Valence House
Museums & Science Centres · Dagenham, London, Outer London
No reviews yet
Closed — opens Tuesday at 10am
🏠 Indoor & outdoorEducationalGardensCastle☔ Rainy-day friendly
What’s there
- Café on site
- Free parking
- Buggy friendly
- Picnic area
Free parking in the Valence Park car park via Becontree Avenue and on Becontree Avenue; Blue Badge parking at the delivery entrance off Margery Road, per the venue's visit page.
Only facilities we’ve confirmed are listed — anything missing here we simply haven’t checked, rather than know to be absent.
Valence House is the only surviving manor house in Dagenham, a timber-framed building begun in the 15th century and still partly surrounded by its moat. The galleries tell the story of Barking and Dagenham and its people across the ages, with highlights including a set of Fanshawe family portraits, a period room and whalebones displayed by the front door. Families can explore the house and then wander the grounds, which include a herb garden, a Second World War Dig for Victory plot with a replica Anderson shelter, and a traditional orchard. Seasonal free trails and activities are offered for children, and the site has a tearoom with a children's lunch box option. The museum suits a rainy afternoon or a relaxed visit combined with a walk around Valence Park, and it runs school sessions and family events through the year.
Free seasonal trails and activities for families; the venue runs year-round family events. Archives and Local Studies Centre closes for lunch on Saturdays 12.30pm to 1.15pm.
Stuff to take with you
The things people wish they’d packed for a day out like this one.
- Refillable water bottleMost places will fill it for free.
- Snacks that survive a rucksackCheaper than the café, and buys you twenty minutes.
- Wet wipes
- Small first aid kitPlasters solve more days out than anything else here.
- Ice packs
- Notebook
- Picnic blanket
- Rucksack
- Sick bagsYou only forget these once.
- Flask of tea
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