Settling in · Essex
Landing in Essex? Start here.
The first fortnight in Essex, 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
78 places in Essex 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.
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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
Salvation Army
Christian, Salvation army
70 Baddow Road, Chelmsford, CM2 0DL
About 5 km away
Chelmsford Central Baptist Church
Christian, Baptist
Victoria Road South, Chelmsford, CM1 1LN
About 6 km away
Grove Road Evangelical Church
Christian, Evangelical
Grove Road, Chelmsford, CM2 0EY
About 6 km away
The Church of the Ascension with All Saints
Christian, Anglican
Maltese Road, Chelmsford, CM1 2PB
About 6 km away
Kingdom Hall Of Jehovahs Witnesses
Christian, Jehovahs witness
Windsor Close, Witham, CM8 1EG
About 7 km away
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Christian, Latter day saints
Baddow Road, Chelmsford, CM2 7PZ
About 5 km away
Salvation Army
Christian, Salvation army
146-148 High Street, Orton, Rayleigh, SS6 7BU
About 19 km away
St Martin of Tours
Christian, Anglican. Hours: Mo-Th 09:00-11:00; Fr 09:00-13:00; Sa 10:00-13:00
St Martins Square, Basildon, SS14 1DX
About 21 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Chelmsford Mosque
Muslim, Sunni
13a Moulsham Street, Chelmsford, CM2 0HU
About 6 km away
Other places of worship
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Southend
About 24 km away
71-73 Elm Road, Leigh-on-Sea, Southend-on-Sea, Leigh-on-Sea, SS9 1SP
Worship services: Tue 7:30pm · Sat 10:00am
Iglesia ni Cristo, Colchester
About 34 km away
Boxted Village Hall, Cage Lane, Boxted Cross, Colchester, C04 5RE
Worship services: Thu 7:00pm · Sat 9:30am · Sat 11:30am (children)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Romford
About 44 km away
Temporarily using, Stratford chapel, 25 Meath road, London, England, E15 3DS
Worship services: Sat 10:00am · Sat 12:00pm (children) · Sat 6:30pm
Iglesia ni Cristo, Stratford, London
About 44 km away
25 MEATH ROAD, STRATFORD, LONDON, E15 3DS, ENGLAND
Worship services: Wed 7:00am · Wed 7:00pm · Sat 6:00pm · Sun 9:00am · Sun 11:30am (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
Oriental Emporium
Supermarket. Hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-18:00; Su off
2 Tindal Street, Chelmsford, CM1 1ER
About 6 km away
First Choice Asian Convenience Store
Convenience. Hours: Mo-Su 09:00-21:00
8-10 Rainsford Road, Chelmsford, CM1 2QD
About 6 km away
King's Convenience Store
Newsagent
78,78a-78c Kings Road, Chelmsford, CM1 4HR
About 6 km away
Food and takeaways
Omar's Tandoori
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 12:30-14:00,17:30+
The Street, Braintree, CM3 2EA
About 5 km away
Bilash
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 12:00-14:30,17:00-24:00
7 Baddow Road, Chelmsford, CM2 0BX
About 6 km away
Lanthong
Thai. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Sa 12:00-14:00,18:00-22:00; Su off
6a Baddow Road, Chelmsford, CM2 0DG
About 6 km away
Thai Cottage
Thai. restaurant. Hours: Tu-Su 17:00-22:30
149 Newland Street, Witham, CM8 1BE
About 8 km away
Tommy Tucker's
Burger, chicken, fish and chips, kebab, sausage. takeaway. Hours: Mo-Sa 12:00-22:00; Su 16:00-22:00
2 Mill Lane, CM8 1BP
About 8 km away
Lian
Chinese. restaurant. Hours: Tu 16:30-21:00; We-Su 12:00-14:30, 17:00-22:30
5 Newland Street, Witham, CM8 2AF
About 8 km away
China Kitchen
Chinese. restaurant
10 Herolds Way, South Woodham Ferrers, CM3 5TQ
About 13 km away
Pink Garlic
Indian. takeaway
4 Chipping Row, South Woodham Ferrers, CM3 5XU
About 13 km away
Chillies Indian Fusion
Indian. restaurant
South Woodham Ferrers
About 13 km away
Hot Wok
Chinese. takeaway. Hours: Mo-Th 17:00-22:30; Fr-Sa 17:00-23:00
South Woodham Ferrers
About 13 km away
Little Boreham
Chinese. restaurant. Hours: Mo,We-Su 12:00-14:00, 17:00-23:00
3 Butterfield Road, Chelmsford, CM3 3BT
Wagamama
Asian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 11:00-22:00
Charter Way, Braintree, CM77 8YJ
About 13 km away
Sports and clubs
Chelmsford Rugby Club
Rugby. Sports centre
Timsons Lane, Chelmsford, CM2 6AG
About 4 km away
Springfield Cricket Club
Cricket. Sports centre
Timsons Lane, Chelmsford, CM2 6AF
About 4 km away
Fitness Suite & Changing Rooms
Basketball, football, tennis, badminton, netball, multi. Sports centre
Wilfred Waterman Drive, Chelmsford, CM1 6DG
About 3 km away
Witham Town Football & Social Club
Soccer. Sports centre
Blunts Hall Road, Braintree, CM8 1UR
About 8 km away
Old Chelmsfordians
Soccer, tennis, cricket. Sports centre
Lawford Lane, Chelmsford, CM1 2NS
About 8 km away
Florence Park
Soccer. Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 08:30-17:30
Grange Road, Colchester, CO5 0UH
About 15 km away
Days out and things to do
Driving schools
ProBike Motorcycle Training
Driving school
3 Russell Way, Chelmsford, CM1 3AA
About 8 km away
Community and support groups
British Legion
Community centre
Chelwater Chelmsford, CM2 7RA
About 5 km away
West Maldon Community Centre
Community centre
Sunbury Way, Maldon, CM9 6YH
About 9 km away
Great Baddow Parish Hall
Community centre
19 Maldon Road, Chelmsford, CM2 7DW
About 5 km away
Woodham Ferrers Village Hall
Community centre
Main Road, Chelmsford, CM3 8RW
About 9 km away
South Woodham Ferrers Village Hall
Community centre
25 Hullbridge Road, South Woodham Ferrers, CM3 5PL
About 12 km away
Tiptree Parish Council Office
Community centre
56 Church Road, Colchester, CO5 0SU
About 15 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Barbers and salons
City Barbers
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo 09:00-18:00; Tu-We 09:00-19:00; Th-Fr 09:00-17:00; Sa 08:30-16:30; Su off
5 Havengore, Chelmsford, CM1 6JP
About 4 km away
Scissors Hair Sanctuary
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo "By Appointment"; Tu 09:00-18:00; We,Fr 09:00-19:00; Th 09:00-20:00; Sa 08:30-16:00, 16:15-19:15 "VIP"; Su off
9 Clematis Tye, Chelmsford, CM1 6GL
About 4 km away
Parr's Barbers
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu-Fr 08:30-17:30; Sa 08:30-16:00
The Street, Braintree, CM3 2EH
About 4 km away
Main Style
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo 10:00-15:00; Tu 09:00-13:00; We 10:00-16:00; Th 09:00-15:00; Fr 09:00-17:00; Sa 09:30-15:00; Su off
104 Main Road, Chelmsford, CM1 7AE
About 5 km away
Brooks
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Th 08:30-18:00; Fr 08:30-20:00; Sa 08:00-16:00; Su off
3 New Street, Chelmsford, CM1 1PR
About 5 km away
Supercuts
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-17:30; Su 10:00-16:00
1a Moulsham Street, Chelmsford, CM2 0HR
About 6 km away
Phoney Pony Barber
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo,Su off; Tu,Th 10:00-20:00; We,Fr 10:00-18:00; Sa 09:00-17:00
17 Baddow Road, Chelmsford, CM2 0BX
About 6 km away
Silhouette Du Barry
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo,Su off; Tu,Fr 09:00-17:00; We 09:00-18:00; Th 09:00-21:00; Sa 08:30-17:00
8 Moulsham Street, Chelmsford, CM2 0HR
About 6 km away
Cinemas and libraries
ARU Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 00:00-24:00; Sa-Su 10:00-24:00
Bishop Hall Lane, Chelmsford, CM1 1SQ
About 5 km away
Everyman
Cinema. Hours: Mo-Su 10:00+
131 Bond Street, Chelmsford, CM1 1GD
About 5 km away
Broomfield Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 14:00-17:30; We 09:00-13:00; Sa 09:00-17:00; Tu, Th-Fr, Su, PH off
180 Main Road, Chelmsford, CM1 7AH
About 5 km away
Chelmsford Central Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-We, Fr 09:00-17:30; Th 09:00-19:00; Sa 09:00-17:00; Su 10:30-13:30; PH off
Market Road, Chelmsford, CM1 1QH
About 6 km away
North Melbourne Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo, We, Th, Su off; Tu 09:00-17:30; Fr 09:00-19:00; Sa 09:00-17:00
Dickens Place, Chelmsford, CM1 4UU
About 7 km away
Galleywood Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,We,Th,Su off; Tu 14:00-17:30; Fr 09:00-17:30; Sa 09:00-17:00
Watchouse Road, Chelmsford, CM2 8PU
About 8 km away
Springfield Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu,Th,Fr 10:00-17:00; Sa 10:00-13:00; PH,We,Su,Mo off
St Augustine's Way, Chelmsford, CM1 6GX
About 4 km away
Warner Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: 24/7
Court Road, Chelmsford, CM1 7ET
About 7 km away
Fryerns Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu 13:30-16:30; Th 09:00-13:00; Fr-Sa 09:00-17:00; Mo,We,Su,PH off
Whitmore Way, Basildon, SS14 2NN
About 20 km away
Witham Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Tu, Th-Fr 09:00-17:30; We 09:00-19:00; Sa 09:00-17:00
18 Newland Street, CM8 2AQ
About 8 km away
Vange Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-17:30; Sa 09:00-17:00; Su,PH off
Southview Road, Basildon, SS16 4ET
About 21 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 Essex
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