Living in Barking | Area Guide

Barking, located in East London, sits within the London borough of Barking and Dagenham. It’s shaped by its diverse heritage, with long-standing communities thriving alongside new riverside neighbourhoods and improving public spaces. Ongoing investment continues to bring new homes, connections to Central London and everyday amenities that support modern life, but the area’s lively local character remains.

If you’re looking for a place to settle and feel part of an established community, Barking Riverside offers a thoughtfully planned neighbourhood where homes, schools, shops and green space are all close at hand.

Where to eat and drink

Influenced by a strong multicultural presence, the borough’s food and drink scene provides you with variety. Head to Anteiku Coffee Shop, a family-run venue, for speciality drinks and mouth watering toasties in quirky surroundings. If you’re craving a sweet treat, visit Sip House in Dagenham for a slab of homemade cake and the perfect cup of coffee.

For somewhere closer to home, grab your morning coffee from Grounded at The Wilds, a brand new events centre located at Barking Riverside.

Christina’s Steakhouse is a local favourite, perfect for a date night close to home or meeting friends. It’s been serving delicious prime cuts and an impressive selection of rustic wines to the community since 2012. Takeaway nights are also well catered for by Greedy Panda, an independent gem providing generous Chinese dishes.

Green escapes

Access to green space is one of the borough’s strengths. Barking Park offers a lake, children’s playground and sports facilities that are used year-round. For scenic walking routes, Parsloes Park in Dagenham is especially popular with families.

Along the Thames, the riverside paths at Barking Riverside provide long, open routes for walking and cycling, with scenic views across the water. Eastbrookend Country Park

offers a quieter landscape with wildlife habitats and leafy routes, offering an escape from the urban environment.

Transport and Connectivity

Barking Riverside benefits from its very own Overground station, served by the Suffragette line, placing residents just one stop from Barking Station and within easy reach of Central London. Barking Station is a major transport hub, connecting to the District and Hammersmith & City lines, London Overground and National Rail services, making travel across the capital straightforward.

You can also travel by river, with the Uber Boat by Thames Clipper operating daily from Barking Riverside Pier, offering a scenic route to destinations including Greenwich, Canary Wharf and London Bridge.

Further Underground access is available at Dagenham Heathway and Dagenham East, both served by the District line. The development is also supported by three 24-hour bus routes, ideal for late evenings, and benefits from convenient road connections via the nearby A13, providing direct links to the M25 and beyond.

Lifestyle amenities

At Barking Riverside, amenities have been thoughtfully planned to promote a strong sense of community, with new homes sitting alongside schools, shops and welcoming public spaces.

For celebrating special occasions, The Exchange, offers the perfect setting for private events such as birthdays, workshops and community gatherings. For everyday essentials, you benefit from an on-site Co-op, ideal for convenient grocery shopping.

A wider range of retail and leisure options can be found in Barking town centre, including Vicarage Field Shopping Centre, home to a mix of high-street favourites and independent stores such as The Perfume Shop, Holland & Barrett and Warren James. Barking Market, open six days a week, offers fresh produce and local traders, while Merrielands Retail Park in Dagenham features TK Maxx, Argos and a large Asda superstore. For an even broader shopping and entertainment experience, Westfield Stratford is also within easy reach.

Schools

Education is centred around the Riverside Campus, which brings together nursery, primary and secondary provision in one dedicated setting. The development is also home to seven new schools, five of which are already open, while Barking & Dagenham College provides further education opportunities close by.

Discover Barking Riverside

For those looking to stay connected to London while enjoying a more settled pace of life, Barking and Dagenham offers the perfect balance of green space, strong transport links and everyday amenities close to home.

Discover our homes available at Barking Riverside through Shared Ownership and London Living Rent, and register your interest today.