Settling in · Balcombe
Landing in Balcombe? Start here.
The first fortnight in Balcombe, 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
78 places in Balcombe 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
Maidenbower Baptist Church
Christian, Reformed baptist
Maidenbower Square, Crawley, RH10 7QH
About 6 km away
Crawley Spiritualist Church & Healing Centre
Spiritualist. Hours: We 18:00-20:45
Capel Lane, Crawley, RH11 8HL
About 8 km away
Bewbush Barn Church
Christian, Anglican
Francis Edwards Way, Crawley, RH11 8GG
About 8 km away
Dominican Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Christian, Catholic
4 Gossops Green Lane, Crawley, RH11 8BJ
About 8 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Mid Sussex Islamic Centre And Masjid
Muslim
19 Wivelsfield Road, Haywards Heath, RH16 4EF
About 8 km away
Hindu temples
Gurdwaras
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Sutton
About 35 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, Guildford
About 38 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, Eastbourne
About 40 km away
Willingdon Trees Community Centre, 101 Holly Place, Eastbourne, BN22 0UT
Worship services: Wed 6:15pm · Sat 10:00am · Sat 12:00pm (children)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Wimbledon
About 43 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, 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)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Heathrow, London
About 45 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)
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
Madisons Fitness (Recption & Shop)
Yes
37 Perrymount Road, Haywards Heath, RH16 3XE
About 7 km away
Longdan
Supermarket. stocks Asian goods. Hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-19:00; Su 11:00-17:00
21 The Martletts, Northgate, Crawley, RH10 1ER
About 7 km away
Food and takeaways
China Garden
Chinese. takeaway. Hours: Su,Mo,We,Th 17:00-22:00; Fr,Sa 17:00-22:30; Tu off
1 Maidenbower Square, Crawley, RH10 7QH
About 5 km away
Tarana Bar & Restaurant
Indian. restaurant
Selsfield Road, Crawley, RH10 4PP
About 5 km away
Mazza Indian Takeaway
Indian. restaurant
10 Southgate Parade, Crawley, RH10 6ER
About 6 km away
Panda
Chinese. takeaway
42 Broadfield Barton, Broadfield, Crawley, RH11 9BA
About 6 km away
Dem Shish
Turkish. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Th 12:00-23:00; Fr-Sa 12:00-24:00; Su 12:00-23:00
Worth Road, Crawley, RH10 7DY
About 7 km away
Fatma's Kitchen
Turkish. restaurant
60 The Broadway, Haywards Heath, RH16 3AL
About 7 km away
Thai Crystal
Thai. restaurant
45 The Broadway, Haywards Heath, RH16 3AS
About 7 km away
Chiana Peking
Chinese. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Th 12:00-15:00,17:30-22:30; Fr-Sa 12:00-15:00,17:30-23:00; Su 12:00-22:30
The Boulevard, Crawley, RH10 1XH
About 7 km away
KOKORO
Japanese, korean, sushi. takeaway. Hours: Mo-We 10:00-20:00; Th-Sa 10:00-21:00; Su 10:00-19:00
Queens Square, RH10 1DE
About 7 km away
Nando's
Chicken, portuguese. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Sa 11:30-23:00; Su 11:30-22:00
10 London Road, Crawley, RH10 8LR
About 8 km away
Mister H
Chinese. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Th 17:00-21:30; Fr-Sa 17:00-22:00; Su off
12 Dorsten Square, Crawley, RH11 8XW
About 8 km away
Kitchen Royale
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Tu-Sa 16:30-22:30; Su 13:00-21:00; Mo off
12 Gossops Parade, Crawley, RH11 8HH
About 8 km away
Sports and clubs
The Forge Martial Arts Academy
Martial arts. Sport club
Tilgate Drive, Crawley, RH10 5PH
About 6 km away
Gatwick Kickboxing Club
Kickboxing. Sport club
Tilgate Drive, Crawley, RH10 5PH
About 6 km away
K2 Leisure Centre
Soccer, swimming, athletics, squash. Sports centre
Tilgate Drive, Crawley, RH11 9BQ
About 6 km away
East Grinstead Rugby Football Club
Rugby union. Sports centre
Saint Hill Road, Mid Sussex, RH19 4JU
About 9 km away
Crawley Combat Academy
Martial arts. Sport club
Tilgate Drive, Crawley, RH10 5PH
About 6 km away
GYM CRAWLEY
Yoga, pilates, boxing, weightlifting. Fitness centre. Hours: 24/7
RH10 1EG
About 7 km away
Shoten Kyodo Martial Arts
Karate. Sport club. Hours: Tu 19:30-21:00; Th 18:30-20:00; Sa,Su 10:00-11:30
Tilgate Drive, Crawley, RH10 5PH
About 6 km away
Spindles Health & Leisure Club
Fitness centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 06:30-19:30; Sa-Su 08:00-19:00
Balcombe Road, Crawley, RH10 7ZR
About 5 km away
The Forest Gym
Fitness centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:30-21:00; Sa 15:00-18:00; Su 08:00-10:00
Tilgate Drive, Crawley, RH10 5PH
About 5 km away
British Karate Kyokushinkai
Sport club
Tilgate Drive, Crawley, RH10 5PH
About 5 km away
Crossfit Crawley
Crossfit. Fitness centre. Hours: Mo,We,Fr 05:00-11:00,17:00-19:30; Tu,Th 06:00-11:00,17:00-19:30; Sa 07:00-11:00; Su off
Tilgate Drive, Crawley, RH10 5PH
About 6 km away
Fishing spots and tackle shops
Driving schools
Community and support groups
Maidenbower Community Centre
Community centre
Harvest Road, Crawley, RH10 7QH
About 5 km away
Shrublands Resident's Club
Community centre. Hours: Mo-We,Fr 18:30-23:00; Th 12:30-15:30,18:30-23:00; Sa 12:30-23:00; Su 12:30-22:30
20A Laurel Close, Crawley, RH10 6QE
About 5 km away
Presentation Church Hall
Community centre
New England Road, Haywards Heath, RH16 3LE
About 7 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Hot towel and traditional shaves
Barbers and salons
Antony Michael Hairdressers
Hairdresser
2 Southgate Parade, Crawley, RH10 6ER
About 6 km away
Silk Hair
Hairdresser
9 Commercial Square, Haywards Heath, RH16 1DW
About 6 km away
Blades Hair & Beauty
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-We 09:00-17:30; Th 09:00-19:30; Fr 09:00-17:30; Sa 09:00-16:00
36 Broadfield Barton, Crawley, RH11 9BA
About 7 km away
Theo Browns
Hairdresser
19 The Broadway, Haywards Heath, RH16 3AB
About 7 km away
Fred's Barbers
Hairdresser
15 The Courtyard, Crawley, RH10 6AG
About 7 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Crawley Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 09:00-17:00
Southgate Avenue, RH10 6HG
About 7 km away
Broadfield Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
46 Broadfield Barton, Crawley, RH11 9BA
About 6 km away
Haywards Heath Library, Information Centre & Registration Office
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:30-18:00; Sa 09:30-17:00
Boltro Road, Mid Sussex, RH16 1BN
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 Balcombe
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