Settling in · Surrey
Landing in Surrey? Start here.
The first fortnight in Surrey, 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
94 places in Surrey 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
Weybridge Methodist Church
Christian, Methodist
Heath Road, Weybridge, KT13 8TB
About 11 km away
The Salvation Army - Addlestone
Christian, Salvation army
Church Road, Addlestone, KT15 1SG
About 12 km away
Cheam Baptist Church
Christian, Baptist
4 Park Road, Cheam Village, Sutton, SM3 8QB
About 17 km away
Teddington Methodist Church
Christian, Methodist
1 Stanley Road, TW11 8TP
About 18 km away
St. Peter & St. Paul
Christian, Anglican
Bychurch End, Teddington, TW11 8PS
About 18 km away
The Salvation Army
Christian, Salvation army
27 Church Road, Teddington, TW11 8PF
About 18 km away
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Christian, Catholic
25 Between Streets, Cobham, KT11 1AA
About 7 km away
Salvation Army
Christian, Salvation army
45 Benhill Avenue, Sutton, SM1 4DD
About 19 km away
Sacred Heart Church
Christian, Roman catholic
London Road, Sunningdale, Ascot, SL5 0JY
About 20 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Hindu temples
Synagogues
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Guildford
About 13 km away
Onslow Hall (Main Hall), Wilderness Road, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7 QR
Worship services: Tue 8:00pm · Sat 10:00am · Sat 12:00pm (children)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Heathrow, London
About 17 km away
79 Staines Road West, Sunbury on Thames, Heathrow, London, TW16 7AH
Worship services: Tue 7:45pm · Sat 10:00am · Sat 12:15pm (children)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Sutton
About 19 km away
GRANFERS COMMUNITY CENTRE, 73-79 Oakhill Road, Sutton, London, SM1-3AA, England
Worship services: Wed 7:30pm · Sat 5:00pm · Sat 7:00pm (children)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Heathrow North, London
About 25 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, Wimbledon
About 25 km away
Earlsfield Primary School, Tranmere Rd, London, SW18 3QQ
Worship services: Tue 7:30pm · Fri 6:15pm · Fri 8:00pm (children)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Battersea, London
About 29 km away
48 Parkgate Road, Battersea, London, England, SW11-4NT
Worship services: Thu 7:00am · Thu 8:00pm · Sat 7:00pm · Sun 10:00am · Sun 10:30am (children)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Notting Hill
About 31 km away
Kensington Aldridge Academy, 1 Silchester Road, London, England, W10 6EX
Worship services: Wed 8:00pm · Sun 10:00am · Sun 12:00pm (children)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Camberwell, London
About 32 km away
Crawford Primary School, #5 Crawford road, Battersea, London, SE5 9NF
Worship services: Wed 8:00pm · Sat 5:45pm · Sat 7:30pm (children)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Central London
About 34 km away
YMCA - Indian Student Hostel 41, Fitzroy Square, London, W1T-6AQ, England
Worship services: Tue 7:30pm · Sat 6:30pm · Sat 8:00pm (children)
Iglesia ni Cristo, North London
About 37 km away
Barnet Multicultural Community Centre, Algernon, Hendon, London, NW4 3TA, England
Worship services: Tue 7:30pm · Sat 6:00pm · Sat 8:00pm (children)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Royal Greenwich, London
About 41 km away
Woolwich Common Community Centre, 17 Leslie Smith Square, London SE18 4DW
Worship services: Tue 7:15pm · Fri 7:00pm
Iglesia ni Cristo, Reading
About 41 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, Stratford, London
About 42 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)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Romford
About 42 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, Orpington
About 43 km away
The Clock Tower Pavillon, Swanley Town Council, St. Mary's road, Swanley, BR8 7BU
Worship services: Tue 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
Teddington Sports
Sports. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-18:00; Sa 09:00-17:00; Su 11:00-16:00
Broad Street, Teddington, TW11 8QZ
About 18 km away
Brasilerio
Supermarket. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-20:00; Su 09:00-16:00
99 High Street Whitton, Whitton, TW2 7LD
About 21 km away
OK OK Chinese Supermarket
Supermarket. Hours: Mo-Sa 08:00-20:00; Su 08:00-18:00
64 Grove Road, Sutton, SM1 1BT
About 19 km away
sMart Oriental
Supermarket. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-19:00; Su 12:00-18:00
52 High Street, Sutton, SM1 1HY
About 19 km away
Food and takeaways
Shadh Asia
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 17:00-22:30
40 Portsmouth Road, Cobham, KT11 1HZ
About 7 km away
Oriental Express
Chinese. takeaway
117 Queens Road, Weybridge, KT13 9UN
About 11 km away
Panda Restaurant
Chinese. restaurant
33 Chertsey Road, Woking, GU21 5AJ
About 11 km away
The Gaylord
Indian. restaurant
73 Queens Road, Weybridge, KT13 9UQ
About 11 km away
Thann Thai
Thai. restaurant
57 Queens Road, Weybridge, KT13 9UQ
About 11 km away
Sherpa Kitchen
Nepalese. restaurant
132 High Street, Esher, KT10 9QJ
About 11 km away
Siam Food Gallery
Thai. restaurant
95-97 High Street, Esher, KT10 9QE
About 12 km away
Hansa's Thai Kitchen
Thai. restaurant
125 Oatlands Drive, Weybridge, KT13 9LB
About 12 km away
Sizzling
Indian. restaurant
132 Oatlands Drive, Weybridge, KT13 9HL
About 12 km away
Giggling Squid
Thai. restaurant. Hours: Mo-We 12:00-22:00, Th-Sa 12:00-22:30, Su 12:00-22:00
43-45 Church Street, Weybridge, KT13 8DG
About 12 km away
Lebanese Please
Lebanese. restaurant
29-31 Baker Street, Weybridge, KT13 8AE
About 12 km away
Sports and clubs
Cobham Football Club
Soccer. Sport club
Downside Bridge Road, Cobham, KT11 1AF
About 7 km away
Twickenham Cricket Club
Cricket. Sport club
The Green, Twickenham, TW2 5TU
About 20 km away
Twickenham Stoop Stadium
Rugby union. Stadium
Langhorn Drive, Twickenham, TW2 7SX
About 21 km away
Fishing spots and tackle shops
The Tackle Exchange Ltd
Tackle shop, and the place to ask where to fish and about permits
97 Terrace Road, Walton-on-Thames, KT12 2SG
About 14 km away
Days out and things to do
White Spider Indoor Climbing
Sports centre
225 Hook Rise South, Greater London, KT6 7LD
About 14 km away
Peach Blossom (Camby Ltd.)
Sight worth seeing. Hours: Tu-Su 17:00-23:00; Mo off
11 Hatchlands Road, Reigate and Banstead, RH1 6AA
About 17 km away
Driving schools
Enjoy More Driving School
Driving school. Hours: Mo-Fr 07:00-21:00; Sa-Su 08:00-17:00
Wilmer Crescent, Greater London, KT2 5LU
About 20 km away
Community and support groups
Cobham Village Hall
Community centre
Lushington Drive, Cobham, KT11 2LU
About 7 km away
Fairfield Centre
Community centre
34 Swan Centre, Leatherhead, KT22 8AH
About 7 km away
St John's Church Community Centre
Community centre
Church Road, Reigate and Banstead, RH1 6QA
About 18 km away
Redhill Safe Haven
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Su,PH 18:00-23:00
St Anne's Drive, Reigate and Banstead, RH1 1AU
About 18 km away
Cobham Centre for the Community
Community centre
Oakdene Road, Elmbridge, KT11 2LY
About 7 km away
The Jurgens Centre
Community centre
91 Harvest Road, Borough of Runnymede, TW20 0QR
About 20 km away
Addlestone Community Centre
Community centre
Garfield Road, Addlestone, KT15 2NJ
About 12 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Curly and wavy hair
Hot towel and traditional shaves
Barbers and salons
Village Barbers
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 08:00-17:30; Su 10:00-16:30
11 Church Street, Cobham, KT11 3EG
About 6 km away
The Wolf's Grooming Lounge
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-18:00; Su 10:00-16:00
26 Hollyhedge Road, Cobham, KT11 3DG
About 7 km away
Nico Bouquet
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-18:00; Tu 10:00-19:00; Th 10:00-20:00; Sa 08:00-16:00
11 Between Streets, Cobham, KT11 1AA
About 7 km away
Headmasters
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-21:00; Sa-Su 09:00-18:00
18 Anyards Road, Cobham, KT11 2JZ
About 7 km away
Cobham Grooming Room
Hairdresser
62 Portsmouth Road, Cobham, KT11 1HY
About 7 km away
Darren James Bye
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Sa 07:30-20:00
21 South Street, Mole Valley, RH4 2JZ
About 7 km away
The Salon @ No.9
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu-Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 09:00-19:00; Su-Mo off
9 South Street, Mole Valley, RH4 2DY
About 7 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Woking Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu,Th 09:30-19:00; Sa 09:30-17:00; PH,Su off; Mo,We,Fr 09:30-17:30
Gloucester Walk, Woking, GU21 6EP
About 11 km away
Guildford Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,We,Fr 09:00-18:00; Tu,Th 09:30-19:00; Sa 09:30-17:00
77 North Street, Guildford, GU1 4AL
About 11 km away
Everyman
Cinema. Hours: Mo-Su 10:00+ "half an hour before the first film of the day, if earlier"
20-22 High Street, Esher, KT10 9RT
About 12 km away
Kingston Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Tu,Fr 10:00-18:00; We,Su,PH off; Th 10:00-20:00; Sa 10:00-17:00
Fairfield Road, Greater London, KT1 2PT
About 18 km away
Cobham Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu 09:30-16:00; We,Th 09:30-17:00; Fr,Sa 09:30-13:00
Cedar Road, Cobham, KT11 2AE
About 7 km away
Dorking Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,We,Fr 09:30-17:30; Tu,Th 09:30-19:00; Sa 09:30-17:00; Su off; PH off
St Martin's Walk, Mole Valley, RH4 1UT
About 7 km away
Ham Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:30-18:00;We 10:00-19:00;Th closed;Sa 09:30-16:00
Ham Street, Ham, Richmond, TW10 7HR
About 20 km away
Whitton Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,Tu,Th,Fr 09:30-18:00, We 10:00-19:00, Sa 09:30-16:00
141 Nelson Road, Whitton, TW2 7BB
About 21 km away
Twickenham Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 09:30-19:00; Tu 09:30-18:00; We 10:00-19:00; Th,Fr 09:30-18:00; Sa 09:30-16:00
Garfield Road, Twickenham, TW1 3JT
About 21 km away
The Library @ The Phoenix Centre
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Mollison Drive, Wallington, SM6 9NZ
About 22 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 Surrey
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