A guide to living in U Thant KL

U Thant is a quiet enclave bounded by Jalan Ampang to the south, the embassy ridge to the east and the Royal Selangor Golf Club to the west. Jalan U Thant — the spine of the district — was named after U Thant, the Burmese diplomat who served as UN Secretary-General from 1961 to 1971, a contemporary of Tunku Abdul Rahman. The street remains lined with the embassies (Indonesia, Japan, Australia, the US, among others) and bungalows that have changed hands inside a small group of families for decades.

The district has not been subdivided since the 1970s. Land titles are individual freehold, plots are large (6,000–25,000 sqft) and density is constrained by KL City Plan covenants that protect the residential character. Most homes are two- or three-storey bungalows; a smaller number are semi-detached or boutique condominium developments on edge plots.

Day-to-day life rotates between KLCC for offices and shopping, Ampang for restaurants and the Indonesian Chinese community and the golf clubs. International schools at the doorstep are ISKL in Ampang Hilir, The Children's House (Montessori early years), Sayfol on Jalan Ampang, The Surin on Jalan Langgak Golf and Beaconhouse Newlands on Jalan Taman U Thant — all within a 5–10 minute drive. Garden International and Mont Kiara International, in Mont Kiara, are a 10–15 minute drive. The KL City rail link is accessed via Ampang Park or KLCC stations; for international travel, KLIA via KL Sentral or the KLIA Express runs around 60 minutes door-to-door.