Thomson
Thomson is a relatively narrow area stretching from Novena in the Central Region of Singapore up north till Yishun. It is a subzone of the Bishan planning area. The area is mainly located within the central catchment area where some of Singapore's reservoirs are located, including MacRitchie Reservoir, Upper Peirce Reservoir and Lower Peirce Reservoir.
Etymology and history
Thomson was named after its namesake road, Thomson Road. Up to the 1850s, Thomson Road was known as Seletar Road. The road was laid by John Turnbull Thomson (1821–1884), Government Surveyor (1841–1853) in 1852 and 1853, and was subsequently named after him.
Housing
The convenient location, due as its proximity and the ease of access to the Central Area, popular schools, parks and other parts of Singapore; combined with an aesthetic environment that is near forest and reservoirs tends to make property prices in the area significantly higher than other parts of Singapore. Due to this fact, a large number of condominiums can be found in Thomson as well. These include the likes of Green Meadows, Thomson Grove, and down to the Lentor area with the likes of Bullion Park. Private housing makes up the bulk of the housing in Thomson with a modicum of HDB flats and shophouses. The low rise housing in the area is notable and this stretches from Macritchie Reservoir to the Peirce Reservoirs, consisting of neighbourhoods like the Thomson Ridge area, the Little Canada area and Venus drive, and goes up to Jalan Rebana and through Ang Mo Kio to Seraya Crescent and Jalan Leban, arching at the Thomson Hills and Happy Park areas and culminating at the Teacher's Estate.
Infrastructure
Public Services
The area also contains one of the oldest roads in Singapore, which is also one of the longest and tends to be a vital link from the northern part of Singapore to the Central Area and the Downtown Core, as well as the rest of the island. The road is split into three lengths, Thomson Road, Old Upper Thomson Road and Upper Thomson Road. The Old Upper Thomson Road was designed to link the villages in the northern region with the Downtown Core.
Recreation
There is a variety of popular food establishments, such as roti prata shops, along the main road which runs through the area.