Settling in · Bucks
Landing in Bucks? Start here.
The first fortnight in Bucks, in order: the paperwork that has to happen, then the places that make it feel like somewhere you could stay.
Week one and two
The order to do things in
1
Ring your Sama contact when you land
Whoever placed you. Tell them you arrived and that you are all right.
2
Apply for your National Insurance number
You can start work before it arrives, but do not leave it: your tax will be wrong until you have it.
3
Open a bank account
Passport, visa or share code, and proof of address. A letter from your employer usually does it.
4
Get a UK SIM
A local number makes the bank and the GP straightforward.
5
Register with a GP
Free at the point of use. Do it in your first week.
6
Check your tax code with HMRC
Get on the right code early or you will be paying too much for months.
7
Save your share code
You will be asked to prove your right to work and rent more than once.
8
Find the nearest shop, place of worship and club
The part that decides whether you stay, and the part no handbook covers.
Official, and free
Official finders
Run by the State, so they stay current. Search each one for your own town.
Find a GPThe NHS list of GP surgeries, searchable by postcode.Apply for a National Insurance numberYou need one to be taxed correctly. Apply once you are in the UK.Find an NHS dentistHarder than the GP. Start early and ring around.Check your visa and BRP or eVisaView and prove your immigration status online.Find your local police stationEmergency is 999 or 112. Non-emergency is 101.Understand your tax codeCheck what HMRC thinks you earn, so you are not overtaxed for months.Driving on a foreign licenceHow long you may drive on it, and whether it can be exchanged.Renting: know the rulesYour rights as a tenant, deposit protection and what a landlord may and may not do.Citizens AdviceFree, independent help with anything at all.Public transportNational rail and bus times and tickets.
Near you
87 places in Bucks worth knowing in week one
From OpenStreetMap, the map that locals build, plus places our team knows. Every card has a map link. If one has closed or moved, WhatsApp us and it comes down.
Nothing nearby matches that yet. Try a shorter word.
Places of worship
Every faith near you, listed so people can find a community when they arrive. Sama Talent Group is not affiliated with any religion or religious organisation.
Churches
The Salvation Army Aylesbury Corps
Christian, Salvation army
Meadow Way, Aylesbury, HP20 1XS
About 3 km away
Seventh Day Adventist Church Aylesbury
Christian, Seventh day adventist
Mandeville Road, Aylesbury, HP21 8AA
Chesham Methodist Church
Christian, Methodist
Bellingdon Road, Chesham, HP5 2HA
About 16 km away
Penn Street Holy Trinity Church
Christian, Anglican
Penn Street, Amersham, HP7 0PX
About 18 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Southcourt Islamic Centre
Muslim, Sunni
Churchill Avenue, Aylesbury, HP21 8LZ
About 2 km away
Hazrath Shahjahal Jamie Masjid
Muslim, Sunni
95 Manor Road, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, MK2 2GT
About 22 km away
Buddhist temples and centres
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Milton Keynes
About 23 km away
Fenny Stratford Community Centre, 13 George St., Milton Keynes, England, MK2 2NR
Worship services: Thu 7:00pm · Sat 6:00pm
Iglesia ni Cristo, Oxford
About 24 km away
Wheatley Park School Sixth Forom, Sixth Forom, Wheatley Holton, Oxfordshire, OX33 1QH
Worship services: Wed 7:15pm · Sun 10:00am · Sun 12:00pm (children)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Heathrow North, London
About 42 km away
St. Peter Hall, St. Peter's Way High Street, Harlington, Hayes, UB3 5AB, England
Worship services: Wed 8:00pm · Fri 6:15pm · Fri 8:00pm
Iglesia ni Cristo, Reading
About 43 km away
Whitley Children's Centre, 252 Northumberland Avenue, Reading, England, RG2 8LT
Worship services: Tue 6:00pm · Sat 10:00am · Sat 12:00pm (children)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Hertfordshire
About 44 km away
Datchworth Village Hall, 52 Datchworth Green, Datchworth, Knebworth, SG3 6TL
Worship services: Wed 8:00pm · Sat 10:00am · Sat 12:00pm (children)
Addresses and worship service times from the Iglesia ni Cristo directory, checked October 2026. Times can change, so check the locale's own page before you go. directory.iglesianicristo.net
Shops from home
Halal Meat Market
Butcher
278 Desborough Road, High Wycombe, HP11 2QR
About 19 km away
Elane Asian Market
Supermarket. Hours: Mo-Sa 10:30-19:00; Su 11:00-17:00
Lily's Walk, High Wycombe, HP11 2GE
About 19 km away
Divine Afro-Caribbean Groceries
Convenience
47 Cambridge Street, Aylesbury, HP20 1RP
About 2 km away
SK Halal Food Ltd
Convenience
208 Dashwood Avenue, High Wycombe, HP12 3DD
About 18 km away
Elané Asian Market
Convenience. Hours: Mo-Sa 11:00-19:00; Su 11:30-16:30; Dec 25 off; Jan 01 off
About 19 km away
Food and takeaways
El Halal
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Fr 17:00-23:00; Sa-Su 12:00-14:00, 17:00-23:00
110 High Street, Aylesbury, HP20 1RB
About 2 km away
Opuz Aylesbury
Mediterranean, turkish, fish, grill, seafood, barbecue, fine dining. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 12:00-00:00
Unit 9, Exchange Street, Aylesbury, HP20 1UR
About 2 km away
Bipuls Kitchen
Indian. restaurant
59-61 Lower Road, South Oxfordshire, OX39 4DU
About 13 km away
Shanghai Chinese Takeaway
Chinese. restaurant. Hours: Fr-Sa 17:00-23:00; Su-Th 17:00 - 23:00
67 Penn Road, Aylesbury, HP21 8JX
About 2 km away
Nando's
Chicken, portuguese. restaurant
Exchange Street, Aylesbury, HP20 1UR
About 2 km away
Noodle Nation
Chinese. restaurant
1-3 Bourbon Street, Aylesbury, HP20 2PZ
About 2 km away
Sports and clubs
Amersham and Chiltern Rugby Club
Rugby union. Sports centre
Ash Grove, Weedon Lane, Amersham, HP6 5QU
About 18 km away
Basketball court
Basketball. Pitch
Long Marston Cricket Club
Cricket. Sports centre
Cheddington Lane, Dacorum, HP23 4QP
About 8 km away
Wycombe Badminton Centre
Badminton. Sports centre
Crest Road, High Wycombe, HP11 1UA
About 21 km away
High Wycombe Rugby Union Football Club
Rugby union. Sports centre
Kingsmead Road, High Wycombe, HP11 1JB
About 22 km away
Community and support groups
Quarrendon & Meadowcroft Community Centre
Community centre
Meadowcroft Aylesbury, HP19 9HH
About 4 km away
Berryfields Children’s Centre
Community centre
John Fitzjohn Avenue, Aylesbury, HP18 0FG
About 5 km away
Wycombe Arts Centre
Community centre
Desborough Road, High Wycombe, HP11 2PU
About 19 km away
Piddington Village Hall
Community centre
Ludgershall Road, Cherwell District, OX25 1PU
About 19 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Hot towel and traditional shaves
Barbers and salons
Gennaro Organic Hair & Beauty
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu-We 09:00-17:00; Th 09:00-17:30; Fr 09:00+; Sa 09:00-17:00
4 Bridge Street, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 1AH
About 16 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Long Crendon Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu 14:00-17:00; We,Sa 10:00-13:00
High Street, Long Crendon, HP18 9DS
About 14 km away
Aylesbury Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 09:30-17:30; Tu 09:30-19:30; We 09:30-17:30; Th 09:30-19:30; Fr 09:30-17:30; Sa 09:30-17:00
About 2 km away
Princes Risborough Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Bell Street, Princes Risborough, HP27 0AA
About 9 km away
Haddenham Community Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Banks Road, Aylesbury, HP17 8EE
About 9 km away
Tring Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
High Street, Dacorum, HP23 4AF
About 9 km away
Chinnor Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Station Road, South Oxfordshire, OX39 4PU
About 13 km away
The Library & Resources Centre
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Th 08:00-16:30; Fr 08:00-16:00
Mentmore Road, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 2AE
About 15 km away
Leighton Buzzard Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Lake Street, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 1RX
About 16 km away
Berkhamsted Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
185 High Street, Berkhamsted, HP4 3HB
About 17 km away
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. We do not make places up: if the map has it wrong, fix it on openstreetmap.org and it comes through at the next refresh.
Saving money
What locals use to spend less
The shops and sites people here use for cheap clothes, second-hand furniture, a car, and the weekly shop. We are not paid to list any of them.
Facebook Marketplace and GumtreeSecond-hand furniture, bikes, tools and cars, often for very little. Meet in public, and never pay before you see it.Freecycle and OlioThings people give away for free, and food from neighbours and shops that would otherwise go in the bin.Too Good To GoSurprise bags of food from cafes, bakeries and supermarkets at the end of the day, at a fraction of the price.PrimarkCheap everyday clothes, work basics and bedding.Aldi and LidlThe cheapest big supermarkets for the weekly shop.B&M and Home BargainsCleaning products, kitchen kit and household bits for less.Charity shopsClothes, coats and furniture, and the money goes to a good cause.MoneySavingExpertFree guides to cheaper phones, energy, bank accounts and sending money.
Getting around
Getting around from Bucks
TravelineBus, coach and train times for the whole of Great Britain.National RailTrain times, tickets and railcards.Transport for LondonThe Tube, buses and the Oyster and contactless fares.
Driving here on your licence
Once you live in Great Britain you can drive a car or motorcycle on your full, valid licence for 12 months. After that, a licence from a designated country can be exchanged for a GB licence; from other countries you apply for a provisional licence and pass the theory and practical tests. Lorries, minibuses and buses have stricter rules: check before you drive one.
Check your licence on GOV.UK Exchange a licence
Hiring a car
Each rental company sets its own rules on age, how long you have held your licence and which licences it accepts, and young drivers often pay more. Check those rules before you book, and bring your licence and passport to the desk.
Driving rules taken from the official pages linked above, checked October 2026. They change, so the official page is the one to rely on.
While you are here