Statue of Sir Stamford Raffles, Singapore, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

The Statue of Sir Stamford Raffles stands beside the Singapore River at Empress Place in Singapore, close to the spot traditionally linked to Raffles' landing in 1819. It honours the British official who founded the trading post that grew into modern Singapore, and it sits at the heart of the old colonial district.

The story behind it

When Stamford Raffles set up a British trading post here in 1819, he made the mouth of the Singapore River the centre of the settlement. Government stood on the north bank and commerce on the south. The river quickly filled with bumboats, the tongkangs and twakows that carried cargo between ships in the harbour and the godowns along the banks. Coffee, sugar, rice and spices passed through, and Singapore became a major entrepot port of the British Empire.

By the mid-twentieth century the same river had become badly polluted by waste and runoff. In 1977 Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew launched a ten-year clean-up. Hawkers and riverside businesses were relocated, the riverbed was dredged, and the old shophouses were conserved instead of demolished. Today the water supports fish, the remaining bumboats carry tourists, and many of the old godowns hold restaurants.

What to look for

• Study the figure of Raffles himself, shown standing in formal dress with his arms folded, gazing over the river he chose as the centre of his settlement.
• Read the inscription at the base, which ties the statue to the story of his landing at this stretch of the riverbank.
• Look across the water to the south bank, where Boat Quay's shophouses show the old commercial side of the river.
• Notice the converted bumboats on the river and imagine the same water crowded with cargo boats in the nineteenth century.

Tips for your visit

• The statue is outdoors beside the river, so you can visit any time. Ten to fifteen minutes is enough for the statue itself.
• Go early in the morning or around sunset for softer light and cooler air, since Singapore is hot and humid for most of the day.
• Cavenagh Bridge, the Asian Civilisations Museum and Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall are all within a short walk, so combine them in one stroll.
• If you want to visit nearby museums or buildings, check current opening hours first.

See it on a quest

Singapore Central Area: Alternate Universes brings you to the Raffles statue on foot as one stop on a longer route through the central area. The app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle based on what is in front of you. One ticket covers the whole group, and you can start whenever you like.

Murder Mystery: Death in the Shadows in Singapore suits readers who like their sightseeing with a darker, crime-themed edge. You walk to the Empress Place area as part of the route, hear about the place when you get there, and solve a puzzle on the spot. One ticket covers the whole group.