Barking And Dagenham: Parks, Nature and History

Discover Barking And Dagenham through its very different places: expansive parks and wetlands sit alongside medieval traces, historic houses and a museum with a contemporary cultural programme. When planning your visit, you can focus on nature and cultural destinations separately—or combine the two.

Parks and Landscapes

Barking Park covers 30 hectares, opened in 1898 and is the oldest public park in the Borough of Barking and Dagenham. One of its distinctive features is a 910-metre-long boating lake, which has been a popular attraction since it was introduced. At more than 84 hectares, Eastbrookend Country Park is considerably larger and is designated as a Local Nature Reserve. There you will find natural areas with woodlands and wildflower meadows, a community orchard, fishing lakes and an outdoor fitness area, as well as walking and cycling paths.

Other landscapes have their own character: the 48-hectare The Chase Local Nature Reserve includes low-lying wetlands and reed beds, as well as horse-grazed pasture, scrubland, river and woodland areas. Beam Parklands lies where the River Wantz meets the River Beam. Its habitats include species-rich reed beds, shallow ponds and marshland, as well as extensive areas of acidic grassland that are rare in the south-east. Most paths in Rippleside Park are level and suitable for wheelchairs and mobility scooters; step-free access is available from the surrounding entrances.

Walking and Cycling

A self-guided circular nature trail in Eastbrookend Country Park starts and ends at the Discovery Centre. Car-free cycling routes can be found both in the park and in the wider Dagenham Corridor; conditions on cycling routes can change. A shorter option with a specific distance is the Ripple Greenway: the route is 1.3 kilometres long and intended for walking and cycling. A footbridge connects Beam Valley with Bretons Park, providing informal access on foot or by bicycle.

The Wildlife & Wellbeing Trail is aimed at residents and visitors to Barking Riverside. It is intended to encourage people to discover Barking Riverside’s endangered, protected and often hidden wildlife. Alongside the named cycling and walking routes, wildlife watching is another reason to explore the area.

Historic Houses and Culture

Valence House is the only surviving manor house in Dagenham. It dates back to the Middle Ages and is still partly surrounded by a moat. Its attractions include a herb garden, a “Dig for Victory” garden bed, an archive and centre for local and family history, and the Tulip Tree Tea Room. It also hosts events for the whole family throughout the year.

Eastbury Manor House was built between 1560 and 1573 and still retains its Elizabethan Tudor exterior. During a visit, you can see the Painted Chamber and the original spiral staircase in the tower. Barking Abbey offers a different perspective on history: the medieval Benedictine nunnery is evidenced by surviving archaeological remains that attest to its historical significance.

The Women’s Museum in Barking commissions and produces contemporary art by women, trans and non-binary artists. It brings local heritage to light and is dedicated to exploring gender identity and equality. Barking And Dagenham therefore offers different ways to engage with culture and history—from surviving buildings and archaeological traces to contemporary themes.

Planning Your Stay

When planning your visit, you can first decide whether parks, wetlands and paths or historic houses and cultural attractions will shape your explorations. Barking Riverside Pier offers direct services with Uber Boat by Thames Clippers to Woolwich (Royal Arsenal – Elizabeth line), Greenwich, Canary Wharf, Tower Bridge, Embankment and Westminster. If you plan to travel by boat, check the timetable in advance.

Discover more destinations: Barking, Brent, Tower Hamlets, Havering, Greenwich, Enfield, Kingston Upon Thames, Wandsworth.

View the main travel guide: Greater London.