Settling in · Exhall
Landing in Exhall? Start here.
The first fortnight in Exhall, 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
54 places in Exhall 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.
Nothing nearby matches that yet. Try a shorter word.
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
Alcester Baptist Church
Christian, Baptist
Church Street, Stratford-on-Avon, B49 5AJ
About 3 km away
The United Reformed Church
Christian
Rother Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6LU
About 9 km away
First Church of Christ, Scientist Stratford
Christian, Christ scientist
26 Ely Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6LW
About 9 km away
Stratford upon Avon Methodist Church
Christian, Methodist
Old Town, CV37 6BG
About 10 km away
Holy Trinity
Christian, Anglican
Evesham and Redditch Railway, Stratford-on-Avon, B49 5PP
About 3 km away
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Birmingham
About 34 km away
2 Causeway Green Road Oldbury, West Midlands B68 8LD
Worship services: Wed 7:00pm · Sat 10:00am · Sat 12:30pm (children)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Cheltenham
About 37 km away
SPRINGBANK COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTRE, Springbank Way, Cheltenham, GL51 0LG
Worship services: Tue 5:45pm · Sat 5:00pm · Sat 7:00pm (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
Shops from home
Food and takeaways
China Kitchen
Chinese. takeaway
29 Meer Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6QB
About 10 km away
Wok Express
Chinese. takeaway. Hours: Su,Mo,We,Th 17:00-23:00; Fr,Sa 17:00-23:30; Tu off
98 Justins Avenue, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 0DE
About 9 km away
No. 1 Taj Bar & Grill
International, indian. restaurant
1 Shakespeare Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6RN
About 9 km away
Sabai Sabai
Thai. restaurant
19-20 Wood Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6JF
About 10 km away
Nando's
Chicken, portuguese. restaurant
Bell Court, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6EX
About 10 km away
Zoo Sushi & Bubble Tea
Japanese, korean. restaurant
3-5 Cook's Alley, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6QN
About 10 km away
Giggling Squid
Thai. restaurant
23 High Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6AU
About 10 km away
Thespians
Indian. restaurant
26 Sheep Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6EF
About 10 km away
Sports and clubs
JNB Gymnastics
Sports centre
Featherbed Lane, Stratford-on-Avon, CV37 0ER
About 8 km away
Anytime Fitness
Fitness centre
Birmingham Road, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 0BT
About 9 km away
Laser Conflict Ltd (The Golf Centre)
Laser tag. Sports centre
Brickyard Lane, Redditch, B80 7EE
About 10 km away
Posture and Poise
Yoga. Fitness centre. Hours: Mo-Sa 8:00-18:00
36 Greenhill Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6LE
About 9 km away
Community and support groups
Harvington Village Hall
Community centre. Hours: "for hire"
41 Village Street, Wychavon, WR11 8NJ
About 8 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Barbers and salons
The Salon
Hairdresser
30A Henley Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6QW
About 9 km away
Solo Hair Designs
Hairdresser
126 Clopton Road, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6SW
About 9 km away
Nashwhite
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu-Fr 8:00-20:00 Sa 9:00-17:00
20 Sheep Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6EF
About 10 km away
Head Honchos Hair
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu-Fr 9:00-18:00 Sa 9:00-16:00
13-14 Meer Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6QB
About 9 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Stratford Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-17:00; Sa 10:00-15:00
Henley Street, Stratford-on-Avon, CV37 6PZ
About 10 km away
Alcester Town Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Seggs Lane, Stratford-on-Avon, B49 5HJ
About 3 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 Exhall
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