Renting at Barking Riverside feels like being part of a real community
September 2023
Moving to London from their home in Nepal at the start of the year to begin their university studies, sisters Tsering and Dechen initially moved into an Airbnb, sharing with two other couples.
“It was very hectic, but we just needed something short term while we looked for an apartment of our own. We definitely needed a bit more space,” explains Tsering.
Starting their rental search online, the duo came across a listing for L&Q’s private rental homes at Barking Riverside, and immediately registered their interest for a two bedroom apartment. They went to view it just a few days later.
Barking Riverside is a thriving neighbourhood on the banks of the River Thames in East London, with L&Q offering a range of homes for both rent and for sale. With 2km of river frontage, Ofted Outstanding schools and a wealth of green space, the award winning scheme offers the perfect balance of community living with quick connections into the city.
Dechen says, “the apartment was very modern, and we felt the environment was really safe which is something that was really important to us as students moving to London. The room size was really great too – much bigger than others we had looked at, and the price was reasonable too.”
The decision was a no brainer, and the sisters moved in immediately.
Tsering comments; “The whole process was so smooth. We spoke to Hasan who was really good, he explained everything properly and was very helpful. We managed to move in within just 20 days – it was so fast, which was fantastic.
“We had a bit of furniture so we didn’t need to use the furniture packs, but it was great to know that was an option available to us if we needed it. We settled in really quickly, the apartment feels like home.”
Ideal for commuters, The Barking Riverside Overground Station offers journeys of just 22 minutes into Central London, while the Uber Boat by Thames Clippers Pier connects Barking Riverside to Woolwich in just 9 minutes, from where the DLR is directly accessible. Both of these milestones opened in 2022, alongside a dedicated transport interchange connecting train, bus and boat services.
The location was a key factor in their decision to rent, being able to easily commute to their campus in Poplar.
Dechen says; “The Overground station is so close and makes getting into university very easy – we have to go in quite a lot for our course. We haven’t had a chance to explore much of London just yet, but are looking forward to seeing the sights – we really want to go to London Bridge, Chinatown and Greenwich, they will all be quite easy to reach in an evening or weekend!”
Residents enjoy a wide range of award-winning facilities, including The Wilds, an ecology, community and events space which includes an independent café, GROUNDED, gardens and co-working spaces, as well as a series of events, recently including a family rave, supper clubs and a brand new festival.
“There are regular events, but we haven’t had a chance to go to any yet – we have explored the local area though, which is very peaceful for evening walks along the river – it’s an amazing view!
“We’ve spoken to a few neighbours who have all been really friendly, it’s a mix of families, couples and young people like ourselves which is a good balance – it feels like a real community. We are really happy renting at Barking Riverside.”