Swimming Pools in Singapore’s North-East: Hougang, Sengkang and Serangoon Compared

Looking for swimming pools in Singapore’s North-East? There are three public ones, all run by ActiveSG: Hougang, Sengkang and Serangoon. Each closes on a different weekday, only one has water slides, and all three open early on certain mornings for lap swimmers. This guide compares them side by side, explains entry and prices, and notes where Punggol stands. It is written with Hougang Central in mind, where LinkTown Residences (Hougang Central Residences) is planned above the MRT, since the nearest of the three is a short walk from the station.

The three pools at a glance

Pool	Address	Type	Weekly closure	Early lap swim (6.30–8am)	From Hougang MRT
Hougang Swimming Complex	95 Hougang Avenue 4	Normal	Tuesday	Mon, Wed, Fri	Walk, about 530 m
Sengkang Swimming Complex	57 Anchorvale Road	Feature (slides)	Monday	Tue, Thu, Sat	2 NEL stops, then West Loop LRT to Farmway
Serangoon Swimming Complex	35 Yio Chu Kang Road	Normal	Thursday	Mon, Wed, Fri	2 NEL stops, then a walk or short bus ride

All three list regular hours of 8am to 9.30pm, with the early sessions in the competition pool only. Details are from ActiveSG’s pool pages, checked in September 2026. When the closure day falls on a public holiday, the pool opens as usual, and outdoor pools can clear during lightning. Check before you go.

Hougang Swimming Complex: the one next door

Part of Hougang Sport Centre, which reopened on 30 May 2026 after more than a year of improvement works. ActiveSG lists a competition pool, a teaching pool and a wading pool. The teaching pool now has a roof, and the wading pool was refreshed with water play features for small children. It is classed as a normal pool, so it costs the lower rate. For a Hougang Central household it is the everyday pool: close enough for a quick evening swim or a Saturday lesson without planning the trip. Our Hougang swimming complex guide goes into the upgrade in detail.

Sengkang Swimming Complex: slides and shelter

ActiveSG turned Sengkang into a feature pool from 1 July 2025. Its slides carry sweet-shop names such as Sugar Rush, Rainbow Dash and Cotton Candy Bowl, and each has a minimum rider height of 1.2m or 1.3m, so measure your child before promising a go. ActiveSG describes the complex as one of two sheltered pools managed by Sport Singapore, and lists it as wheelchair accessible. The catch is the higher feature-pool entry price and the weekend crowds.

The pool sits within Sengkang Sport Centre by the river. ActiveSG has announced a closure of the whole centre on 12 October 2026, so avoid that date. Our Sengkang and Serangoon sports centres guide covers the gym, hall and hockey pitch there.

Serangoon Swimming Complex: steady laps

Not in Serangoon Central but on Yio Chu Kang Road, next to Serangoon Stadium. It is a normal pool with basic facilities and no slides, which makes it a calm option for lap swimmers. Its early sessions fall on the same mornings as Hougang’s, and it is closed on Thursdays. For Kovan and Serangoon Gardens residents it is often the closest pool.

Punggol: still waiting

Punggol has no ActiveSG pool of its own yet. A regional sport centre with swimming pools has been planned for the town for years, but it was not on ActiveSG’s list of pools when we checked in September 2026. Until it is, Punggol families mostly head to Sengkang. For water play in Punggol, the indoor water playground at SAFRA Punggol is covered in our indoor playgrounds guide. See our Punggol guide for what the town does have.

Entry prices (September 2026)

Single entry, citizen/PR	Weekday	Weekend / PH
Normal pool (Hougang, Serangoon), adult	S$1.00	S$1.30
Normal pool, child or senior	S$0.50	S$0.60
Feature pool (Sengkang), adult	S$1.50	S$2.00
Feature pool, child or senior	S$0.80	S$1.00

ActiveSG also sells a MyActiveSWIM monthly plan, listed at S$10 for adults and S$5 for children and seniors. Standard rates for other users are higher. Gym passes are covered in our ActiveSG gym guide. All figures are from ActiveSG’s rates page in September 2026 and may change.

How to get in

1. Log in to the ActiveSG app with Singpass.
2. Buy the right pass: normal for Hougang and Serangoon, feature for Sengkang.
3. Check live pool capacity in the app on hot weekends and during school holidays.
4. Scan the pass at the entrance.

Swimming lessons

All three pools host ActiveSG learn-to-swim programmes, listed with fees in the app, and private coaches also teach there. Lanes are shared, and weekend mornings are busy with classes, so lap swimmers may prefer the early sessions or weekday evenings. If you are hiring a coach, confirm which pool and time they use.

For families considering Hougang Central

Having a public pool within walking distance is useful when children start lessons, because weekly classes add up to a lot of trips. From Hougang Central, the pool is a short stroll, and Sengkang’s slides are a quick NEL ride away for weekend treats. Our list of things to do in Hougang has more family weekend ideas. Most new condos include a pool, but the developers have not yet confirmed what Hougang Central Residences will have.

Sources: ActiveSG, Hougang Swimming Complex; ActiveSG, Sengkang Swimming Complex; ActiveSG, Serangoon Swimming Complex; ActiveSG individual rates. Checked September 2026.

Register to hear when the LinkTown Residences facilities and site plan are released.

Frequently asked questions

Which public swimming pool in the North-East has water slides?

Sengkang Swimming Complex at 57 Anchorvale Road. It became a feature pool on 1 July 2025 with several water slides that need riders to be 1.2m or 1.3m tall, and entry uses the feature pool rate.

Which day is each North-East pool closed?

ActiveSG lists Sengkang as closed on Mondays, Hougang on Tuesdays and Serangoon on Thursdays for maintenance. If that day is a public holiday, the pool opens as normal.

Is there a public swimming pool in Punggol?

Not as of September 2026. ActiveSG’s pool list did not include a Punggol pool when we checked, so most Punggol families swim at Sengkang, a short ride away.

How much does it cost to swim at an ActiveSG pool?

In September 2026 ActiveSG listed adult citizen and PR entry at S$1.00 on weekdays and S$1.30 on weekends at normal pools, and S$1.50 and S$2.00 at feature pools. Children and seniors pay less. Check the rates page before you go.