Settling in · Arkley
Landing in Arkley? Start here.
The first fortnight in Arkley, 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
70 places in Arkley 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
Harrow International Christian Centre
Christian. Hours: Tu-Fr 09:30-14:00 "Office open"
About 10 km away
All Saints' Friern Barnet
Christian, Anglican
122 Oakleigh Road North, Greater London, N20 9EZ
About 5 km away
St Edward the Confessor Catholic Church
Christian, Catholic
St Edward's Close, Greater London, NW11 7EX
About 8 km away
Golders Green parish church
Christian, Anglican
West Heath Drive, Greater London, NW11 7QG
About 9 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Harrow Central Mosque
Muslim
36-38 Station Road, Harrow, HA1 2SQ
About 10 km away
Hindu temples
Synagogues
Sha'arei Tsedek North London Reform Synagogue
Jewish, Reform Judaism
120 Oakleigh Road North, Greater London, N20 9EZ
About 5 km away
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, North London
About 8 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, Notting Hill
About 15 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, Central London
About 15 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, Battersea, London
About 19 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, Stratford, London
About 21 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 21 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, Camberwell, London
About 22 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, Heathrow North, London
About 22 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, Hertfordshire
About 23 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, Wimbledon
About 23 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, Royal Greenwich, London
About 28 km away
Woolwich Common Community Centre, 17 Leslie Smith Square, London SE18 4DW
Worship services: Tue 7:15pm · Fri 7:00pm
Iglesia ni Cristo, Heathrow, London
About 29 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 31 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, Orpington
About 39 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
Al-Mansoor Halal Meat
Butcher
79 High Street, Wealdstone, Harrow, HA3 5DQ
About 9 km away
Wierzejki
Convenience. stocks Polish goods
26-28 High Street, Wealdstone, Harrow, HA3 7AB
About 9 km away
Food and takeaways
Zan Zi Bar
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Su-Th 12:00-00:30; Fr-Sa 12:00-01:30
113 High Street, Edgware, HA8 7DB
About 5 km away
Chennai Srilalitha
Indian. restaurant
196 Kenton Road, Harrow, HA3 8BX
About 9 km away
Shobha's Rasoi
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Tu-Su 17:00-23:00
128-130 High Street, Wealdstone, Harrow, HA3 7AL
About 9 km away
Cooper Thai
Thai. restaurant
12 Masons Avenue, Wealdstone, Harrow, HA3 5AP
About 9 km away
Yien
Chinese. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 12:00-14:30,18:00-23:00
15 Muswell Hill Broadway, Greater London, N10 3HA
About 9 km away
Zara Restaurant
Kebab, turkish. takeaway. Hours: Mo-Su 11:00-02:00
7 High Street, Wealdstone, Harrow, HA3 5BY
About 9 km away
Sports and clubs
North Middlesex Cricket Club
Cricket. Sports centre
Cranley Gardens, Greater London, N10 3AH
About 10 km away
Bannister Outdoor Sports Centre
Soccer, athletics, rugby union, table tennis. Sports centre
About 9 km away
Aspire National Training Centre
Sports centre
Wood Lane, Stanmore, HA7 4AP
About 6 km away
Old Finchleians Memorial Ground
Sports centre
Southover Greater London, N12 7JE
About 4 km away
Finchley Lawn Tennis Club
Tennis. Sports centre
Brent Way, Greater London, N3 1AP
About 5 km away
Fortis Green Tennis Club
Tennis. Sports centre
Summerlee Gardens, Greater London, N2 9QN
About 8 km away
Community and support groups
Freehold Community Centre
Community centre
9 Alexandra Road, Greater London, N10 2EY
About 8 km away
Community Use For the Old Station
Community centre
The Avenue, Greater London, N10 2QE
About 9 km away
201 (Harrow) Detachment ACF
Community centre. Hours: We 19:30-21:30; Fr 19:30-21:30
Elmgrove Road, Harrow, HA1 2BG
About 10 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Barbers and salons
Creative Cuts
Hairdresser
194 Kenton Road, Greater London, HA3 8BY
About 9 km away
Tony's Mens Hairstylists
Hairdresser
65 Station Road, Harrow, HA1 2TY
About 10 km away
Noor's Meesum Barbers
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-19:00; Su 10:00-18:00
19B High Street, Wealdstone, Harrow
About 9 km away
Nicholas Gentlemens Hairdresser
Hairdresser
126 Kenton Road, Greater London, HA3 8AQ
About 9 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Chipping Barnet Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Stapylton Road, Greater London, EN5 4JJ
About 2 km away
North Finchley Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Ravensdale Avenue, Greater London, N12 9HP
About 5 km away
Wealdstone Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 09:30-17:30; Tu,Th 09:30-20:00; Fr 09:30-13:00; Sa 09:00-17:00
About 9 km away
London Colney Community Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Caledon Road, St Albans, AL2 1PU
About 10 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 Arkley
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