that there’s a clock tower here. Surprise! It’s hidden within the housing estate near Khatib MRT station, so keep your eyes peeled if you decide to go on a clock tower hunting adventure like us. We like that the spire blends in with the surrounding housing blocks in terms of colour scheme. Plus, the base is an excellent spot to take a quick breather and soak in the area’s quiet vibes.
6. Shaw House
Bet you’re unaware there are two clock towers on Orchard Road facing the road: one directly opposite Wheelock Place and the other facing Scotts Road. Given their muted brown facade, it’s understandable if you missed them when you whizzed past. Fun fact: these bell clock towers are gifts for “the people of Singapore” (that’s us!) from Crystal Time, an organisation that distributes watches. That’s why the structures boast Raymond Weil clocks! The face features Roman numerals – very retro, we know. The next time you plan a hangout on this side of town, why not play a game? Tell your party to meet at either one of the clock towers and see who can find them.
7. Cheng San Market & Cooked Food Centre
Alright, we’re just going to come out and say it: this is, without a doubt, one of our favourite clock towers in Singapore. We love the mosaic and glass tiles (so fetch) and the cute little roof (is it for birds and insects to seek refuge from the rain?). There’s even a door, which we’d like to think leads to some magical realm like Narnia or Hogwarts. As a landmark at Cheng San Market at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10, this tower serves as a good reminder that you should take breaks and eat. Time to clock out, folks!
8. Block 701 Bedok Reservoir Road
If no one told us there was a clock tower in this neighbourhood, this secret gem would’ve been left off our list. And we’re not joking about it being hidden. You’ll only notice it if you’re walking past or looking out the window from the upper deck. While we like the surroundings (it’s a great space to pose for photos), we don’t understand why the clock tower is there. Who’s on the planning committee for this? We just want to talk.
9. Teck Ghee Court
We can’t help but feel accomplished whenever we spot a clock tower while out and about. Decked out in the patriotic red and white colours, this structure is a stone’s throw away from Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park. The warm, cheery sign at the base makes us feel welcome, and ooh, can we take a minute to talk about the gold accents on the clock face? It’s giving opulence. She’s telling us she’s a rich baddie, and we should respect her.
10. Block 54 Toa Payoh Lorong 4
There’s something about this tower in Toa Payoh that positively screams vintage. We can’t get enough of the gorgeous dark decor on the brown tiles, the Roman numerals on the face, and the wind vane sitting nicely at the top. Does the weather instrument even work? We’re not entirely sure, but its presence lends a certain je ne sais quoi to this understated clock tower in Singapore.
11. Tampines Mart
In our humble opinion, one clock tower is definitely not enough… which is why Tampines has two. The second one stands tall and proud at Tampines Mart (you’re forgiven if you don’t know where that is), with well-maintained shrubbery adorning its base. Sadly, that can’t be said for the clock tower itself. When was the last time it received some TLC? A fresh coat of paint, and it’ll be striking new again.
12. Block 102 Serangoon North Avenue 1
How about a clock tower that’s attached to a housing block? Yes, your eyes are not playing tricks on you. This stalwart is a recognisable landmark in Serangoon North Village, and it’s easy to see why. We absolutely adore the choice of colours for the tower – they’re very pleasing to look at and put us in a good mood. Presently, the area is under heavy construction for the Cross Island Line, which is why the structure is obscured. Head over in 2030 so you can revel in its awe-inspiring glory.
13. Block 543 Bedok North Street 3
According to a Google review, this clock tower in Bedok is “made from 10,000 handmade wooden clocks”, and it’s best to visit it around midnight, when “every clock will shine [in] various colours”. However, when we arrived, the tower was a shell of its former self. Now, we’re all for a good mystery, so we can’t help but wonder what happened to it. Did someone steal the clocks? Were the residents ticked off and complained about the tower being a visual nuisance? It’s unfortunate this monolith has run out of time.
We hope you have the time of your life spotting these clock towers in Singapore.
