Car-crazy children can now rev their engines at VroomTown Driving City, People Up’s latest indoor drive-play concept in Marina Square. The mini city features world-renowned Singapore attractions including Supertree Grove, Changi Airport, Merlion and has a realistic city driving experience including a “fast-food” drive-through, a carwash and a fuel pump!
VroomTown occupies the space vacated by Nerf Action Xperience at Level One of Marina Square, right next to Collin’s. We had a sneak peek during VroomTown’s soft launch and here’s more about our driving experience.
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Before you go “vroom vroom”, drivers need to go through a “Basic Driving & Road Safety” lesson before proceeding to drive.
The vehicles at VroomTown are electric ride-on cars that drivers will have to learn to operate.
Children were briefed on following the directions and signs, and also reminded of their left and right. Well, learning to differentiate right from left is an essential step.
This ten-minute lesson was communicated plainly and clearly by the cheery instructors who were also onsite throughout the one-hour slot to ensure road safety.
The children were also taught to operate their own vehicles, braking and accelerating, how to change to the reverse mode, and signalling right and left.
Kids will earn their own VroomTown photo license that allows them to drive.
There are three different licenses: Level 1 is for first-timers who have gone through the basic driving lesson.
After five practice sessions, drivers can advance to Level 2 which is intermediate driving and car control. This focuses on vehicle control such as parallel, vertical parking, complete U-turn, 3-point turns.
After another five sessions, there will be 10 lessons of advanced driving and traffic marshalling.
Age Requirement to Drive
Children 5 and up can drive independently while junior students will need their parent or caregiver in the same car.
All students below 5 years will require an accompanying adult for supervision.
Kids of age 9 and below will require 1:1 accompanying adult for safety purposes.
Then, it’s time to drive!
Landmarks and Pitstops at VroomTown
There are seven landmarks and pitstops to look out for at VroomTown, Marina Square.
Since VroomTown was meant to be like a mini city, Singapore’s Merlion had to take centrestage as one of the landmarks.
Just a street away are the Supertrees which also lights up in different colours just like the ones at Gardens by the Bay.
Don’t forget to pop by the drive-through where “burgers” and “soft drinks” await eager drivers.
Then head to the East where our famed Changi Airport control tower sits.
Pretend to charge your car batteries at the pump station!
There is also a car wash where rollers are activated. While the car doesn’t really get a wash, it is still a thrill driving through the rollers.
Last but not least, make a pitstop at the indoor playground at VroomTown (included in the cost of admission) where slides, a ball pit and plenty of fun obstacles await.
Strangely, the children enjoyed driving so much they only made one trip to the playground. Younger ones might hang out at the playground for a fair bit given how it’s quite extensive. Do note that socks are required for playground time.
An hour sure went by like Lightning McQueen, so perhaps one hour isn’t sufficient for all the driving and playing!
Other Amenities at VroomTown
Parents who are waiting for their children will appreciate the tables and chairs next to the drive-through and upcoming café. This is one spot to get a good vantage point of the children, grab a bite and work remotely.
There is also a party room where children’s events and parties can be held.
Lockers are provided for the little ones to safekeep belongings.
For little ones who want to take home souvenirs, they can certainly purchase some toy cars from the retail area.
VroomTown Review
The faces of the children said it all, they were all thrilled to have driven their own vehicle for an entire hour and would have gone on if permitted to.
The creators behind VroomTown shared that this concept was inspired by Road Safety Park at East Coast Park and how it was a core memory learning about road safety via role-playing.
My memory at the park as a reluctant pedestrian was how I could not be one of the drivers or cyclists. With VroomTown’s conception, every child can now be a driver and even order their own treat via a drivethrough!
I would have liked the car wash to be more stimulating though, perhaps something that tickles the drivers while driving through or a pretend-showers of foamy blessings with sparkly streamers might replicate some bit of the real-life car wash.
As the traffic lights get installed and the circuits get more complex, I would also like to see errant drivers get penalised for bumping into each other (that’s my son earnestly driving a bumper car) or hitting the kerbs. This might really drive home the point of safe driving.
I was appreciative of the safe limits of 4 km per hour. While no drifting was possible, it kept the environment safe especially for the very young.
It was a treat at VroomTown getting to navigate safely with no instances of road rage happening. It was like a driver’s paradise, simply put!
VroomTown Opening Hours & Tickets
Ticket Pricing:
One-hour Vroom Learner pass $49, inclusive of one guardian and one child entry, indoor playground access. Additional adult entry can be purchased at $15 over the counter.
One-hour Vroom Driver pass $39, for licensed drivers only
Entry is FREE for infants below 1 year old.
Opening Hours of Vroom Town:
Monday to Thursday, & Sunday 10 am to 8 pm
Friday & Saturday 10 am to 9 pm
Public Holidays 10 am to 9 pm
Where: Marina Square #01-208
Website: VroomTown
If you enjoyed this story, we think that you will enjoy this other story on car circuit playgrounds in Singapore or another new indoor playground in Singapore.
