Story time & libraries · Barking
Barking Learning Centre Library
A large public library in Barking Town Square featuring a dedicated children's zone, homework clubs, and weekly baby rhyme time sessions.
Barking and Dagenham · for families
Things to do in Barking and Dagenham
A hand-picked guide to real days out with the kids — free and budget-friendly first, sorted by weather, age and what's nearby.
Free & budgetIndoor for rainy daysOutdoor for sunny ones
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Parks & playgrounds · Barking
Barking Park
A historic Victorian-era park featuring a large children's playground, a boating lake, splash park (seasonal), tennis courts, and a café.
Sports & active · Barking
Barking Park Junior parkrun
A free, weekly timed 2km outdoor run for children aged 4 to 14 years. A great way to get kids running and active in a friendly, supportive group.
Nature & outdoors · Dagenham
Beam Valley Country Park
A wild country park containing archaeological sites, river walks along the River Beam, marshland trails, and grassy play areas.
Parks & playgrounds · Dagenham
Central Park Dagenham
A major park in Dagenham featuring a children's play area, a concrete skate park, multi-sports courts, walking paths, and a café.
Story time & libraries · Dagenham
Dagenham Library
A modern library space offering a kids' book corner, reading groups, craft clubs, and weekly story times for under-5s.
Nature & outdoors · Dagenham
Eastbrookend Country Park
A beautiful 84-hectare nature reserve featuring lakes, wildflower meadows, self-guided nature trails, and a Discovery Centre offering educational sessions.
Parks & playgrounds · Dagenham
Goresbrook Park
A local park featuring a fenced children's playground, multi-sports courts, walking trails, and open fields.
Parks & playgrounds · Dagenham
Mayesbrook Park
A large park featuring two children's playgrounds, sports pitches, a renovated sports hub, an outdoor gym, and two scenic lakes.
Parks & playgrounds · Dagenham
Old Dagenham Park
A community park featuring an inclusive play area, climbing structures, a zip line, tennis courts, a basketball court, and open lawns for sports.
Parks & playgrounds · Dagenham
Parsloes Park
A large green space featuring updated children's playgrounds, sports courts, a lake, walking paths, and an outdoor gym.
Nature & outdoors · Dagenham
The Chase Nature Reserve
A nature reserve adjacent to Eastbrookend. Offers rich wetland habitats, birdwatching hides, wild horses grazing, and woodland paths for walks.
Museums & culture · Dagenham
Valence House Museum
A 15th-century timber-framed manor house. Kids can explore interactive galleries showing local history, search the herb gardens, and see the historic moat.
Story time & libraries · Dagenham
Valence Library Children's Corner
A local branch library with a cozy children's section, book trails, and weekly rhyme bounce sessions for toddlers.
Parks & playgrounds · Dagenham
Valence Park
Surrounding the historic Valence House, this park features a children's play area, tree-lined walking paths, and expansive lawns for family picnics.
Swimming & water play · Barking
Abbey Leisure Centre Pool
Modern swimming facility in Barking offering a main 25m pool, a learner pool, and children's swim development courses.
Indoor & soft play · Barking
Abbey Leisure Centre Soft Play
A modern indoor soft play zone located inside the leisure centre, featuring slides, climbing blocks, and soft shapes for toddlers and young children.
Sports & active · Barking
Barking Park Light Railway
A miniature passenger-carrying railway running through Barking Park. Kids love the ride from the park gates down to the boating lake.
Swimming & water play · Dagenham
Becontree Heath Leisure Centre Pool
Offers a large 25m swimming pool, a warm learner pool, junior swimming classes, and family swim sessions.
Indoor & soft play · Dagenham
Becontree Heath Leisure Centre Soft Play
Fenced play frame located inside the sports hub, with climbing platforms, slides, and sensory pads for children.
Sports & active · Dagenham
Better Extreme — Barking Sporthouse Multi-Zone
A newly refurbished Multi-Zone Activity Area inside Barking Sporthouse with a trampoline zone, inflatable and crawl zones, ninja-style obstacles and an airbag slide, plus separate soft play upstairs for under-5s. Minimum age 18 months; dedicated toddler and SEND sessions run in term time.
Sports & active · Dagenham
Jim Peters Stadium Sports Camp
An athletics stadium offering children's sports courses, running groups, and holiday active camps to learn track and field sports.
Cinema · Barking
Showcase Cinema de Lux Barking
A large multiplex cinema offering special "Baby Pictures" screenings for parents and babies, and discounted family tickets for morning screenings.
Performing arts · Barking
The Broadway Theatre Barking
A performing arts venue hosting touring children's theatre shows, musical stage adaptations, youth dance groups, and annual Christmas pantomimes.
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