Settling in · Dagenham
Landing in Dagenham? Start here.
The first fortnight in Dagenham, 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
83 places in Dagenham 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
The Salvation Army - Romford
Christian, Salvation army
High Street, Greater London, RM1 1JJ
About 4 km away
St Stephens Catholic Church
Christian, Roman catholic
146 Little Ilford Lane, London, E12 5PJ
About 7 km away
Manor Park Christian Centre
Christian, Evangelical
454 High Street North, London, E12 6RH
About 8 km away
The Greek Orthodox Church of St. Lazarus and St. Andrew the Apostle
Christian, Greek orthodox
Rutland Road, London, E7 8PH
About 9 km away
Custom House Baptist Church
Christian, Baptist
260 Prince Regent Lane, London, E16 3JJ
About 10 km away
St Anne's Catholic Church
Christian, Catholic
1 Berwick Road, London, E16 3DR
About 10 km away
St Edward's, Romford
Christian, Anglican
Market Place, Greater London, RM1 3AB
About 4 km away
Upminster Methodist Church
Christian, Methodist
Deyncourt Gardens, Greater London, RM14 1AE
About 6 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Islamic Centre Upton Park
Muslim, Sunni
72-74 Selwyn Road, London, E13 0PY
About 10 km away
Hindu temples
London Sri Murugan Temple
Hindu
78 Church Road, London, E12 6AF
About 8 km away
Synagogues
Romford and District Affiliated Synagogue
Jewish
Eastern Road, Greater London, RM1 3NH
About 4 km away
Other places of worship
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Royal Greenwich, London
About 10 km away
Woolwich Common Community Centre, 17 Leslie Smith Square, London SE18 4DW
Worship services: Tue 7:15pm · Fri 7:00pm
Iglesia ni Cristo, Romford
About 11 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, Stratford, London
About 11 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, Orpington
About 16 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, 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, Central London
About 21 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, Battersea, London
About 24 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, Notting Hill
About 26 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, Wimbledon
About 27 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, North London
About 28 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, 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, Southend
About 34 km away
71-73 Elm Road, Leigh-on-Sea, Southend-on-Sea, Leigh-on-Sea, SS9 1SP
Worship services: Tue 7:30pm · Sat 10:00am
Iglesia ni Cristo, Hertfordshire
About 41 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, Heathrow North, London
About 42 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, Heathrow, London
About 43 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)
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
Himalaya Halal Meat
Butcher. Hours: Mo-Su 08:00-19:00
3 Carlton Terrace, Forest Gate, London, E7 8LH
About 9 km away
Food and takeaways
Café Spice Namasté
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Tu 17:00-22:00; We-Sa 13:00-22:00
1-2 Lower Dock Walk, London, E16 2GT
About 7 km away
Priya Restaurant
Sri lankan, indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 11:00-00:00
209 High Street North, London, E6 1JG
About 8 km away
A1 Kebabish Grill
Pakistani, kebab. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 12:00-01:00
684 Romford Road, London, E12 5AJ
About 8 km away
Pier Masala
Indian, bangladeshi. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 17:00-22:30
9 Pier Road, London, E16 2JJ
About 8 km away
Wagamama
Asian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Sa 11:00-22:00; Su 11:00-21:00
The Lake, Grays, RM20 2ZN
About 10 km away
Nando's
Chicken, portuguese. restaurant
850-860 High Road, Greater London, RM6 4HX
About 5 km away
Gurkha's Namaste
Nepalese, indian. restaurant
31 Longbridge Road, Greater London, IG11 8RY
About 6 km away
Spices
Indian. restaurant. Hours: 17:00-23:00
48 Lessness Avenue, Greater London, DA7 5SJ
About 7 km away
Indian Curry Corner
Indian. restaurant
62 Bellegrove Road, Greater London, DA16 3PY
About 10 km away
Rita's Katering
African. restaurant
70a Bellegrove Road, Greater London, DA16 3PY
About 10 km away
Sports and clubs
Power League - 5 A Side Football
Soccer. Sports centre
Jenkins Lane, Greater London, IG11 0AD
About 6 km away
Sportsdock at UEL
Basketball, wheelchair basketball, multi, badminton, volleyball, gymnastics, fitness, table tennis, netball, soccer. Fitness centre. Hours: Weekdays 6am to 10.15pm, Weekends 9am to 8pm
4-6 University Way, London, E16 2RD
About 8 km away
Diesel Gym
Martial arts, muay thai, mma, jiu-jitsu, wrestling, boxing. Hours: Mo,We 07:00-21:15; Tu 10:00-21:00; Th 07:00-21:00; Fr 09:00-20:45; Sa 09:00-12:30; Su 10:00-14:30
1012 Dockside Road, London, E16 2QT
About 9 km away
PlayFootball Romford
Soccer. Sports centre
Eastern Avenue West, Greater London, RM7 7AY
About 5 km away
Wanstead Leisure Centre
Badminton, basketball, fitness, gymnastics, netball, squash, volleyball. Sports centre
Redbridge Lane West, Greater London, E11 2JZ
About 10 km away
West Ham United Foundation Community Hub
Soccer. Sports centre
Newham Way, Greater London, E6 5NX
About 8 km away
Gym Spot
Fitness. Fitness centre. Hours: Mo 08:00-21:00, Tu 12:15-21:00, We 07:30-21:00, Th 12:15-21:00, Fr 07:30-21:00, Sa 09:00-18:00, Su 10:00-15:00
205a Plashet Road, London, E13 0QZ
About 9 km away
The Gym Factory
Fitness, weightlifting. Fitness centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 07:00-22:00; Sa 09:00-21:00; Su 10:00-18:00
7-9 Sebert Road, Forest Gate, London, E7 0NG
About 10 km away
East Ham Leisure Centre
Multi. Sports centre
324 Barking Road, Greater London, E6 2RT
About 8 km away
Primo Padel Club
Sports centre. Hours: closed
Winsor Terrace, Greater London, E6 5NT
About 8 km away
Cranbrook Castle Lawn Tennis & Social Club
Tennis. Sports centre
Pavilion Road, Greater London, IG1 3PG
About 8 km away
Driving schools
Kims School of Motoring
Driving school. Hours: Mo-Sa 08:00-18:00; Sa 10:00-17:00
Oak Hill Road, Epping Forest, RM4 1JL
About 10 km away
Cardrome - Driver Training School
Driving school
Turner Road, Greater London, RM12 4EG
About 2 km away
Community and support groups
The Well Community Centre
Community centre
49 Vicarage Lane, East Ham, London, E6 6DQ
About 7 km away
Umm Al-Qura Centre
Community centre
530-542 High Street North, London, E12 6QN
About 8 km away
Royal Docks Learning and Activity Centre
Community centre
Albert Road, London, E16 2JB
About 9 km away
Beckton Community Centre
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Su 09:00-23:00
14 East Ham Manor Way, Beckton, London, E6 5NG
About 8 km away
Plaistow Park Community Centre
Community centre
63 Queen's Road West, Plaistow, London, E13 0PE
About 10 km away
Shipman Youth Zone
Community centre
340 Prince Regent Lane, Greater London, E16 3JH
About 10 km away
Shrewsbury House Community Centre
Community centre
Bushmoor Crescent, Greater London, SE18 3EG
About 10 km away
Salvation Army Community Hall
Community centre
Morley Road, Greater London, IG11 7DJ
About 5 km away
Barking Muslim Community Centre
Community centre
3 Tanner Street, Greater London, IG11 8QA
About 6 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Barbers and salons
London Gentz
Hairdresser. Hours: 10:00-20:30
Woodford Avenue, Greater London, IG2 6XE
About 9 km away
New Image Hair Designers
Hairdresser
2 Mayplace Road East, Greater London, DA7 6EB
About 9 km away
Tango Salon
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-19:00; Sa 10:00-17:00; Su 11:00-16:00
388 Prince Regent Lane, London, E16 3DH
About 10 km away
Best Hair Style
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Su 09:00-20:00
13 Terrace Road, London, E13 0LP
About 10 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Lumiere Cinema Romford
Cinema
Exon Apartments, Greater London, RM1 3EE
About 5 km away
Custom House Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Tu 10:00-18:00; Th 13:00-20:00; Sa 10:00-18:00
Prince Regent Lane, London, E16 3JJ
About 10 km away
Robert Jayes Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
High Road, Greater London, RM6 6AS
About 4 km away
Gidea Park Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
168 Balgores Lane, Greater London, RM2 6BS
About 5 km away
Thamesmere Leisure Centre and Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Thamesmere Drive, Greater London, SE28 8RE
About 5 km away
Upminster Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Corbets Tey Road, Greater London, RM14 2AX
About 6 km away
The Gate Forest Gate Community Neighbourhood
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-20:00
6-8 Woodgrange Road, London, E7 0QH
About 10 km away
Wantz Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Rainham Road North, Greater London, RM10 7DX
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 Dagenham
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