Settling in · Cockfosters
Landing in Cockfosters? Start here.
The first fortnight in Cockfosters, 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
41 places in Cockfosters 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
Dominion Centre
Christian, Nondenominational
Buller Road, Greater London, N22 6JS
About 7 km away
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, North London
About 10 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, Central London
About 14 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, Notting Hill
About 16 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, Stratford, London
About 17 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 17 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, 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, Camberwell, London
About 20 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, Hertfordshire
About 22 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 24 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 North, London
About 26 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, 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, Heathrow, London
About 32 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, Orpington
About 36 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
Personal Fitness Centre
Fitness
Navigator Square, Greater London, N19 3TD
About 9 km away
Food and takeaways
Sarap Pinoy
Filipino. restaurant
66 Mayes Road, Greater London, N22 6TL
About 7 km away
Sports and clubs
North Enfield Cricket Club
Cricket. Sports centre
Strayfield Road, Greater London, EN2 9JE
About 4 km away
Crouch End Cricket Club
Cricket. Sports centre
Perimeter Walk, Greater London, N8 8JP
About 7 km away
Crouch End Fitness Centre
Fitness centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 06:00-22:00; Sa-Su 08:00-20:00
184 Tottenham Lane, Greater London, N8 8SG
About 8 km away
Oakleigh Park Lawn Tennis and Squash Club
Tennis. Sports centre
Domville Close, Greater London, N20 0LE
About 3 km away
Poolside Manor
Swimming. Sports centre
Lyndhurst Gardens, Greater London, N3 1TD
About 7 km away
Finchley Manor Tennis Squash & Health Club
Tennis, squash. Sports centre
Lyndhurst Gardens, Greater London, N3 1TD
About 7 km away
Tottenham Green Leisure Centre
Multi. Sports centre
Clyde Road, Greater London, N15 4JA
About 9 km away
Deuce Tennis Centre
Tennis. Sports centre
St Andrew's Road, Greater London, NW11 0PH
About 9 km away
Driving schools
Driveland
Driving school
Langham Road, Greater London, N15 3ND
About 7 km away
Community and support groups
Haringey Chinese Community Centre
Community centre
211 Langham Road, Greater London, N15 3LH
About 7 km away
St John's Parish Centre
Community centre
Friern Barnet Road, Greater London, N11 3EQ
About 4 km away
Green Man Community Centre
Community centre
Strawberry Vale, Greater London, N2 9FH
About 6 km away
Haringey Sea Cadets
Community centre
345 White Hart Lane, Greater London, N17 7JP
About 6 km away
Community Use For the Old Station
Community centre
The Avenue, Greater London, N10 2QE
About 6 km away
Hornsey Vale Community Centre
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-16:00
60 Mayfield Road, Greater London, N8 9LP
About 8 km away
Chestnuts Community Centre
Community centre
St Ann's Road, Greater London, N15 5BN
About 9 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Barbers and salons
The Fade Vault (Archway)
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu-We 10:00-19:00; Th-Sa 10:00-20:00; Su 10:00-17:00
143 Junction Road, Greater London, N19 5PX
About 10 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Friern Barnet Community Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 12:00-18:00
Friern Barnet Road, Greater London, N11 3DS
About 4 km away
Ordnance Unity Centre Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Tu, Th 09:00-20:00; Fr 09:00-17:30; Sa 09:00-17:00
Ordnance Road, Greater London, EN3 6AF
About 8 km away
Highgate Public Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Chester Road, London, N19 5DH
About 10 km away
Oakwood Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 09:00-17:30
185-187 Bramley Road, Greater London, N14 4XA
East Finchley Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 08:00-20:00; Sa 08:00-17:00
High Road, Greater London, N2 9BB
About 6 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 Cockfosters
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