Settling in · Colliers wood
Landing in Colliers wood? Start here.
The first fortnight in Colliers wood, 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
91 places in Colliers wood 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.
Nothing nearby matches that yet. Try a shorter word.
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 - Carshalton
Christian, Salvation army
31 Green Wrythe Lane, Carshalton, SM5 2DS
About 5 km away
Salvation Army
Christian, Salvation army
45 Benhill Avenue, Sutton, SM1 4DD
About 6 km away
The Salvation Army - Thornton Heath
Christian
66 High Street, Thornton Heath, CR7 8LF
About 6 km away
Cheam Baptist Church
Christian, Baptist
4 Park Road, Cheam Village, Sutton, SM3 8QB
About 7 km away
All Saints
Christian, Anglican
East Sheen Avenue, London, SW14 8AX
About 8 km away
Holy Trinity Richmond
Christian, Anglican
Sheen Park, Richmond, TW9 1UP
About 9 km away
Saint Peter's Walworth
Christian, Anglican
Liverpool Grove, Greater London, SE17 2HW
About 10 km away
Morden Park Baptist Church
Christian, Baptist
Lower Morden Lane, Greater London, SM4 4SP
About 4 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Alhidaya Croydon
Muslim
177 Brigstock Road, Thornton Heath, CR7 7JP
About 5 km away
West London Islamic Cultural Centre
Muslim
7 Bridges Place, Greater London, SW6 4HW
About 7 km away
Hindu temples
Other places of worship
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Wimbledon
About 3 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, Sutton
About 5 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, Battersea, London
About 7 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 8 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, Notting Hill
About 11 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 12 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, Heathrow, London
About 17 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, Royal Greenwich, London
About 18 km away
Woolwich Common Community Centre, 17 Leslie Smith Square, London SE18 4DW
Worship services: Tue 7:15pm · Fri 7:00pm
Iglesia ni Cristo, Stratford, London
About 18 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 18 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, North London
About 19 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 North, London
About 20 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, Orpington
About 24 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, Guildford
About 36 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)
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
sMart Oriental
Supermarket. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-19:00; Su 12:00-18:00
52 High Street, Sutton, SM1 1HY
About 6 km away
OK OK Chinese Supermarket
Supermarket. Hours: Mo-Sa 08:00-20:00; Su 08:00-18:00
64 Grove Road, Sutton, SM1 1BT
About 6 km away
Herne Hill Convenience Store
Alcohol
87 Norwood Road, Greater London, SE24 9AA
About 7 km away
Food and takeaways
Bombay Delight
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Fr 11:30-15:00, 17:30-22:30; Sa 11:00-22:30; Su 11:00-22:00
271-273 The Broadway, Greater London, SW19 1SD
Waakye Joint
African. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 13:00-00:00
440 Streatham High Road, Greater London, SW16 3PX
About 3 km away
Sofra Grill II
Turkish, grill, pizza. takeaway
1 Nightingale Road, Carshalton, SM5 2DN
About 5 km away
Mr India
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 17:00-23:00
4 The Parade, Oldfields Road, SM1 2NA
About 5 km away
New Shanghai Pearl
Chinese. restaurant
28 Beacon Grove, Carshalton, SM5 3BA
About 6 km away
Indian Oasis
Indian. restaurant
98 High Street, Carshalton, SM5 3AE
About 6 km away
Yamal AlSham
Mediterranean, lebanese, syrian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 12:00-23:00
5 The Boulevard, Greater London, SW6 2UB
About 6 km away
Number One Thai
Thai. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Sa 11:30-14:45,17:30-23:00;Su 17:00-22:30
1 Cheam Road, Sutton, SM1 1SN
About 6 km away
Papaya
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 12:00-15:00, 17:30-00:00
7 Cheam Road, Sutton, SM1 1SN
About 6 km away
Tuk Tuk Thai Cuisine
Thai. restaurant
202 Croydon Road, Croydon, CR0 4PJ
About 6 km away
Yucca's
Mexican. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Th 12:00-22:30, Fr-Sa 12:00-23:00, Su 12:00-22:00
496 Fulham Road, Greater London, SW6 5NH
About 7 km away
Cheam Tandoori
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 17:00-23:00
52 Upper Mulgrave Road, SM2 7AJ
About 7 km away
Sports and clubs
London Welsh RFC
Rugby union. Sport club
187 Kew Road, Richmond, TW9 2AZ
About 10 km away
The Spencer Club
Cricket, tennis, field hockey, squash, lacrosse, netball. Sports centre
Openview Greater London, SW18 3PD
About 3 km away
Ibstock Sports Hall
Tennis, basketball, volleyball, soccer, cricket, running. Sports centre
Clarence Lane, Greater London, SW15 5QA
About 7 km away
Sheen Park Cricket Club
Cricket. Sports centre
Fife Road, Greater London, SW14 7EW
About 8 km away
Club House
Cricket, football, rugby union. Sports centre
Coombe Lane, Greater London, SW20 0PH
About 5 km away
Stones Gym & Fitness Centre
Fitness centre
50 Northwood Road, Thornton Heath, CR7 8HQ
About 5 km away
Powerwave
Fitness. Fitness centre
9 Brookfield Mews, London, SW13 0DP
About 8 km away
Boomerang Pilates and Fitness
Fitness centre
239 Sandycombe Road, Richmond, TW9 2EW
About 10 km away
Digme Fitness
Fitness centre
23 Sheen Road, Richmond, TW9 1BN
About 10 km away
Richmond Lawn Tennis Club
Tennis. Sport club
187 Kew Road, Richmond, TW9 2AZ
About 10 km away
Days out and things to do
Driving schools
Enjoy More Driving School
Driving school. Hours: Mo-Fr 07:00-21:00; Sa-Su 08:00-17:00
Wilmer Crescent, Greater London, KT2 5LU
About 8 km away
GoodLuck Driving School
Driving school
33 Rawnsley Avenue, Greater London, CR4 4BS
About 2 km away
Earlsfield School Of Motoring
Driving school
360 Garratt Lane, Greater London, SW18 4ES
About 3 km away
Community and support groups
Powerstation Youth Centre
Community centre
121 Mortlake High Street, Mortlake, London, SW14 8SW
About 8 km away
John Morris House Community Centre
Community centre
Garrick Close, Greater London, SW18 2HH
About 5 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Barbers and salons
Barnes & Bray
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-21:00; Sa 09:00-18:00; Su 10:00-18:00
352 Old York Road, Greater London, SW18 1SS
About 5 km away
Atelier Chelsea
Hairdresser
374 King's Road, Greater London, SW3 5ET
About 7 km away
Andrew Stephen Hairdressing
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Tu 9:00-18:00; We-Th 10:00-19:00; Fr 10:00-20:00; Sa 9:00-18:00
7 Rocks Lane, London, SW13 0DB
About 8 km away
Hari's Hairdressers
Hairdresser
233 King's Road, Greater London, SW3 5AW
About 8 km away
Ted's Grooming Room
Hairdresser
136 King's Road, Greater London, SW3 4XB
About 8 km away
Sassoon Hair Salon
Hairdresser
124c King's Road, Greater London, SW3 4XB
About 8 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Tooting Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Su 13:00-17:00; Mo-Tu 09:00-19:00; Th 09:00-19:00; Fr-Sa 09:00-17:00
75 Mitcham Road, Greater London, SW17 9PD
Brixton Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 13:00-20:00; Tu,Th 10:00-20:00; We,Fr 10:00-18:00; Sa 09:00-17:00; Su 12:00-17:00
Brixton Oval, Greater London, SW2 1JQ
About 7 km away
Upper Norwood Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu-We, Fr-Sa 10:00-18:00; Th 10:00-20:00
39 Westow Hill, Greater London, SE19 1TJ
About 7 km away
Whirled Cinema
Cinema
259 Hardess Street, Greater London, SE24 0HN
About 8 km away
The Cinema in the Arches
Cinema
22 Arches Lane, Greater London, SW11 8AB
About 8 km away
The Library @ The Phoenix Centre
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Mollison Drive, Wallington, SM6 9NZ
About 8 km away
Kingston Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Tu,Fr 10:00-18:00; We,Su,PH off; Th 10:00-20:00; Sa 10:00-17:00
Fairfield Road, Greater London, KT1 2PT
About 9 km away
Ham Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:30-18:00;We 10:00-19:00;Th closed;Sa 09:30-16:00
Ham Street, Ham, Richmond, TW10 7HR
About 10 km away
Middleton Circle Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
SM5 1JJ
About 4 km away
Balham Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,We,Th 09:00-20:00; Tu,Su off; Fr 09:00-17:00; Sa 10:00-18:00
Ramsden Road, Greater London, SW12 8RD
About 4 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 Colliers wood
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