Settling in · Effingham
Landing in Effingham? Start here.
The first fortnight in Effingham, 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
58 places in Effingham 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
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Christian, Catholic
25 Between Streets, Cobham, KT11 1AA
About 7 km away
United Reformed Church
Christian, United reformed
Church Street, Mole Valley, RH4 1DF
About 6 km away
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Guildford
About 15 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)
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, Sutton
About 18 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, Wimbledon
About 24 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, Heathrow North, London
About 25 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, Battersea, London
About 28 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 30 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, Camberwell, London
About 31 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 33 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, North London
About 36 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, Royal Greenwich, London
About 40 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 41 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 41 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, Orpington
About 42 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, Reading
About 43 km away
Whitley Children's Centre, 252 Northumberland Avenue, Reading, England, RG2 8LT
Worship services: Tue 6:00pm · 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
Food and takeaways
Shadh Asia
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 17:00-22:30
40 Portsmouth Road, Cobham, KT11 1HZ
About 7 km away
Sports and clubs
Cobham Football Club
Soccer. Sport club
Downside Bridge Road, Cobham, KT11 1AF
About 7 km away
Leatherhead Leisure Centre
Sports centre
Guildford Road, Leatherhead, KT22 9BL
About 5 km away
Cobham Pilates
Pilates. Fitness centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-14:00
31 High Street, Cobham, KT11 3DP
About 6 km away
U Pilates
Pilates. Fitness centre
20 High Street, Cobham, KT11 3EB
About 7 km away
Cobham Yoga
Yoga. Fitness centre
Rear of 10, High Street, Cobham, KT11 3DY
About 7 km away
The 255 Club
Fitness centre. Hours: Mo-Th 06:30-21:00; Fr 06:30-19:00; Sa 08:00-16:00; Su 09:00-14:00
13 Anyards Road, Cobham, KT11 2LW
About 7 km away
Cobham Bowling Club
Bowls. Sport club
Winstanley Close, Cobham, KT11 2AY
About 7 km away
Community and support groups
Fairfield Centre
Community centre
34 Swan Centre, Leatherhead, KT22 8AH
About 6 km away
Cobham Village Hall
Community centre
Lushington Drive, Cobham, KT11 2LU
About 7 km away
Cobham Centre for the Community
Community centre
Oakdene Road, Elmbridge, KT11 2LY
About 7 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Barbers and salons
Unparalleled Hair
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-We 09:00-17:30; Th 09:00-20:00; Fr-Sa 09:00-17:30; Su off
22 St Martin's Walk, Mole Valley, RH4 1UT
About 6 km away
The Salon @ No.9
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu-Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 09:00-19:00; Su-Mo off
9 South Street, Mole Valley, RH4 2DY
About 6 km away
Palms
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu-Sa 09:00-18:00; Su-Mo off
10 High Street, Mole Valley, RH4 1AT
About 6 km away
Darren James Bye
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Sa 07:30-20:00
21 South Street, Mole Valley, RH4 2JZ
About 6 km away
Village Barbers
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 08:00-17:30; Su 10:00-16:30
11 Church Street, Cobham, KT11 3EG
About 6 km away
The Wolf's Grooming Lounge
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-18:00; Su 10:00-16:00
26 Hollyhedge Road, Cobham, KT11 3DG
About 7 km away
Nico Bouquet
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-18:00; Tu 10:00-19:00; Th 10:00-20:00; Sa 08:00-16:00
11 Between Streets, Cobham, KT11 1AA
About 7 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Dorking Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,We,Fr 09:30-17:30; Tu,Th 09:30-19:00; Sa 09:30-17:00; Su off; PH off
St Martin's Walk, Mole Valley, RH4 1UT
About 6 km away
Cobham Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu 09:30-16:00; We,Th 09:30-17:00; Fr,Sa 09:30-13:00
Cedar Road, Cobham, KT11 2AE
About 7 km away
Horsley Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Lovelace Drive, Guildford, KT24 6PU
About 3 km away
Leatherhead Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Church Street, Leatherhead
About 6 km away
County Library Sub-Headquarters
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Drill Hall Road, Mole Valley, RH4 3DX
About 6 km away
Wisley Garden Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
RHS Wisley Lane, Woking, GU23 6QB
About 7 km away
Byfleet Community Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo closed; Tu-Sa 10:00-16:00; We 18:00-20:00; Th 15:00-17:00; Su 14:00-16:00
Royston Avenue, Woking, KT14 7QS
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 Effingham
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