Barking Town Hotel Tips by MikeStarr5

Travelodge: Major Hotel Chain Opens in Barking Town

I live in Barking and have not stayed at this hotel but have included details mostly taken from their website for information purposes....

This is a brand new, ultra modern looking high rise hotel, right in the centre of Barking Town. Travelodge is an internationally known hotel chain in which most of us have stayed from time to time.

In this particular branch, price range from very cheap £19.00 (mostly for Sunday nights) if booked 21 days ahead up to about £89.00 for last minute midweek bookings. The room you get will probably be the same regardless of the fee paid.

On some dates you can even get a "family room" which sleeps 4 people for just £19.00 - What a fantastic bargain ! - I am almost tempted myself, just to see what it is like inside .

The hotel is next to a small Tesco Express supermarket. Walk a few feet more and you will find yourself in the lovely tranquil Barking Arboretum (See separate tip or to see what it looks like click the link saying "4 more photos" under the main hotel picture above).

As you stroll through the arboretum, glance to your rights and you can see our covered walkway with its huge gold chandeliers and chequered terrazo floor).

A few paces further on, on the right is the "Barking Folly" and on the left is the "Barking Learning Centre". You can pop in and use their ultra fast broadband to contact the folks at home and tell them what a nice place Barking Town is !

Before you send that email though, nip in to the "Tulip Cafe and Gallery" in the "Barking Learning Centre" for a coffee and a quick bite to eat. While you are in there, you might as well have a free look around their current art exhibition.

The brick built building in front of you with the clock tower is Barking Town Hall. Continue walking in the direction from which you have come. So the Town hall will now be on your left. After 200 metres you will get to the Broadway Theatre with its statue of local war hero "Job Drain" outside. There is nearly always something of note on at the theatre, especially at weekends. They too have a nice bar and restaurant.

Cross the road onto the grassed area in front of the theatre now. Look to your right and you will see "St Margarets Church" and "St Margarets Centre". Yet another opportunity for a snack in their small cafe. It has a glass roof, through which you can see the old church clock tower.

Finally, as you come out of St Margarets Centre, look to your left and you will see a really ancient tower with turrets on top and a large arch. This is Barking Town's "Curfew Tower" - Look it up - It is steeped in history - Go through the arch and you are in an old graveyard, at the far side of which are the ruins of Barking Abbey - Again steeped in history.

So, if you stay at the Barking Town Travelodge with your family on a Sunday Night for £19.00 you could not be better placed to see most of Barking Town's historic and brand new sights.

I have written extensively on VT about most of these - Have a look - Enjoy !

Unique Qualities: Location, location, location - Well placed for Barking Town's historic and modern sights and very near all transportation links

Address: Pianoworks, 4 Arboretum Place, Barking Town, Essex, UK. IG11 7RX

Comparison: less expensive than average

Directions: Turn right out of station, walk down the hill, take first on left, hotel is next to the Police Station on your right.

Phone: 0871 984 6416

Price: US$20-40

Theme: Hotel

Website: http://www.travelodge.co.uk

Barking Park Hotel: B&B Close to the Park

I live in Barking and have not stayed at this B&B - Details given for information purposes only.

I can however add that Barking Park Hotel bought and then closed down the Britannia Public House next door and as I write in June 2010, they have made good progress in converting the pub into additional hotel space.

The outside of the building still looks the same as it did when I started drinking there as a teenager in the late 1960's.

It was a great traditional East End pub with great Young's beer and I was very sorry to see it close.

Unique Qualities: Adjacent to the Brittannia Pub. (Now Closed)
5 minutes walk to Barking Park and the lake. (See my separate tip)
6 minutes walk to "The Catch" (See my separate tip)
10 minutes walk to Barking Station. (See my separate tip)
12 minutes from the Barking Town centre (See my separate tip).

Address: 56-60 Tanner Street, Barking, Essex IG11 8QF

Comparison: least expensive

Directions: See map www.tinyurl.com/2zcqjs

Other Contact: Fax: 020 8594 2525

Phone: Phone: 020 8594 2720

Price: US$40-80

Theme: Bed and Breakfast

Website: http://www.barkingparkhotel.com

Ibis Hotel: Ibis Hotel - A Budget Hotel Near Barking

I live in Barking and have not stayed at this Hotel - Details given for information purposes only.

Unique Qualities: Situated on a busy main road
4 minutes walk from Tesco Supermarket
5 Minutes walk from the Lighted Lady of Barking Town
10 Minutes walk from the town centre
15 minutes walk from the station

Check in from Noon - Check out by noon

Pets accepted !!! - WiFi Access - Indoor and Outdoor Parking

Cafe and Bar that serves snacks 24/7

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Breakfast (5.25 per person extra on top of the room price.)

Early risers (4-9:30am) : Coffee or tea, fruit juice, bread and pastries

Main Breakfast (6:30 - 10am) : All-you-can-eat buffet "help yourself" buffet breakfast

Late risers (10-12 noon) : Coffee or tea, fruit juice, bread and pastries

Address: Ibis Hotel Highbridge Road Barking Town Essex - IG11 7B

Comparison: more expensive than average

Directions: Near the junction of the A13 and A406

Phone: 00 44 208 477 4100

Price: US$80-120

Theme: Hotel

Dorian House Hotel / Guest House: Inexpensive Bed and Breakfast by "The Catch"

I live in Barking Town and have not stayed at this hotel / Guest House. Details supplied for information only.

Unique Qualities: 5 minutes walk from "The Catch" (See my tip)
8 minutes walk from "Barking Station" (See my tip)
10 minutes walk from "Barking Park" (See my tip)
12 minutes walk from the Town Centre

Double Rooms from £40.00 Singles Rooms from £ 30.00, Family Rooms from £60.00 including Breakfast - Please note though that I could find very little about this hotel, please call them yourself for info.

Address: 12-14 Cecil Avenue, Barking, Essex IG11 9TF

Comparison: less expensive than average

Directions: Come out of Barking Station, cross over the road. Walk left down the hill. Cecil Ave is the 1st road on your right, by "The Catch" sculpture (see separate tip).

They do not have a website but click below for a map showing where they are.

Other Contact: 00 20 8491 1702 (fax)

Phone: 00 44 20 8594 5986

Price: US$20-40

Theme: Bed and Breakfast

Website: http://tinyurl.com/2genzx

Barking Hotel: Barking's Most Central Accomodation

I live in Barking and have not stayed at this B&B - Details given for information purposes only. However, having read numerous review sites about accomodation in Barking, I have come to the conclusion that this might be the overall best value for money - I have not seen one single negative comment about this hotel / B&B and it is certainly the most central. All the others apart from the Barking Park Hotel are located in Highbridge Road, Barking which is about a 10/15 minute walk away from the town centre/station.

Unique Qualities: Almost opposite the station.
2 minutes walk from Vicarage Fields Shopping Centre.

Each room has a wash basin, TV, fridge and coffee making machine and for £25, in London that’s amazing !!

Address: Barking Hotel, Asghar House, 24A Station Parade, Barking, Essex IG11 8DR

Comparison: less expensive than average

Directions: Come out of Barking Station & turn right - Cross the rd at the pedestrian crossing and walk to your right again. The hotel in 30 seconds away on your left above Coral Bookmakers - If you reach the town bandstand, you have gone too far.

Phone: 020 8594 1643

Price: US$20-40

Theme: Bed and Breakfast

Website: http://www.barkinghotel.co.uk

Hotel Formule 1: Hotel Formule 1 - A Budget Hotel Near Barking

I live in Barking and have not stayed at this hotel - Details given for information purposes only.

Unique Qualities: Situated on a busy main road
4 minutes walk from Tesco Supermarket
5 Minutes walk from the Lighted Lady of Barking Town
10 Minutes walk from the town centre
15 minutes walk from the station

30.00 per room - Sleeps 3

Rooms contain a double bed and a bunk, a washbasin, mirror, a corner table and a TV - Toilets and showers which have a dry area for toiletries and clothing - are located just outside the room.

The fact that the showers are outside not inside the rooms at Hotel Formule is the main difference between them and the Etap Hotel chain next door.

You can read all about the Hotel Formule concept on Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotel_Formule_1 and probably tell from that whether or not is is for you.

Address: Highbridge Road Barking Essex IG11 7BA

Comparison: least expensive

Directions: Near the intersection of the A13 and A406

Phone: 00 44 208 507 07 89

Price: US$40-80

Theme: Hotel

Website: http://www.hotelformule1.com/formule1/fichehotel/gb/for/2655/fiche_hotel.shtml

Etap Hotel: Etap Hotel - A Budget Hotel in Barking

I live in Barking and have not stayed at this hotel - Details given for information purposes only

Unique Qualities: On a busy main road
4 minutes walk from Tesco Supermarket
5 Minutes walk from the Lighted Lady of Barking Town
10 Minutes walk from the town centre
15 minutes walk from the station

Price 41.00 per room plus a 5.00 supplement each for the 2nd and 3rd person - Price correct at 28th October 2007.

One of only 2 Etap Hotels in London - The other is near City Airport

The rooms include a double bed and a bunk bed with hanging space for clothes and a TV, There are no keys. You are allocated a PIN number at check in, which you enter onto a pad at the front door and your room door to unlock them.

Each room has a very small bathroom with shower. This is the main difference between Etap and Formule next door.

Breakfast is an all you can eat buffet, with coffee, tea, hot chocolate, orange juice and various types of bread, butter and preserves.

The front desk is staffed only during breakfast and peak check in times (5-9 or 10). At other times there is a machine into which you put the card you used to guarantee your booking, and it debits the money and gives you a receipt and the PIN to get into the hotel and your room. If you don't have a reservation, and there are rooms available, you can use the same method to secure one. You can also be reminded of your PIN by inserting your card.

Guests at Etap Hotels can get sometimes special deals at the IBIS restaurant next door. (Please check!)

Address: Highbridge Road Barking IG11 7BA

Comparison: less expensive than average

Directions: On the intersecton of the A13 and A406

Phone: 020 8507 8500

Price: US$40-80

Theme: Hotel

Website: http://www.etaphotel.com/etaphotel/fichehotel/gb/etp/3188/fiche_hotel.shtml#

Premier Inn Barking: Premier Inn - A Budget Hotel Near Barking

I live in Barking and have not stayed at this Hotel - Details given for information purposes only.

Unique Qualities: Has its own built in restaurant and pub (Bar Est) - Food and Drinks Menu and prices on website.

Situated on a busy main road but please note that their website says

"We have our Good Night Guarantee. We believe in our people doing a good job for you – in fact we're so confident, we'll give you your money back if you don't enjoy a good night's sleep."

4 minutes walk from Tesco Supermarket
5 Minutes walk from the Lighted Lady of Barking Town
10 Minutes walk from the town centre
15 Minutes walk from the station

Monday - Thursday From £70 per room per night
Friday - Sunday From £59 per room per night

Full breakfast selection £7.50 extra
Continental buffet £5.25 extra

Prices correct as at 28th October 2007

Free Outdoor Parking.

Address: Highbridge Road Barking Essex IG11 7BA

Comparison: more expensive than average

Directions: Near the junction of the A13 and A406

Phone: 0870 990 6318

Price: US$120-180

Theme: Hotel

Website: http://www.premierinn.com