Royal Selangor Pewter, Kuala Lumpur
Royal Selangor is the Kuala Lumpur pewter company founded by the tinsmith Yong Koon in 1885 and now described as the largest pewter maker in the world. Its Visitor Centre, at the company's headquarters and factory at 4 Jalan Usahawan 6 in Setapak Jaya, is one of the city's best free attractions: a guide walks you through the history of tin and pewter, past the giant tankard that once set a world record, and onto a viewing gallery above the working factory floor. You can then try hammering your own pewter bowl and browse the largest Royal Selangor shop in Malaysia.
This guide covers the company's history, what you see on the tour, the workshops, opening hours (checked October 2026), how to get there and what to buy.
| Address | Visitor Centre: 4 Jalan Usahawan 6, Setapak |
|---|---|
| Hours | Daily 9 am โ 5 pm |
| Closed | No closed days |
| Price | RM30โ500+ |
| Take me here | |
| Verified | Verified October 2026 |
History of Royal Selangor
The story begins with Kuala Lumpur's tin boom. In 1885 Yong Koon, a pewtersmith from Shantou in southern China, arrived in Kuala Lumpur and joined his brothers working as tinsmiths. Their first products were ceremonial pieces for the ancestral altars of the Chinese community, made from local tin. The early shop traded as Ngeok Foh.
As the colonial European population grew, demand shifted. In 1930 Yong Koon's wife, Loh Pat, bought a shophouse at 219 Pudu Road, and the family set up Malayan Pewter Works, making European-style cigarette boxes, ashtrays, vases and teapots. During the Japanese occupation in 1942, three of Yong Koon's sons, Peng Sin, Peng Kai and Peng Seong, founded Selangor Pewter, which survived by making sake sets for the occupying forces.
After the war the business grew steadily. In 1962 Selangor Pewter moved into a modern factory in Setapak with 70 employees, and in 1979 the Sultan of Selangor granted it a royal warrant as "Royal Pewterer". In 1985, its centenary year, the company made what Guinness World Records recognised as the world's largest pewter tankard: 1.987 metres tall, weighing 1,557 kg and able to hold 2,796 litres. In 1992 it changed its name to Royal Selangor, dropping "pewter" as its range had widened into silver and jewellery. The Visitor Centre at the Setapak headquarters opened in 2004.
The company is still run by descendants of the founding family. It sells through more than 40 of its own shops and exports to over 20 countries, and its pieces are stocked by department stores such as Harrods and John Lewis in London. Its products include tankards, tea sets, photo frames and gifts, often with Malaysian, Chinese and Islamic motifs.
What to See on the Royal Selangor Visitor Centre Tour
The guided tour is free, runs throughout the day and takes about 45 minutes to an hour.
- The giant tankard: the record-breaking 1985 tankard stands by the entrance with its Guinness World Records plaque, a favourite photo stop.
- Pewter museum: displays on tin mining and early Kuala Lumpur, old tin currency such as "money trees" and animal-shaped tin money, historic pewterware and the machinery once used to make it.
- Factory floor: from a viewing gallery and demonstration benches you can watch craftspeople cast molten pewter in moulds, file and polish pieces, solder handles and hammer patterns by hand.
- Pewter Twin Towers: a model of the Petronas Twin Towers built from about 7,000 pewter tankards.
- Retail showroom: the tour ends in the shop, which carries the widest Royal Selangor range in the country, from small gifts to full tea services.
Workshops: School of Hard Knocks and The Foundry
For a hands-on souvenir, book one of the paid workshops (walk-ins are possible when there is space, but booking ahead is safer at weekends and holidays):
- School of Hard Knocks: about 30 minutes, from roughly RM80 per person. You hammer a flat pewter disc into a small bowl with a wooden mallet, then keep the bowl, an apron and a certificate. Children aged about 4 and up can take part.
- The Foundry Workshop: about an hour, around RM180 per person, for ages 15 and up. You cast, polish and decorate a pewter piece to take home.
Workshop prices change from time to time; confirm the current rate when you book through royalselangor.com or by phone on +60 3 4145 6360.
Opening Hours, Prices and How Long to Spend
- Hours: daily 9 am to 5 pm.
- Admission: free, including the guided tour and parking.
- Shop prices: small gifts such as keyrings and bookmarks start at about RM30; tankards and larger decorative pieces run from roughly RM150 to well over RM500.
- Time needed: about an hour for the tour and museum, 1.5 to 2 hours with a workshop and some shopping.
How to Get to the Royal Selangor Visitor Centre
- Grab or taxi: the easiest option. Setapak Jaya is about 20 to 30 minutes from the city centre, depending on traffic. Ask for "Royal Selangor Visitor Centre, Jalan Usahawan 6".
- Train plus Grab: there is no rail station within comfortable walking distance. Take the LRT Kelana Jaya line to Wangsa Maju or Sri Rampai and finish with a short Grab ride.
- Car: take the Middle Ring Road 2 (MRR2) and exit towards Wangsa Maju, near Zoo Negara; free parking on site.
- Tours: many half-day city and Batu Caves tours include a stop here, and some hotels have arranged shuttles in the past; ask your hotel.
Tips for Visiting
- Combine the visit with Batu Caves or Zoo Negara, both in the same north-eastern side of the city.
- Go on a weekday if you can: the factory floor is a working production line, so there is usually more to watch than on public holidays.
- The Visitor Centre is wheelchair accessible and air-conditioned.
- There is a cafe on site for coffee and light meals after the tour.
- Pewter is soft and scratches easily; keep receipts if you want engraving later, and ask about care instructions (warm soapy water and a soft cloth).
- In the city centre, Royal Selangor also has shops in Suria KLCC and Pavilion Kuala Lumpur if you cannot make the trip to Setapak.
Royal Selangor Visitor Centre Location
Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Royal Selangor Visitor Centre free?
Yes. Entry, the guided factory tour, the museum and parking are free. Only the hands-on workshops, such as the School of Hard Knocks, are paid.
What are the Royal Selangor Visitor Centre opening hours?
It is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. A guided tour takes about 45 minutes to an hour.
How much is the School of Hard Knocks workshop?
It costs roughly RM80 per person for a 30-minute session, and you keep your hammered pewter bowl, apron and certificate. Prices change occasionally, so confirm when booking.
When was Royal Selangor founded?
The business traces its start to 1885, when the pewtersmith Yong Koon arrived in Kuala Lumpur from Shantou, China. It was called Selangor Pewter from 1942 and renamed Royal Selangor in 1992.
How do I get to Royal Selangor in Setapak?
Grab or taxi is easiest, about 20 to 30 minutes from the city centre. There is no station within easy walking distance; take the LRT Kelana Jaya line to Wangsa Maju or Sri Rampai and finish by Grab.