Splendour of Colonial Singapore Walking Tour with Lunch

5.0 (100 reviews) 3 h 30 min Free cancellation

out of 5

100 reviews

5.0

Splendour of Colonial Singapore Walking Tour with Lunch — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Splendour of Colonial Singapore Walking Tour with Lunch, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

On this walking tour, we cast our minds back more than 200 years to a time when Sir Thomas Stamford Bingley Raffles of the British East India Company arrived in Singapore, started a British trading post in 1819, became part of the Straits Settlements in 1826, and eventually a separate colony of the British crown in 1867.

We’ll visit well-preserved structures from the Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian eras, and stately neo-classical style buildings, which have all been restored to showcase the splendour of Colonial Singapore.

We pay tribute to our former colonial masters who left behind their legacy of careful town planning, sound legal system, good education system, solid infrastructure, impressive architecture, etc, which have certainly played a significant part in the development of modern Singapore.

At about midday, we’ll kick back and enjoy lunch by the Singapore River at Boat Quay, before we resume our tour of the Civic District and Old European Town.

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At a glance

Duration: 3 h 30 min
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Up to 15 people
People per booking: 1–6
Guide: English
Operated by: On-A-Roll-Tours

Ages: Children (0–12 years) · Adults (13–100 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Licensed tourist guide and disposable poncho in the event of rain.
Included: 3-course lunch by the river, with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options.

Not included

Not included: Gratuities.

Itinerary

St Andrew's Cathedral

15 min

Our story begins with how the British started their trading post in Singapore in 1819, where the early European settlers built their homes, and how the first Anglican church came to be constructed in 1836.
National Gallery Singapore

40 min

We explore the 2 colonial buildings which now make up the National Gallery Singapore, namely the Former Municipal Building (later renamed City Hall Building) and the Former Supreme Court Building. Step into the chamber where Lord Louis Mountbatten accepted the surrender of the Japanese on 12 September 1945, the holding cells of the former Supreme Court, etc.
The Arts House

20 min

Discover the hidden gems in the oldest surviving building in Singapore, dating from 1827.
Victoria Theatre & Victoria Concert Hall

10 min

Discover how 2 buildings, one formerly the Town Hall and the other the Memorial Hall for Queen Victoria, built more than 40 years apart, were amalgamated to form one. We also take a look at the original bronze statue of Sir Stamford Raffles and learn about its association with football!
Asian Civilisations Museum

Passing by

Formerly the Government Offices of Colonial Singapore.
Cavenagh Bridge

10 min

Cross the oldest surviving suspension bridge in Singapore, and learn about what life was like along the Singapore River about 200 years ago.
The Fullerton Shop

15 min

Formerly the General Post Office, the building now houses The Fullerton Hotel, a luxurious 5-star hotel with a heritage gallery well worth visiting.
Boat Quay

40 min

Stop for a 3-course lunch at a riverside restaurant. Non-vegetarian and vegetarian options are available.
Stop 9

25 min

Ever wonder what it's like inside the maximum security building with the spaceship-like structure on top? Come explore with us.
Stop 10

Passing by

Iconic neoclassical style colonial building with its rainbow-coloured windows.
Central Fire Station

20 min

Visit the oldest surviving fire station in Singapore. Come face-to-face with an antique horse-drawn fire truck, and climb aboard a vintage fire engine.
Stop 12

15 min

Step inside the oldest church in Singapore, dating back to 1835, and learn more about significant contributions made by the Armenian community to Singapore.