Settling in · Bracknell
Landing in Bracknell? Start here.
The first fortnight in Bracknell, 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
74 places in Bracknell 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
The Salvation Army - Wokingham
Christian, Salvation army
Sturges Road, Wokingham, RG40 2HD
About 6 km away
Sacred Heart Church
Christian, Roman catholic
London Road, Sunningdale, Ascot, SL5 0JY
About 9 km away
Crowthorne Baptist Church
Christian, Baptist
144 High Street, Crowthorne, RG45 7AT
About 6 km away
St Michael and All Angels Church
Christian, Anglican
Lower Church Road, Sandhurst, GU47 8HN
About 9 km away
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Christian, Latter day saints
Ringmead Bracknell
About 2 km away
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Reading
About 15 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, Heathrow, London
About 23 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, Guildford
About 23 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 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, Notting Hill
About 39 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, Sutton
About 39 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, 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, North London
About 40 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, Battersea, London
About 41 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, Central London
About 44 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)
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
Food and takeaways
Peppermills
Indian. takeaway. Hours: 17:00-22:00
Royal Hunt House, Fernbank Road
About 4 km away
Cumin Garden
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 17:00-23:00
204 Duke's Ride, RG45 6DS
About 7 km away
Xenuk Tandoori
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Sa 05:30-23:00
428 Finchampstead Road, Wokingham, RG40 3RB
About 9 km away
Tamarind Tree
Indian. restaurant
54 Peach Street, Wokingham, RG40 1XQ
About 6 km away
Nando's
Chicken, portuguese. restaurant
29 Market Place, Wokingham, RG40 1AP
About 6 km away
La’De Kitchen
Mediterranean, turkish. restaurant
Park Street, Surrey Heath, GU15 3GP
About 9 km away
Sports and clubs
Larges Lane
Soccer. Stadium
Coral Reef Waterworld
Swimming. Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-20:45; Sa-Su 09:00-17:45; PH 09:00-19:00
Nine Mile Ride, Bracknell, RG12 7JQ
About 3 km away
Wokingham Leisure Centre
Swimming, multi. Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 06:00-22:30; Sa-Su 07:00-20:00
Wellington Road, Wokingham, RG40 2AF
About 6 km away
Studio 9
Fitness. Fitness centre
Oaklands Park, Wokingham, RG41 2AN
About 7 km away
Fifield Polo Club
Polo. Sports centre
5 Oakley Green Rd, Fifield, Windsor, SL4 4QF
About 8 km away
Movement Workshop
Fitness centre
1a-2 Broomfield Hall Buildings, London Road, Sunningdale, Ascot, SL5 0DH
About 9 km away
Fishing spots and tackle shops
Fishing spot
Fishing spot
Community and support groups
FBC Centre
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-17:00; Sa 09:00-16:00
Gorse Ride North, RG40 4ES
About 9 km away
Jennett's Park Community Centre
Community centre
Jennett's Park Community Centre, Tawny Owl Square, RG12 8EB
About 3 km away
Woosehill Community Centre
Community centre
Emmview Close, Wokingham, RG41 3DA
About 7 km away
California Ratepayers Hall
Community centre
Finchampstead Road, Finchampstead
About 8 km away
The Darby Green Centre
Community centre. Hours: "open when facilities hired"
Darby Green Road, Hart, GU17 0BN
About 10 km away
Youth Centre
Community centre
Bracknell Open Learning Centre
Community centre
Barbers and hair specialists
Hot towel and traditional shaves
Crowthorne Turkish Barbers
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 08:00-18:00; Su 10:00-16:00
233 High Street, Crowthorne, RG45 7AH
About 6 km away
Winnersh Turkish Barber
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo,We,Th,Fr,Sa 09:00-18:30, Su 10:00-17:00
418 Reading Road, Winnersh, RG41 5EP
About 9 km away
Barbers and salons
Image
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-18:00; We,Th 09:00-20:00; Sa 09:00-17:00; Su 10:00-16:00
7 Wildridings Square, Bracknell, RG12 7SJ
Fiona Povey
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Th 09:00-20:00; Fr-Sa 09:00-17:00
216 Duke's Ride, RG45 6DS
About 7 km away
Boston's Barbers
Hairdresser
Reading Road, Wokingham, RG41 5HU
About 9 km away
John Jenkins
Hairdresser
63 Chobham Road, Sunningdale, Ascot, SL5 0DT
About 9 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Crowthorne Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-We,Fr 09:30-17:00; Th 09:30-19:00; Sa 09:30-16:00
165 High Street, Crowthorne, RG45 7AT
About 6 km away
Camberley Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,We-Fr 09:45-17:30; Tu 09:30-19:00; Sa 09:30-17:00
Knoll Road, Surrey Heath, GU15 3SY
About 9 km away
Wokingham Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,Tu,Fr 09:30-19:00; We 09:30-19:00; Th 09:30-19:00; Sa 09:30-17:00; Su 10:00-14:00; PH off
About 6 km away
Great Hollands Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Great Hollands Square, Bracknell, RG12 8UX
About 2 km away
Bagshot Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-We 14:00-17:00; Th 10:00-13:00; Fr 14:00-17:00; Sa 10:00-13:00
High Street, Surrey Heath, GU19 5AL
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 Bracknell
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