Settling in · Cowes
Landing in Cowes? Start here.
The first fortnight in Cowes, 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
61 places in Cowes 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
St Paul's
Christian, Anglican
Staplers Road, Newport, PO30 2DB
About 7 km away
The Church on the Roundabout
Christian, Evangelical
Coppins Bridge Roundabout, Newport, PO30 2BX
About 7 km away
Salvation Army
Christian, Salvation army
Pyle Street, Newport, PO30 1UJ
About 7 km away
Newport Methodist Church
Christian, Methodist
Quay Street, Newport, PO30 5BA
About 7 km away
Gunville Methodist Church
Christian, Methodist
Gunville Road, Carisbrooke, PO30 5LS
About 7 km away
The Church Of The Holy Cross, Binstead
Christian, Anglican
Church Road, Ryde, PO33 3SY
About 9 km away
St Mildred's Church
Christian, Anglican. Hours: Tu-Th 14:00-16:00; Su 10:00-12:00
Beatrice Avenue, East Cowes, PO32 6LW
About 3 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Other places of worship
Unitarian Meeting House
Unitarian universalist
High Street, Newport, PO30 1SS
About 7 km away
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Portsmouth City
About 17 km away
St. Cuthbert's Center, 2 Lichfield Road, Copner, P03 6DE
Worship services: Thu 6:15pm · Sat 10:30am · Sat 12:30pm (children)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Southampton
About 21 km away
St. Peter's Church, Lockerly Cresent, Southampton, SO16 4ER
Worship services: Tue 6:00pm · Sat 4:00pm · Sat 6:00pm (children)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Bournemouth
About 38 km away
673 Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, BH7 6AA
Worship services: Thu 6:15pm · Sat 10:30am · Sat 12:30pm (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
Food and takeaways
Hong Kong Express
Chinese. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Sa 12:00-14:30,16:30-22:00; Su 16:30-22:00
Holyrood Street, Newport, PO30 5EP
About 7 km away
Tamarind
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Su-Th 17:00-22:00; Fr,Sa 17:00-22:30
64,65 St James' Street, Newport, PO30 1LQ
About 7 km away
Solent Tandoori
Indian. restaurant
159,161 High Street, Lee-on-the-Solent, PO13 9BX
About 8 km away
Mandarin
Chinese. takeaway. Hours: Mo,PH off; Tu-Th 17:00-22:30; Fr-Sa 17:00-23:00; Su 17:30-22:30
67,69 High Street, Lee-on-the-Solent, PO13 9BU
About 8 km away
T&J (Solent)
Chinese. takeaway. Hours: Mo-Tu, Th-Sa 17:00-23:00; Su 17:00-22:30
Anstice Court, Lee-on-the-Solent, PO13 8AT
About 9 km away
Sports and clubs
Medina Leisure Centre
Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 06:00-21:00; Sa,Su 08:00-17:00
Fairlee Road, Newport, PO30 2DX
About 6 km away
Calshot Activity Centre
Climbing, skiing. Sports centre
Calshot Spit, Southampton, SO45 1BR
About 6 km away
Southcoast CQB
Airsoft. Sports centre
Browndown Road, Lee-on-the-Solent, PO13 9UG
About 9 km away
Lee-on-the-Solent Sailing Club
Sailing. Sports centre
Marine Parade East, Lee-on-the-Solent, PO13 9BJ
About 8 km away
Driving schools
Community and support groups
The Way Forward Programme
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:30-15:30; Sa,Su off
Dodnor Park, Newport, PO30 5XJ
About 6 km away
The Independent Support Centre
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Th 10:00-16:00
Bernard Way, Newport, PO30 5YL
About 6 km away
Connect Centre
Community centre
7 Bowling Green Lane, Newport, PO30 1JX
About 7 km away
Whippingham Community Centre
Community centre
Alverstone Road, Whippingham, PO32 6NZ
About 3 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Hot towel and traditional shaves
Zealan's Traditional Turkish Barbers
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu-Sa 09:00-18:30; Su 10:00-16:00
Milvil Road, Lee-on-the-Solent, PO13 9LY
About 8 km away
Barbers and salons
O' Hanlon & Ray
Hairdresser
11 Orchard Street, Newport, PO30 1JZ
About 7 km away
The Barber House
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-17:20; Sa 08:00-15:00
67 Pyle Street, Newport, PO30 1UL
About 7 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Cowes Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,Tu,Fr 10:00-12:30, 13:30-17:00; Sa 10:00-16:30
Beckford Road, Cowes, PO31 7SG
East Cowes Community Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 10:00-13:00; Tu 17:00-18:00; Th 09:30-12:30
York Avenue, East Cowes, PO32 6RU
Lord Louis Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,Tu,Th,Fr 09:00-17:30; Sa 09:00-17:00
Orchard Street, Newport, PO30 1LL
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 Cowes
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