1 / 2Valence House Museum
📍 Dagenham, Greater London
Houses nearly 30,000 artefacts spanning Barking and Dagenham history from medieval manor to 20th century, including a dedicated Vera Lynn exhibit. Interactive audio stations, restored moat, and adjacent playground make it a full morning out.
I came here on the weekend, to see the park and the museum. There is no charge to enter and I was surprised to find the amount of detail and exhibitions displayed here. The ground floor has some information and models of the house. Upstairs has more information of specialised interest. I particularly liked seeing the artefacts of Vera Lynn, alongside a piece where you can hear some of her songs by just pressing a button. There are also some secondary sources of people speaking about work back I the day, or about their evacuation experiences during the Second World War. I thought it was very nice here, they have a room with a gallery of oil paintings and elsewhere there are plenty of old fashioned items you can have a look at. They closed for lunch between 12-1pm, but a staff member gave me a bookmark with a QR code in which I could use to have a look at whenever (it leads to the website with more information). I thought that was very appropriate, as I didn't bring a bookmark that day and had just started a new book. The bookmark even has a picture of a skull (I like that) 💀
🏆 Family Action Verdict
Best for school-age children with an interest in local history and families who want a free, unhurried outing. Toddlers benefit from the playground next door. The hands-on audio stations and artefact variety keep children engaged beyond a single pass-through. Plan around the midday closure to avoid arriving during the lunch break.
ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go
💬 What Families Are Saying
View all reviews →420 Google reviews
WOSP Pz
6 months ago
“I came here on the weekend, to see the park and the museum. There is no charge to enter and I was surprised to find the amount of detail and exhibitions displayed here. The ground floor has some information and models of the house. Upstairs has more information of specialised interest. I particularly liked seeing the artefacts of Vera Lynn, alongside a piece where you can hear some of her songs by just pressing a button. There are also some secondary sources of people speaking about work back I the day, or about their evacuation experiences during the Second World War. I thought it was very nice here, they have a room with a gallery of oil paintings and elsewhere there are plenty of old fashioned items you can have a look at. They closed for lunch between 12-1pm, but a staff member gave me a bookmark with a QR code in which I could use to have a look at whenever (it leads to the website with more information). I thought that was very appropriate, as I didn't bring a bookmark that day and had just started a new book. The bookmark even has a picture of a skull (I like that) 💀”
Carly Rolph
a year ago
“Such a fantastic little gem of a museum. We love local museums like this because they tell the story of the area so perfectly. Love that the Dagenham Idol is there on display as well. Highly recommend if you’re interested in the history of the area or if you’re looking for a little day out for the littles as there’s a lovely playground next door, a neat little garden, and a yummy cafe.”
David Porter
a year ago
“What a wonderful place to visit,from the warm greeting as I walked in to all the historic items dating back over 2000 years ago up till 1960's it's a really a informative museum about the development of the local area from Manor houses to the urban place it is today.it has lots of examples of different times of Barking and Dagenham history..”
o s
5 months ago
“A amazing museum and lovely place to visit packed with information and loads of history on Barking and Dagenham. I highly recommend it and the staff and friendly and will tell you a bit about it. It also is a decent size and has a toilet and a cafe next to it where you can also buy a souvenir.”
Reviews from Google
Overview
Valence House Museum covers local history from 1200 to the present day across a genuine medieval manor house. Highlights include the Barking Abbey heritage gallery, Vera Lynn displays, and the Dagenham Idol. Staff run guided orientations and provide QR-linked bookmarks for deeper research. The Tulip Tree Tearoom sits on-site beside a restored moat, with a playground directly adjacent for younger children.
