Settling in · Amersham
Landing in Amersham? Start here.
The first fortnight in Amersham, 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
67 places in Amersham 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
Chesham Methodist Church
Christian, Methodist
Bellingdon Road, Chesham, HP5 2HA
About 4 km away
Penn Street Holy Trinity Church
Christian, Anglican
Penn Street, Amersham, HP7 0PX
About 5 km away
Gold Hill Baptist Church
Christian, Baptist
Church Lane, Chalfont St Peter, SL9 9RF
About 8 km away
Beaconsfield Unified Reformed Church
Christian
16 Aylesbury End, Beaconsfield, HP9 1LW
About 8 km away
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Christian, Catholic
Park Street, Berkhamsted, HP4 1HX
About 10 km away
Amersham Free Church
Christian
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Heathrow North, London
About 24 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, North London
About 28 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, Heathrow, London
About 31 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, Notting Hill
About 33 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, Hertfordshire
About 36 km away
Datchworth Village Hall, 52 Datchworth Green, Datchworth, Knebworth, SG3 6TL
Worship services: Wed 8:00pm · Sat 10:00am · Sat 12:00pm (children)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Milton Keynes
About 36 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, Central London
About 37 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, Reading
About 37 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, Oxford
About 37 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, Battersea, London
About 38 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, Wimbledon
About 39 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, Camberwell, London
About 42 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, Sutton
About 45 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)
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
Food and takeaways
Giggling Squid
Thai, tapas. restaurant
296-298 High Street, Berkhamsted, HP4 1AH
About 10 km away
Amersham Kebab House
Kebab. takeaway
Sports and clubs
Amersham and Chiltern Rugby Club
Rugby union. Sports centre
Ash Grove, Weedon Lane, Amersham, HP6 5QU
Basketball court
Basketball. Pitch
Rickmansworth Lawn Tennis Club
Tennis. Sports centre
10 Meadow Way, Three Rivers, WD3 7NG
About 10 km away
Chesham Bois Tennis & Squash Club
Squash, tennis. Sports centre
Woodfield Park, Amersham, HP6 5QQ
William Penn Leisure Centre
Swimming, fitness. Sports centre. Hours: 06:30-22:00
Shepherd's Lane, Three Rivers, WD3 8JN
About 9 km away
Community and support groups
The Memorial Hall
Community centre
Milton Fields, Chalfont St Giles, HP8 4JJ
About 6 km away
Little Kingshill Village Hall
Community centre
Windsor Lane, Little Missenden, HP6 5RW
About 7 km away
Prestwood Village Hall
Community centre
Wycombe Road, Great Missenden, HP16 0UA
About 10 km away
Way Inn Open Door
Community centre
360-364 High Street, Berkhamsted, HP4 1HU
About 10 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Hot towel and traditional shaves
Ottoman Barber and Barista
Hairdresser
Barbers and salons
Brenan O'Sullivan Hair and Beauty
Hairdresser
Hob
Hairdresser
Cinemas and libraries
Amersham Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-17:00; Sa 10:00-16:00
Chiltern Avenue, Amersham, HP6 5AH
Bovingdon Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
High Street, Dacorum, HP3 0HJ
About 7 km away
Beaconsfield Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Reynolds Road, Beaconsfield, HP9 2NJ
About 8 km away
Micklefield Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Micklefield Road, Tylers Green, HP13 7HU
About 9 km away
Berkhamsted Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
185 High Street, Berkhamsted, HP4 3HB
About 10 km away
Chesham Public Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Elgiva Lane, Chesham, HP5 2JD
About 3 km away
Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
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 Amersham
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