Settling in · Abingdon
Landing in Abingdon? Start here.
The first fortnight in Abingdon, 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 Abingdon 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
Magdalen Road Church
Christian, Evangelical
Hertford Street, Oxford, OX4 3AJ
About 9 km away
Christian Life Centre
Christian
300-302 Cowley Road, Oxford, OX4 1UR
About 9 km away
Foxhall Gospel Hall (Plymouth Brethren Christian Church)
Christian, Plymouth brethren
Didcot OX11 7AB
About 7 km away
The Catholic Church of the English Martyrs
Christian, Catholic
Manor Crescent, Didcot, OX11 7AJ
About 7 km away
Our Lady of the Rosary
Christian, Roman catholic
Yarnell's Hill, Oxford, OX2 9BD
About 9 km away
Oxford Christian Spiritualist Church
Christian
39a Oxford Road, Oxford, OX4 2EN
About 9 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Buddhist temples and centres
Synagogues
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Oxford
About 14 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, Swindon
About 35 km away
Park South Community Centre, Cranmore avenue, Swindon, SN3 2ER
Worship services: Tue 8:00pm · Sat 10:00am · Sat 12:00pm · Sun 12:00pm (children)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Reading
About 35 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)
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
GG Oriental Snackshack
Convenience. Hours: Mo-Su 12:00-20:00
156 Cowley Road, Oxford, OX4 1UE
About 9 km away
Food and takeaways
Chaba Thai
Thai. restaurant. Hours: 12:00-15:00,18:00-22:00
20 High Street, Vale of White Horse, OX14 5AX
Tiffins Tandoori
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 17:30-23:30
5-7 Bath Street, Vale of White Horse, OX14 3QH
Chor Muang
Thai. restaurant
50 Wantage Road, Didcot, OX11 0BT
About 7 km away
New Beijing
Chinese. takeaway
42 Wantage Road, Didcot, OX11 0BT
About 7 km away
New Chinese Cottage
Chinese. takeaway
7 Park Road, Didcot, OX11 8QL
About 7 km away
Polish Kitchen Oxford
Polish. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 12:00-21:00
96 Rose Hill, Oxford, OX4 4HX
About 7 km away
Chillies Indian Takeaway
Indian. takeaway. Hours: Mo-Su 17:00-23:00
Dunnock Way, Oxford, OX4 7EX
About 8 km away
Top Wok
Chinese. takeaway. Hours: We-Mo 17:00-22:00
5 Church Cowley Road, Oxford, OX4 3JR
About 8 km away
Chama Cuisine
Nepalese. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 14:00-23:00
Barns Road, Oxford, OX4 3UX
About 8 km away
Oriental Express
Chinese, thai. takeaway. Hours: We,Fr-Mo 12:00-21:30; Th 12:15-21:30
54 Between Towns Road, Oxford, OX4 3LR
About 8 km away
Sports and clubs
Oxford Sports Park
Soccer. Sports centre
Oxford Road, South Oxfordshire, OX4 2RL
About 10 km away
Iyengar Yoga Oxford
Fitness centre. Hours: Su, Tu 18:15-19:45; Mo 13:15-14:45; Th 11:15-12:45
Hertford Street
About 9 km away
Oracle Pool & Snooker Club
Snooker. Sports centre
21-27 Ock Street, Vale of White Horse, OX14 5AJ
Fishing spots and tackle shops
Didcot Angling Centre
Tackle shop, and the place to ask where to fish and about permits
36 Wantage Road, Didcot, OX11 0BT
About 7 km away
Community and support groups
Radley Village Hall
Community centre
Gooseacre Vale of White Horse, OX14 3BL
About 3 km away
South Oxford Community Centre
Community centre
Lake Street, Oxford, OX1 4RP
About 8 km away
Regal Community Centre
Community centre
Ridgefield Road, OX4 3BY
About 9 km away
East Oxford Community Centre
Community centre
44 Princes Street, Oxford, OX4 1DD
About 9 km away
Abingdon & District Conservative Club
Community centre
59 Ock Street, Vale of White Horse, OX14 5AG
Sunningwell Village Hall
Community centre
Bullsmead Vale of White Horse, OX13 6RD
About 4 km away
Wootton and Dry Sandford Community Centre
Community centre
Lamborough Hill, Vale of White Horse, OX13 6DA
About 5 km away
Clifton Hampden Village Hall
Community centre
Abingdon Road, South Oxfordshire, OX14 3EE
About 5 km away
Nuneham Courtenay Village Hall
Community centre
A4074 South Oxfordshire, OX44 9NX
About 6 km away
Kennington Village Hall
Community centre
Kennington Road, Vale of White Horse, OX1 5PG
About 6 km away
Northern Neighbourhood Community Centre
Community centre. Hours: "Bookable"
Dan Read Parade, South Oxfordshire, OX11 6BD
About 7 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Hot towel and traditional shaves
Barbers and salons
Wisteria Avenue Hair Salon
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu 10:00-16:00, We-Th 11:30-20:00, Fr 10:00-19:30, Sa 09:00-17:00
4 East St Helen Street, Vale of White Horse, OX14 5EE
Esquires of Oxford
Hairdresser
137 High Street, Oxford, OX1 4DN
About 9 km away
Cowboymod and Son
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-18:00; PH off
33 Walton Street, Oxford, OX2 6AA
About 10 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Cowley Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 09:15-17:30; Tu,We 09:15-19:00; Fr 09:15-17:30; Sa 09:00-16:30
Temple Road, Oxford, OX4 2EZ
About 9 km away
Oxford Westgate Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Th 09:00-20:00; Fr-Sa 09:00-17:30; Su off
Queen Street, Oxford, OX1 1PE
About 9 km away
The Ultimate Picture Palace
Cinema. Hours: unknown
57-58 Jeune Street, Oxford, OX4 1BN
About 9 km away
Harris Manchester College Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-13:00,14:00-17:00
Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3TD
About 10 km away
Bodleian Law Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-22:00, Sa-Su 10:00-19:00; SH Mo-Fr 09:00-19:00, Sa 10:00-16:00, Su off; Dec 24-Jan 01 off
Manor Road, Oxford, OX1 3UR
About 10 km away
Abingdon Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-19:00; Th 09:00-13:00; Sa 09:00-16:30; Su,PH off
Vale of White Horse, OX14 3LY
Littlemore Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 14:00-18:00; Tu 14:00-16:30; Th 09:30-12:30,14:00-16:30; Fr 09:30-12:30; Sa 09:30-13:30
Peter's Way, Oxford, OX4 6LB
About 7 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 Abingdon
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