Like so much of East London, Barking is on the up and up. A combination of sustained urban regeneration and private investment is turning Barking from a ‘work in progress’ to a ‘worth the wait’ prospect. We take a look at the new developments that make up the 10 best places to live in Barking, according to reviewers on HomeViews.
Is Barking a good place to live?Barking is an East London town that has a lot going for it. The completely revamped town centre leads the way. It provides an excellent offering of familiar high street chains with characterful independent stores and restaurants mixed in.
As for culture, Barking sports a wide variety of historic buildings. The jewel of these is the gorgeous Eastbury Manor House – a National Trust property. There’s also a good range of green spaces to be found. Barking sports a respectable 25 public parks of varying sizes.
Transport links are another string to Barking’s bow. Both the District Line and the Hammersmith & City lines run through it. This means you can be in central London comfortably within 30 minutes. The A12 and A13 also provide solidly accessible road links between Barking and the rest of London.
What are the best areas to live in Barking?Barking has a bustling town centre area, with numerous residential streets around the centre and Barking Station offering a wealth of period terraced and semi-detached properties, along with easy access to the local amenities. To the west of the area, between the historic Barking Abbey ruins and the River Roding, there is a wealth of modern developments, while some of the area’s most desirable housing can be found on the doorstep of Barking Park.
Average property prices in BarkingOverall, Barking and Dagenham remains one of the cheapest London boroughs in which to buy property. For October 2022, the average property price stood at £358,000. Flats went, on average, for a reasonable £229,500.
These healthy price averages make the borough a magnet for first-time buyers. Not to mention investors looking to get in before Barking really takes off.
10 best places to live in BarkingNow it’s time to see what HomeViews resident reviewers have to say about Barking’s highest-rated new homes. As always, these rankings are based solely on verified reviews submitted by actual residents of the property developments listed.
*PLEASE NOTE these rankings take into account how recently reviews have been submitted, so may not match the overall star ratings shown. More recent reviews are given a greater weighting to reflect current building performance.
At the top of the table, we have Apo Barking. This is a sizeable development situated on the banks of the River Roding and opposite Abbey Park. It features a range of studios, 1 and 2-bed apartments, and residents can choose from various flexible leases and apartment upgrades. In addition, there are plenty of excellent amenities and facilities on site. This includes an exclusive onsite gym, The Barking Local, a co-working and lounge space as well as The Hub, the Apo HQ where residents can get help with any day-to-day requirements from the on-site management team. Likewise, there is a members’ roof terrace on the 7th floor. Apo Barking even has its own residents’ app!
Read reviews and details of Apo Barking, IG11
In second place, Barratt London‘s Upton Gardens is situated in the heart of what makes East London special. There are 842 homes available onsite. There is a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments. Additionally, the development features open green spaces, rooftop terraces, landscaped walkways and public art. Located in Zone 3, Upton Gardens is within a 6-minute walk of Upton Park tube. Residents can access both the District and Hammersmith & City lines. Moreover, the Help to Buy scheme in operation.
Read reviews and details of Upton Gardens, E13
For our third spot, it’s a development made for residents who want a slice of the simple life. Simple Life London at Fresh Wharf is a Build to Rent development offering 1 and 2-bedroom apartments, all fully furnished and pet-friendly. Apartments also offer great views, particularly those facing the river. The development is also nicely close to Canary Wharf, under 20 minutes’ drive.
Read reviews and details of Simple Life London at Fresh Wharf, IG11
In fourth place, Abbeville Apartments is a Grainger PLC development offering one, two and three-bedroom apartments – all rental only. Residents are big fans of the modern yet cosy design, as well as the handy location. Local amenities such as key shops, transport links and Asda supermarket are all very close by. Barking train station is also conveniently close, which means easy access for residents to the Overground, National Rail and District line services.
Read reviews and details of Abbeville Apartments, IG11
Want to discover apartments in Barking? Well, now you have! Discover Apartments is a development by Country & Metropolitan, and it features 254 residential units with a range of 1, 2 and 3-bedroom apartments, all designed and fitted to a high standard. The development is situated alongside the River Roding (there’s also a canoe club connected to the development,) and Barking Station is only a 17-minute walk away, providing connections to the Overground and c2c rail services into Central London.
Read reviews and details of Discover Apartments, IG11
In sixth, Trinity Place, by Countryside, comprises one, two and three-bed apartments. Located in Beacontree Heath, the area has a vast number or local shops and amenities around Wood Lane. Romford is also just 5-miles away, which give residents access to larger shopping facilities.
Read reviews and details of Trinity Place, RM10
In seventh, we’re back to Fresh Wharf, the main development by Countryside and Notting Hill Genesis. Situated on the Barking waterfront, this is a new and already-popular mixed-use community. It represents a highly desirable new destination with direct links to the City and beyond.
Read reviews and details of Fresh Wharf, IG11
In eighth place, Barking Central is a joint venture development between Redrow Homes and Galliard Homes. It comprises 272 one and two-bedroom apartments and three-bed homes. In addition, the development is conveniently located in the centre of Barking. Barking station is also in close proximity. Residents have access to a variety of Underground, Overground and National Rail Services. In 2011, Barking Central received an RIBA Award for architectural excellence.
Read reviews and details of Barking Central, IG11
In ninth, Lymington Mews offers 417 residential houses and apartments. This housing estate has a mixture of one, two, three and four-bedroom homes. Also, it’s just a 15-minute walk from Chadwell Heath Station, which takes you directly London Liverpool Street station.
Read reviews and details of Lymington Mews, RM8
In tenth place there’s a second Lymington development to shout about. Lymington Place is a Countryside development located in Becontree, Dagenham. It comprises 319 apartments, which range from one to four-bedrooms. The development is located a 10-minute walk from Chadwell Heath station, which has direct trains to London Liverpool Street every 10-minutes.
Read reviews and details of Lymington Place, RM8
If you’ve gone Barking mad, take a look at our dedicated area guide for more information on this up-and-coming East London town. This should give you a better chance of finding the best places to live in Barking, according to your budget and taste.
London’s largest regeneration scheme, Barking is something of a work-in-progress. For instance, project milestones include a brand-new town centre completed in 2007, as well as an ongoing riverside neighbourhood that’ll be packed with restaurants and shops when complete. But where are the best places Read more about Barking
HomeViews provides verified resident reviews of the UK’s housing developments. We’re working with developers, house builders, operators, housing associations and the Government to recognise high performers and help improve standards in the built environment.
written byJan MoysA residential property expert with over 15 years’ experience creating content… Read all
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