Settling in · Southampton
Landing in Southampton? Start here.
The first fortnight in Southampton, 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
101 places in Southampton 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
Salvation Army
Christian, Salvation army
Victor Street, Southampton, SO15 5LH
About 3 km away
Salvation Army Eastleigh
Christian, Salvation army
Blenheim Road, Eastleigh, SO50 5SD
About 6 km away
St Patrick's Church
Christian, Roman catholic
Manor Road South, Southampton, SO19 2DP
About 2 km away
Christ Church, Freemantle
Christian, Anglican
Waterloo Road, Southampton, SO15 3BS
About 3 km away
St Alban's Church
Christian, Anglican
186 Honeysuckle Road, Southampton, SO16 3BD
About 3 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Hindu temples
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Southampton
About 4 km away
St. Peter's Church, Lockerly Cresent, Southampton, SO16 4ER
Worship services: Tue 6:00pm · Sat 4:00pm · Sat 6:00pm (children)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Portsmouth City
About 26 km away
St. Cuthbert's Center, 2 Lichfield Road, Copner, P03 6DE
Worship services: Thu 6:15pm · Sat 10:30am · Sat 12:30pm (children)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Salisbury
About 33 km away
URC hall, 30 Fisherton St. Salisbury, SP2 7RG England
Worship services: Tue 6:00pm · Sat 4:00pm
Iglesia ni Cristo, Bournemouth
About 38 km away
673 Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, BH7 6AA
Worship services: Thu 6:15pm · Sat 10:30am · Sat 12:30pm (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
Sunnyday International Foods
Convenience. stocks African goods
111 Shirley High Street, Southampton, SO16 4EY
About 3 km away
Delikatesy Smaczek
Convenience. stocks Polish goods
26 Hanover Buildings, SO14 1JU
About 2 km away
Sukee Market
Convenience. stocks Chinese goods
192 Burgess Road, Southampton, SO16 3AY
About 2 km away
Food and takeaways
Noodle 8
Asian, chinese, japanese, noodle, ramen. restaurant
Southampton SO17 2WE
Nando's
Chicken, portuguese. restaurant
146 Above Bar Street, Southampton, SO14 7DU
Baboo Ji
Curry, indian. restaurant. Hours: Tu-Th 16:30-21:30; Fr,Sa 16:30-22:00
273 Portswood Road, Southampton, SO17 2LD
Padharo Indian Restaurant
Indian. restaurant
100-102 East Street, Southampton, SO14 3HH
About 2 km away
Szechuen Kitchen 川味园
Chinese. restaurant. Hours: Su-Th 12:00-22:30; Fr,Sa 12:00-23:00
137a High Street, Southampton, SO14 2BS
About 2 km away
Shah Faisal
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Sa 17:00-23:00; Su 17:00-22:00
Bitterne Road East, Southampton, SO18 5EE
About 2 km away
Full House
Chinese. takeaway
41 Melchet Road, Southampton, SO18 5GW
About 4 km away
Spice Garden
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 16:30-22:00
43 Melchet Road, Southampton, SO18 5GW
About 4 km away
Spice Kitchen
Indian, bangladeshi. takeaway. Hours: Su-Th 17:00-22:00; Fr,Sa 17:00-23:00
16 Nightingale Avenue, Eastleigh, SO50 9JA
About 5 km away
Star Balti House
Indian. takeaway. Hours: 7 days a week including bank holidays 17:00 til late
Shakespeare Road, Eastleigh, SO50 4QP
About 7 km away
The Mandarin Chef
Chinese. restaurant. Hours: Tu-Su 18:00-22:30
Winchester Road, Romsey, SO51 9AL
About 10 km away
Sports and clubs
Ganger Farm Pavilion
Rugby, football, hockey. Sport club
Ganger Farm Way, Romsey, SO51 0EE
About 11 km away
Lawrence Boxing Club
Boxing. Sport club
3 Marsh Lane, Lymington, SO41 9EW
About 20 km away
Winchester Lido
Badminton, judo, aikido. Sports centre
Worthy Lane, Winchester, SO23 7DZ
About 18 km away
Old Tauntonians and Romsey Cricket Club Clubhouse
Cricket
Southampton Road, Romsey, SO51 8AF
About 10 km away
Westgate Badminton Centre
Badminton. Sports centre
Green Lane, Winchester, SO22 5AY
About 17 km away
Fishing spots and tackle shops
Fishing Tackle Home Stores
Tackle shop, and the place to ask where to fish and about permits
68 High Road, Southampton, SO16 2HZ
About 3 km away
Bill's Bait & Tackle
Tackle shop, and the place to ask where to fish and about permits. Hours: Tu-Fr 09:00-17:00; Sa 08:00-17:00; Su 08:00-12:00; Mo off
About 2 km away
Days out and things to do
Driving schools
Lendrums Driving School
Driving school
West Park Road, Southampton, SO15 1AQ
About 2 km away
Southampton Maybush Driving Test Centre
Driving school
Green Lane, Southampton, SO16 9FP
About 5 km away
Community and support groups
No Limits
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Tu 10:00-17:00; We 13:30-20:00; Th 10:00-20:00; Fr 10:00-17:00; Sa 10:00-13:30; Su off
13 High Street, Southampton, SO14 2DF
About 2 km away
Merryoak Community Centre
Community centre
Acacia Road, Southampton, SO19 7JY
About 2 km away
Carroll Centre
Community centre
Somers Close, Winchester, SO22 4EJ
About 16 km away
Sholing Community Centre
Community centre
Butt's Road, Southampton, SO19 1BN
About 4 km away
Monty's Community Hub
Community centre. Hours: Tu-Th
59 Montague Avenue, Southampton, SO19 0QB
About 4 km away
Velmore Community Centre
Community centre
Falkland Road, Eastleigh, SO53 3GY
About 6 km away
Isle of Wight Community Club
Community centre
Park Road, Cowes, PO31 7NP
About 19 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Barbers and salons
The Studio: Hair & Skin Care
Hairdresser
2 Canton Street, Southampton, SO15 2DH
House of Whitworth
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 08:00-18:00; Sa 10:00-15:00; Su closed
78 East Street, Southampton, SO14 3HQ
About 2 km away
Legacy Barbers
Hairdresser
451 Millbrook Road West, Southampton, SO15 0HX
About 4 km away
Our Hair Lounge
Hairdresser
10 Pirelli Way, Eastleigh, SO50 5GF
About 6 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Harbour Lights Picturehouse
Cinema
Maritime Walk, Southampton, SO14 3TL
About 2 km away
Fair Oak Community Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 09:30-13:00; Tu 14:00-17:00; We 09:30-17:00; Th 14:00-17:00; Fr 09:30-13:00; Sa 09:30-13:00
Campbell Way, Eastleigh, SO50 7AX
About 8 km away
Cobbett Road Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Cobbett Road, Southampton, SO18 1HL
Burgess Road Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 10:00-19:00; We 12:00-19:00; Fr 10:00-17:00; Sa 11:30-14:30
Burgess Road, Southampton, SO16 3HF
About 2 km away
West End Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Chapel Road, Eastleigh, SO30 3GG
About 4 km away
Cowes Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,Tu,Fr 10:00-12:30, 13:30-17:00; Sa 10:00-16:30
Beckford Road, Cowes, PO31 7SG
About 19 km away
East Cowes Community Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 10:00-13:00; Tu 17:00-18:00; Th 09:30-12:30
York Avenue, East Cowes, PO32 6RU
About 19 km away
Cineworld Whiteley
Cinema. Hours: "According to screenings"
Bluebell Way, Winchester, PO15 7FG
About 11 km away
Romsey Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 09:30-13:00; Tu,Th-Sa 09:30-17:00; We,Su off
Station Road, Romsey, SO51 8DN
About 11 km away
Mountbatten Library (ML)
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
East Park Terrace, Southampton, SO14 0RB
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 Southampton
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