Moving to Barking

Barking is a suburb bordering the River Thames. Its residents, for the most part, are commuters and professionals who need direct access to London for their day-to-day life.

Particularly popular amongst students, employees and employers looking to access the best of London’s conveniences – including its jobs, shops, its universities, and the tube network – there are several reasons to consider moving to Barking. The following are just a few:

Barking’s Proximity to London City Airport

Barking borders London City Airport to the west, a single terminal airport flying just under 100 planes a day to international destinations. It makes Barking a great spot for professionals who need to travel for work, with a direct tube link between the two.

Barking Enjoys Access to the London Underground

Barking has a tube station in the northwest corner of the suburb, connected to the District Line and the Hammersmith & City Line. That opens Barking commuters up to Upminster, Wimbledon, Hammersmith, Richmond, Ealing Broadway, and every stop in between.

Barking’s Excellent Storage Facilities

Space is a rare commodity so close to the heart of London. However, fortunately Barking has an Attic Self Storage location, opening up extra space when your home or your office isn’t big enough for everything you treasure.

The University of East London

Located next to the residential areas of Barking, the University of East London (UEL) is a major reason to move to the borough. Students often find term-time accommodation across Barking and Dagenham, while professors and staff benefit from living close to their workplace.

It’s Affordability Relative to Other Parts of London

The cost of living in Barking is relatively affordable when compared to other parts of London, allowing its residents to enjoy the accessibility that comes with living in London without the associated price tag.

How Expensive is Barking?

Barking was listed as the cheapest place to buy a home in London in 2024. The average house price is just over £357,000, and according to Rightmove the most popular property type to buy is a terraced house. Flats sell for an average of just over £242,000, undercutting the London average of £545,000 by more than half.

All in all, it’s not a bad spot for commuters who don’t want to struggle against the inflation affecting most of central London.

A List of Estate Agents in Barking

In a place as popular as Barking, estate agents are a plenty. The following are just a few of the town’s best:

Commercial Estate Agents in Barking

Things to do in Barking

While Barking is primarily a residential area, there are still plenty of things to do in the area and in surrounding suburbs. The tube station also opens the rest of London up for activities and leisure, from Kew Gardens to the shopping centre at Westfield London.

Free Things to do in Barking

There are several urban parks surrounding Barking and Dagenham where you can take the kids to feed the ducks or just enjoy an afternoon walk. Parsloes Park is a prime spot for both, with a community garden on-site, while alternatives include Barking Park and Mayesbrook.

You can also visit the museum at Valence House in Dagenham, go to see the churches at St Margarets and St Patricks, or take the kids to the Eastbrookend Discovery Centre.

Day Trips in Barking

As for day trips, there are plenty of fun things to do in Barking with the family. You can take an ‘uber boat’ down the Thames to spend some time out on the water, or visit the Eastbury Manor House, an Elizabethan gentry house maintained by the National Trust.

And, of course, the wider London area is known for its many landmark attractions, including: The London Eye, Tower Bridge, Big Ben, and Westminster.

Tips for a Smooth Move to Barking

If your move to Barking involves you downsizing, you might want to consider one of the following options:

Hire a Skip

Downsizing inevitably means getting rid of a few things, hiring a skip means you can throw out all your unwanted items all at once, rather than rely on your council’s weekly bin collection.

Hire out a Storage Unit for the Furniture You Currently Don’t Have Space for

This is a particularly good option if you find yourself still trying to shuffle things around your home as you figure out what goes where and what you have space for. Our storage units in Barking can serve as a temporary home for these items until you figure out what you want to do with them. They can also serve as a great “in between” space for your items if you prefer a gradual move or if there are any renovations you’d like carried out on your new property ahead of fully moving in.

Check the Local Road Laws

Barking falls into London’s ULEZ – the Ultra Low Emission Zone. That means that you could be charged quite a lot of money for driving a non-compliant vehicle around the area.

You should make sure that your moving vans and your car are all compatible with ULEZ laws to avoid paying more than you expect for the move.

Let the Relevant People Know of Your Move in Advance

Telling your internet provider, utility companies and insurance providers well in advance can help to prevent awkward arguments about payment start dates and periods of no Wi-Fi in your new home.

Posted on 25th March 2025 by Shanaiqua Desa

Shanaiqua Desa

Social Media & Marketing Communications Executive

Shanaiqua Desa is the Content & Creative Lead at Attic Self Storage. She has a Master’s degree in Advertising and Marketing from the University of Hull, UK, and 5 years of experience as a marketer. During her time at Attic, Shanaiqua has become an expert at understanding, both, the industry and, more importantly, its customers enabling her to create valuable content for anyone looking to use self-storage.

Read all posts by Shanaiqua Desa