Settling in · Countesthorpe
Landing in Countesthorpe? Start here.
The first fortnight in Countesthorpe, 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
86 places in Countesthorpe 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
Carley Evangelical Baptist Church
Christian, Baptist
Upper George Street, Leicester, LE1 3LQ
About 10 km away
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Leicester
Christian, Mormon
Wakerley Road, Leicester, LE5 4WD
About 9 km away
Whetstone United Reform Church
Christian, United reformed
Fairview Avenue, Whetstone, LE8 6LP
About 4 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Masjid Umar
Muslim, Sunni
1-3 Evington Drive, Leicester, LE5 5PF
About 8 km away
Islamic Da'wah Academy
Muslim, Sunni
120 Melbourne Road, Leicester, LE2 0DS
About 9 km away
Masjid-e-Baitul Mukaram
Muslim, Sunni
22-26 St Stephens Road, Leicester, LE2 1DQ
About 8 km away
Hindu temples
Other places of worship
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Nottingham
About 41 km away
Leyton Crescent Beeston, Nottingham NG9 1PR
Worship services: Tue 7:00pm · Fri 7:00pm
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
Tai Fat Chinese Supermarket
Supermarket. Hours: Mo-We 10:15-17:00; Th off; Fr-Sa 10:15-17:00; Su 10:30-16:30
5 Melton Street, Leicester, LE1 3NB
About 10 km away
Knighton Fields Convenience Store & Post Office
Convenience
485-487 Welford Road, Leicester, LE2 6BL
About 6 km away
Food and takeaways
Raj Mahal
Indian. restaurant
510 Aylestone Road, Leicester, LE2 8JB
About 6 km away
Turtle Bay
Caribbean. restaurant
15 Bath House Lane, Leicester, LE1 4SA
About 9 km away
Chef's Flavour
Indian. restaurant
Memory Lane, Leicester, LE1 3UL
About 10 km away
Sports and clubs
Braunstone Leisure Centre
Swimming, badminton, basketball, fitness. Sports centre
2 Hamelin Road, Leicester, LE3 1JN
About 9 km away
Leicester Forest Rugby Football Club
Rugby union. Sports centre
Hinckley Road, Leicester Forest East, LE3 3PJ
About 10 km away
Leicester City Women's Training Ground
Soccer. Sports centre
Middlesex Road, Leicester, LE2 8HH
About 6 km away
Leicester Ivanhoe Cricket Club
Cricket. Sports centre
Hinckley Road, Leicester Forest East, LE3 3PJ
About 10 km away
Oadby Town Football Club
Soccer. Sports centre
Washbrook Lane, Oadby and Wigston, LE2 5QG
About 6 km away
Westfields Tennis Club
Tennis. Sports centre
21a Eastfield Road, Leicester, LE3 6FE
About 9 km away
Leicester Squash Club
Racquet. Sports centre
189 London Road, Leicester, LE2 1ZE
About 8 km away
Stoney Stanton Lawn Tennis Club
Sports centre
Martin Close, Stoney Stanton, LE9 4TQ
About 10 km away
Days out and things to do
Stretton Circuit
Sports centre
Gartree Road, Leicester, LE2 2FG
About 9 km away
Driving schools
Community and support groups
Eyres Monsell Community Centre
Community centre. Hours: Mo,Tu,Fr 09:00-20:30; We,Th 09:00-21:30
Hillsborough Road, Leicester, LE2 9PQ
About 4 km away
Evington Community Centre
Community centre
2 Hollington Road, Leicester, LE5 5HS
About 8 km away
Muslim Burial Council Of Leicestershire
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-13:00,14:00-16:30
394 East Park Road, Leicester, LE5 5HH
About 8 km away
LCB Depot
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-17:00
31 Rutland Street, Leicester, LE1 1RE
About 9 km away
Sure Start Children's Centre
Community centre
30 Long Street, Oadby and Wigston, LE18 2AH
About 4 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Hot towel and traditional shaves
Barbers and salons
Leicester Barbering Academy
Hairdresser
53-55 Belgrave Gate, Leicester, LE1 3HR
About 9 km away
Andrew Leonards Hairdressing
Hairdresser
52 Belgrave Gate, Leicester, LE1 3GQ
About 9 km away
Blaby Barbers
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo,Tu,Fr 09:00-17:00; Th 09:00-19:00; Sa 08:30-14:00
Cross Street, Whetstone, LE8 4FD
About 3 km away
Cinemas and libraries
David Wilson Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: 24/7
University Road, Leicester, LE1 7RH
About 7 km away
Phoenix
Cinema. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-23:00, Sa,Su,PH 10:00-23:00
4 Midland Street, Leicester, LE1 1TG
About 9 km away
Eyres Monsell Self-Service Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-17:00; PH off
Hillsborough Road, Leicester, LE2 9PQ
About 4 km away
Knighton Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Th 10:00-18:30; Fr 10:00-17:00; Sa 10:00-16:00
165 Clarendon Park Road, Leicester, LE2 3AJ
About 7 km away
Westcotes Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-We 10:00-19:00; Th-Fr 10:00-17:00; Sa 10:00-16:00; Su 12:00-16:00
38-40 Narborough Road, Leicester, LE3 0BQ
About 8 km away
Evington Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Th 10:00-18:30; Fr 10:00-17:00; Sa 10:00-16:00; Su off; PH off
200 Evington Lane, Leicester, LE5 6DH
About 8 km away
Blaby Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Enderby Road, Whetstone, LE8 4GA
About 3 km away
Wigston Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Spring Lane, Oadby and Wigston, LE18 1PA
About 4 km away
Memorial Hall
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Th 09:30-12:30, Sa 09:00-13:00, We,Th 14:00-17:00, Fr 15:00-17:00
Dorothy Avenue, Blaby, LE2 9JE
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 Countesthorpe
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