With an ancient history and an exciting future, the riverside town of Barking offers superb transport links, green spaces and a range of housing to suit all buyers.
Whether it’s history, nature, sport or shopping that makes your weekends special, Barking has it all. History buffs will enjoy exploring Abbey Green with its scenic ruins, including the partially restored Grade II* listed Curfew Tower, or neighbouring Grade I listed St Margaret’s Church, with parts dating back to 1215. Nearby National Trust property Eastbury Manor House is an Elizabethan home with a rare spiral oak staircase inside a turret and 17th century wall paintings, while Valence House museum in Dagenham is full of fascinating local history exhibitions.
If you prefer to enjoy the great outdoors, there is plenty to choose from. Barking Park first opened in 1898, but has recently been restored and improved with a visitor centre, cafe, pond-dipping platforms around its lake and a splash park with fountains, sandy areas and little boats to hire. Mayesbrook Park has an adventure playground, outdoor gym, sports pitches, trampoline park and skate park, along with a nature reserve with lakes and woodland. At Barking Riverside you can take a stroll on the Wildlife & Wellbeing Trail along the water’s edge, where you are likely to see grey seals resting on the mudflats and perhaps a glimpse of a porpoise in the now surprisingly clean waters of the river. Hungry after all that exercise? Try Cristina’s Steak in Barking for luscious cuts of meat, burgers and Sunday roast; Smoke & Pepper for hearty casual dining; Wood Oven for delicious charcoal-cooked Turkish food or Suya Hut for flavoursome African dishes. At Barking Riverside, enjoy a delicious brew at Grounded coffee shop, along with cakes and light lunches. The Riverside area also has two Co-Op stores, a pharmacy and an optician, with more shops due to open.
For everyday shopping, Barking town centre has a bustling market selling everything from fresh produce to amazingly priced clothes, while in the centre of town, Vicarage Field Shopping Centre, which is expecting a major refurbishment soon, has a selection of useful stores. Just a 10-minute drive from central Barking, Gallions Reach shopping park has a major supermarket and a selection of stores including Next, TK Maxx and Superdrug, along with plenty of places to eat.
For some evening entertainment, The Spotted Dog pub is over 150 years old, and legend has it that tunnels in the basement once led to Dagenham Docks and were used by smugglers. These days it’s a great place for a drink, and frequently has live music and DJs in the evenings. You’ll also find DJs, music and dancing at De Arc Lounge. If you want to catch a movie head to Dagenham for Vue Cinema and Hollywood Bowl, while Galleon Arts Centre has a raft of dance and music activities for young people. Plus, of course, the whole of London is just a short trip away.
5 reasons we love… Barking
- Bustling Barking Market
- Romantic ruins at Abbey Green
- Riverside walks – and seals!
- Go to work by train, bus or boat
- Family fun in Barking Park
Under the Spotlight
Barking grew up around the Abbey founded in the 7th century by Saint Ethelburga, who embraced religious life after fleeing an arranged marriage. Barking Abbey became one of England’s most influential nunneries, and William the Conqueror stayed there while building the Tower of London. The area developed with shops, taverns, farming and fishing, and became the home of The Short Blue Fleet – a 220-strong fishing fleet owned by the Hewett family that at one point was the largest in the world.
Barking railway station opened in 1854, and by the late 1800s, London’s rapid population growth had spilled into the area. Homes and heavy industry rubbed shoulders, with jute works, tanneries, fertiliser plants and chemical factories. The London Underground’s District Line was extended to Barking in 1908, prompting more growth.
The 20th century brought the massive Barking Power Station in 1925 and Ford’s Dagenham plant in 1931 – which in its heyday employed more than 40,000 workers (now around 2,000). The Becontree Estate, built by the London County Council in the 1920s, provided 27,000 new homes to accommodate the workers and is still a thriving community.
Barking, part of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, is now one of London’s most multi-cultural areas, with a population that is one of the youngest in the city, city with a median age of 33, and the highest percentage of children of any area in the UK. With a borough population of around 235,000, a quarter are under 16, resulting in an array of schools to choose from.
It’s a population that is growing fast, with a 17.7% increase in residents from 2011 to 2021, drawn to the area by new housing and good connectivity. Barking station is served by the c2c service from Essex to Fenchurch Street, the District and Hammersmith & City underground lines and the Suffragette Overground, which travels on to Barking Riverside in six minutes. From there, you can also catch the Uber Boat by Thames Clippers into central London.
Barking Riverside is one of Europe’s largest regeneration projects, with around 20,000 new homes coming to the area, largely one to three bedroom apartments, many of which are available through Shared Ownership. In the older part of town, and in nearby Dagenham, apartments and older, terraced homes are available at low prices for an area with such good links to central London.
Fact File
- Average property price in Barking
- (December 2025) – £355,000
- Detached – £626,000
- Semi-detached – £464,000
- Terraced – £387,000
- Flat – £238,000
- *According to the Land Registry House Price Index
Homes on the market…
BARKING Abbey Quay
Jasper Wharf at Abbey Quay offers 137 one and two bedroom apartments in this landmark development by award-winning Weston Homes. Overlooking the river Roding, with spectacular views towards London and Canary Wharf, it is the tallest tower in Barking. Homes here come with Weston Homes’ all-inclusive premium specification as standard, featuring designer kitchens with high-end integrated appliances and luxurious bathrooms and en suites which include Smart technology, integrated vanity storage and a de-mist mirror. Open-plan living/dining areas have large windows to let in lots of natural light and all have either a balcony or terrace. The principal bedrooms feature a generously sized mirrored fitted wardrobe and flooring is included throughout.
The private Residents’ Hub with concierge service is ideal for a change of scenery if working from home or the perfect spot to relax and meet the neighbours. There is also a Community Hub to hire if you are hosting an event. The recently opened Anytime Fitness gym provides residents and the broader Barking community with a high-quality, convenient space to enhance health and wellbeing. Abbey Quay with its pretty landscaped green spaces, tree-lined walkways which wind down to the river and podium garden helps to create city living with the friendly feel of a new community. There are plenty of bars, cafes and restaurants nearby plus Asda, Tesco and Lidl superstores and a thriving street market. Transport links are excellent, with Stratford and Canary Wharf taking just 20 minutes and services reaching Liverpool Street in 25 minutes.
Prices start at £319,995 for a one bedroom apartment and £356,500 for a two bedroom apartment. Selected homes are available with Discount Market Sale, where buyers benefit from a 20% saving on the full market value (price includes saving). On full market value homes, Weston Homes is also offering up to a 5% deposit contribution or parking included.*
For more information contact Abbey Quay on 020 4502 9854 or visit weston-homes.com/abbey-quay
*T&Cs and eligibility criteria apply
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