Valence House Museum — Attraction in London

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...

Lovely walk, museum is fab and interesting. Sadly, my mother and I went for lunch in the cafe. The lady serving, Kim, was extremely rude and obnoxious. She kept complaining she was 'manning the fort alone', but at this time, it was only my mother and I there. We weren't in a hurry and would've understood things take a little longer if you're alone. But she kept mentioning it, then was offered assistance by another staff member, to which she declined. Then proceeded to be extremely rude to my mother and I. If this is what she's like all the time, which seemed very evident, then I can't see people returning. Its a shame, as other staff members were lovely. She actually frightened my mother with her rudeness and we felt really awkward being there. I don't understand why they would employ someone with this awful attitude. My mother and I are very polite and don't expect to be spoken to in this manner. Disgraceful. If you want more custom, maybe train Kim with some manners and etiquette in dealing with people....

A wonderful local museum set in an old Manor House that has part of it's moat intact. It is behind the local library. There is a new building housing the local archives, meeting rooms (which can be hired), a cafe, and a gift shop. The staff and volunteers are very helpful. The cafe has a limited range, but good at what they do (£). The museum takes you through the history of Barking and Dagenham. In addition there are the Fanshawe portraits - the family who were Lords of the Manor for many years. It also puts on a number of special exhibitions. My favourite exhibit is the Dagenham Idol, a neolithic wood carving that is thought to be a fertility symbol, that managed to survive the centuries thanks to being waterlogged in the Dagenham marshes. Access to the archives and museum is free, and there is a small car park accessed via the main entrance to Valence Park. The nearest station is Chadwell Heath - on the Liverpool Street to Shenfield line, and the 62 bus...