Settling in · Curdridge
Landing in Curdridge? Start here.
The first fortnight in Curdridge, 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
78 places in Curdridge 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
Salvation Army Eastleigh
Christian, Salvation army
Blenheim Road, Eastleigh, SO50 5SD
About 9 km away
Waltham Chase Methodist Church
Christian, Methodist
Curdridge Lane, Southampton, SO32 2LD
About 4 km away
Shirrell Heath Methodist Church
Christian, Methodist
High Street, Winchester, SO32 2JN
About 4 km away
Swanmore Methodist Church
Christian, Methodist
Chapel Road, Southampton, SO32 2QB
About 5 km away
Thornhill Baptist Church
Christian, Baptist
Thornhill Park Road, Southampton, SO18 5TR
About 6 km away
Bishopstoke Methodist Church
Christian, Methodist
Sedgwick Road, Eastleigh, SO50 6FH
About 8 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Southampton
About 14 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, Portsmouth City
About 19 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, Salisbury
About 42 km away
URC hall, 30 Fisherton St. Salisbury, SP2 7RG England
Worship services: Tue 6:00pm · Sat 4:00pm
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
Food and takeaways
Spice Garden
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 16:30-22:00
43 Melchet Road, Southampton, SO18 5GW
About 7 km away
Full House
Chinese. takeaway
41 Melchet Road, Southampton, SO18 5GW
About 7 km away
Shah Faisal
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Sa 17:00-23:00; Su 17:00-22:00
Bitterne Road East, Southampton, SO18 5EE
About 8 km away
Spice Kitchen
Indian, bangladeshi. takeaway. Hours: Su-Th 17:00-22:00; Fr,Sa 17:00-23:00
16 Nightingale Avenue, Eastleigh, SO50 9JA
About 10 km away
Baboo Ji
Curry, indian. restaurant. Hours: Tu-Th 16:30-21:30; Fr,Sa 16:30-22:00
273 Portswood Road, Southampton, SO17 2LD
About 10 km away
Star Balti House
Indian. takeaway. Hours: 7 days a week including bank holidays 17:00 til late
Shakespeare Road, Eastleigh, SO50 4QP
About 10 km away
Eastern Nights
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Tu-Su 17:30-23:30
56 Thornhill Park Road, Southampton, SO18 5TQ
About 6 km away
Happy Garden
Chinese. takeaway. Hours: Tu-Su 17:00-23:00
9 Thornhill Park Road, Southampton, SO18 5TP
About 6 km away
Corniche
Pizza, kebab, burger. takeaway
79 Twyford Road, Eastleigh, SO50 4HH
About 9 km away
Sports and clubs
Wildern Leisure Centre
Swimming. Sports centre
Wildern Lane, Southampton, SO30 4EJ
About 4 km away
Eastleigh Working Mens Club
Social club
18 Upper Market Street, Eastleigh, SO50 9FD
About 9 km away
Swanmore Lawn Tennis Club
Tennis. Sports centre
Mayhill Lane, Southampton, SO32 2FL
About 6 km away
Holly Hill Leisure Centre
Swimming. Sports centre
Barnes Lane, Southampton, SO31 7BJ
About 6 km away
Fishing spots and tackle shops
Fishing Tackle Home Stores
Tackle shop, and the place to ask where to fish and about permits
68 High Road, Southampton, SO16 2HZ
About 9 km away
Bill's Bait & Tackle
Tackle shop, and the place to ask where to fish and about permits. Hours: Tu-Fr 09:00-17:00; Sa 08:00-17:00; Su 08:00-12:00; Mo off
About 9 km away
Days out and things to do
Community and support groups
Hedge End 2000 Centre
Community centre
Bursledon Road, Eastleigh, SO30 0BR
About 4 km away
Whiteley Community Centre
Community centre
Gull Coppice, Fareham, PO15 7LA
About 5 km away
Hedge End Village Hall
Community centre
Saint John's Road, Eastleigh, SO30 4AF
About 4 km away
Monty's Community Hub
Community centre. Hours: Tu-Th
59 Montague Avenue, Southampton, SO19 0QB
About 7 km away
Sholing Community Centre
Community centre
Butt's Road, Southampton, SO19 1BN
About 7 km away
Merryoak Community Centre
Community centre
Acacia Road, Southampton, SO19 7JY
About 8 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Barbers and salons
Our Hair Lounge
Hairdresser
10 Pirelli Way, Eastleigh, SO50 5GF
About 9 km away
Jane's Barber Shop
Hairdresser
1 St Denys Road, Southampton, SO17 2GN
About 10 km away
Dolly Birds Hair Studio
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu-Sa 09:00-17:00; Th 09:15-19:15
Hinkler Road, Southampton
About 6 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Fair Oak Community Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 09:30-13:00; Tu 14:00-17:00; We 09:30-17:00; Th 14:00-17:00; Fr 09:30-13:00; Sa 09:30-13:00
Campbell Way, Eastleigh, SO50 7AX
About 6 km away
Cineworld Whiteley
Cinema. Hours: "According to screenings"
Bluebell Way, Winchester, PO15 7FG
About 4 km away
Bishop's Waltham Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu 14:00-19:00; We 10:00-17:00; Fr 10:00-17:00; Sa 09:30-13:00; PH off
Free Street, Southampton, SO32 1EE
About 5 km away
West End Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Chapel Road, Eastleigh, SO30 3GG
About 6 km away
Cobbett Road Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Cobbett Road, Southampton, SO18 1HL
About 9 km away
Fareham Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 09:00-19:00; Tu-We 09:00-17:00; Th-Fr 09:00-19:00; Sa 09:00-17:00; Su off
Osborn Road, Fareham, PO16 7EN
About 9 km away
Hedge End Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:30-17:00; We 09:00-17:00; Th 09:30-19:00; Sa 09:30-13:00
Upper Northam Road, Southampton, SO30 4DY
About 4 km away
Thornhill Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Canon Place, Southampton, SO19 6AG
About 6 km away
Lockswood Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Centre Way, Fareham, SO31 6DX
About 7 km away
Bitterne Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Dean Road, Southampton, SO18 5EG
About 7 km away
Netley Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
New Road, Southampton, SO31 5DT
About 9 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 Curdridge
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