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.
10 best places to live in Barking
Let’s 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!
A key part of the new and exciting regeneration of the wider area, Barking Riverside is a L&Q and Bellway Residential development and currently occupyies second place in Barking. The development offers a selection of studio, one, two and three-bedroom apartments and a range of houses. It also includes 100 units of specific build-to-rent units operated and managed by L&Q PRS. Upney Station is the closest form of public transportation, serving the District Line Service to Upminster.
In third place, 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 one and two-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, which is less than a 20-minute drive away.
For our fourth spot, 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.
Want to discover apartments in Barking? Well, now you have! In fifth place for Barking, 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.
In sixth, 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.
In seventh 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.
Eighth placed Rivermill Lofts is a development by Weston Homes, comprising 118 residential units with a mix of one and two-bedroom apartments. The development is adjacent to the River Roding and only a 12-minute walk away from Barking station, which has connections to the Overground and c2c train services.
In at number nine we have the subset of 100 build-to-rent units offered by L&Q at Barking Riverside. Again, this development is one of the most exciting placemaking projects in Europe. Barking Riverside will transform a former industrial site along the River Thames into a new London district. As well as this, the site is alongside two kilometres of south-facing Thames river frontage. In addition, residents can benefit from the area becoming a vibrant neighbourhood of over 10,000 homes.
For our final development of this list, we’re headed down to the Weavers Quarter, another L&Q development built in partnership with the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. It offers 421 exceptional apartments within central Barking, where residents can reach Liverpool Street in just 22 minutes.
Barking is an East London town that has plenty 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, 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 Barking
Overall, Barking and Dagenham remains one of the cheapest London boroughs in which to buy property. For October 2023, the average property price stood at £358,000. Flats went, on average, for a reasonable £235,000. With property prices falling across the UK in 2023, Barking is one of the few places where prices are holding steady, and even rising slightly.
Barking’s 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. As for renting, Barking’s monthly average is £1,800, which places it significantly below London’s average of £3,250 PCM.
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.
