Settling in · Fitzrovia
Landing in Fitzrovia? Start here.
The first fortnight in Fitzrovia, 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
100 places in Fitzrovia 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 Peter's Italian Catholic Church
Christian, Catholic
136 Clerkenwell Road, London, EC1R 5DL
About 2 km away
St Dunstan-in-the-West
Christian, Anglican, romanian orthodox
186a Fleet Street, London, EC4A 2HR
About 2 km away
The Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Andrew
Christian, Orthodox
Kentish Town Road, London, NW1 9QA
About 3 km away
The Salvation Army
Christian, Salvation army
10-16 Haverstock Hill, Chalk Farm, London, NW3 2BL
About 3 km away
St. Luke's Kentish Town
Christian, Anglican
Oseney Crescent, London, NW5 2AT
About 3 km away
St. Mary-Le-Bow
Christian, Anglican. Hours: We 07:30-18:00; Th 07:30-18:30; Fr 07:30-16:00
Cheapside London, EC2V 6AU
About 3 km away
St Helen's Bishopsgate
Christian, Anglican
Great St. Helens, London, EC3A 6AT
About 4 km away
St Katharine Cree
Christian, Anglican
86 Leadenhall Street, London, EC3A 3BP
About 4 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Islamic Universal Association
Muslim
20 Penzance Place, Greater London, W11 4PG
About 5 km away
King's Cross Mosque and Islamic Centre
Muslim, Sunni
Cromer Street, King's Cross, London, WC1H 8DU
UK Albanian Muslim Community & Cultural Centre
Muslim
88-90 Carlton Vale, Greater London, NW6 5DA
About 5 km away
Hindu temples
Synagogues
New London Synagogue
Jewish, Masorti
33 Abbey Road, City of Westminster, NW8 0AT
About 3 km away
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Central London
In the area
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 5 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 5 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 6 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, North London
About 9 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, Wimbledon
About 9 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, Stratford, London
About 10 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 10 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, Royal Greenwich, London
About 15 km away
Woolwich Common Community Centre, 17 Leslie Smith Square, London SE18 4DW
Worship services: Tue 7:15pm · Fri 7:00pm
Iglesia ni Cristo, Sutton
About 17 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, Heathrow North, London
About 21 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 23 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, Orpington
About 25 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, Hertfordshire
About 37 km away
Datchworth Village Hall, 52 Datchworth Green, Datchworth, Knebworth, SG3 6TL
Worship services: Wed 8:00pm · 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
Shops from home
Longdan Express
Supermarket. stocks Asian goods. Hours: 10:00-20:30
25 Hackney Road, Greater London, E2 7NX
About 4 km away
Personal Fitness Centre
Fitness
Navigator Square, Greater London, N19 3TD
About 5 km away
Shivam Convenience
Grocery
12 Formosa Street, City of Westminster, W9 1EE
About 3 km away
Moha Convenience Store
Newsagent. Hours: Mo-Sa 07:00-23:00; Su 08:00-20:00
486 West Green Road, Greater London, N15 3DA
About 8 km away
Luk Bros Convenience Store
Convenience. stocks Asian goods
Prince Edward Road, Greater London, E9 5LX
About 8 km away
Herne Hill Convenience Store
Alcohol
87 Norwood Road, Greater London, SE24 9AA
About 8 km away
Food and takeaways
Indian YMCA
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Fr 07:30-09:15, 12:00-15:00; Sa-Su 07:30-09:15, 12:00-14:00
41 Fitzroy Street, London, W1T 6AQ
Mestizo
Mexican. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Sa 12:00-23:00; Su 12:00-16:00, 17:00-22:00
103 Hampstead Road, London, NW1 3EL
Wagamama
Asian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Sa 11:00-23:30; Su 11:00-23:00
42 Great Marlborough Street, City of Westminster, W1F 7JL
Antalya Restaurant
Turkish, mediterranean, grill. restaurant. Hours: PH,Mo-Su 11:00-23:00
103-105 Southampton Row, London, WC1B 4HH
Namaste Holborn
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 10:00-21:00
33 Boswell Street, London, WC1N 3BP
Circus
Fusion, asian. restaurant. Hours: Tu-We 19:00-00:00; Th 18:30-01:00; Fr 18:00-01:30; Sa 18:00-02:00
27-29 Endell Street, London, WC2H 9BA
Thenga
Indian. cafe. Hours: Mo-Th 11:00-18:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-16:00; Su off
120 Cromer Street, London, WC1H 8BS
Paolina Thai Cafe
Thai. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Sa 12:30-15:00, 18:00-22:00
181 King's Cross Road, London, WC1X 9BZ
About 2 km away
Sen Viet
Vietnamese. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Fr 11:00-15:00, 17:00-23:00; Su 12:00-16:00, 17:00-23:00
119 King's Cross Road, London, WC1X 9NH
About 2 km away
Daddy Donkey
Mexican. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Th 12:00-19:00; Fr 12:00-15:00; PH,Sa,Su off
50b Leather Lane, London, EC1N 7TP
About 2 km away
Made in Brasil
Brazilian. restaurant. Hours: Su-Th 12:00-00:00; Fr-Sa 12:00-02:00
12 Inverness Street, London, NW1 7HJ
About 2 km away
Leydi
Turkish. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 07:00-11:30, 12:00-22:00
6 Holborn Viaduct, London, EC1A 2AE
About 2 km away
Sports and clubs
Charteris Sports Centre
Badminton, Circuits, futsal, Over 50's, pilates, yoga, Kids Gymnastics, Kids Karate & Martial Arts, aikido. Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 18:00-22:00; Sa-Su 10:00-18:00
24-30 Charteris Road, Greater London, NW6 7ET
About 5 km away
John Orwell Sports Centre
Badminton, soccer, basketball, volleyball, table tennis, tennis, netball. Sports centre
Tench Street, Greater London, E1W 2QD
About 6 km away
Westway Sports Centre
Climbing, tennis, badminton, football, eton fives, squash. Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 06:00-22:00, Sa 07:00-20:00, Su 08:00-21:00
1 Crowthorne Road, Greater London, W10 6RP
About 6 km away
Cumberland Lawn Tennis Club and Hampstead Cricket Club
Cricket, field hockey, fitness, squash, table tennis, tennis. Sports centre
Dresden Close, Greater London, NW3 6ES
About 5 km away
North Middlesex Cricket Club
Cricket. Sports centre
Cranley Gardens, Greater London, N10 3AH
About 7 km away
Bannatyne Health Club
Swimming. Fitness centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 06:00-21:30; Sa-Su 09:30-18:00
32 Woburn Place, London, WC1H 0JR
Marshall Street Leisure Centre
Swimming. Sports centre
15 Marshall Street, City of Westminster, W1F 7EL
Frame
Fitness centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 06:30-22:00; Sa-Su 09:00-17:00
1 York Way, London, N1C 4AS
About 2 km away
Days out and things to do
Climbing Co Fulham
Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Tu 10:00-22:00, We 07:00-22:00, Th 10:00-22:00, Fr 07:00-21:00, Sa-Su 09:00-19:00
33-39 Parsons Green Lane, Greater London, SW6 4HH
About 7 km away
Driving schools
HGV Training
Driving school
12 Regis Road, Greater London, NW5 3EW
About 3 km away
Driveland
Driving school
Langham Road, Greater London, N15 3ND
About 8 km away
Holborn School Of Motoring
Driving school
Clerkenwell Road, Greater London, EC1R 4PP
About 2 km away
Earlsfield School Of Motoring
Driving school
360 Garratt Lane, Greater London, SW18 4ES
About 9 km away
Community and support groups
Doreen Bazell Hall
Community centre. Hours: 12:00-18:00
1 Goldington Street, London
About 2 km away
London Welsh Centre
Community centre. Hours: Mo 09:00-21:00; Tu-Th 09:00-23:00; Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 09:00-17:00; Su Off
157-163 Gray's Inn Road, London, WC1X 8UE
About 2 km away
Claremont Project
Community centre
24-27 White Lion Street, Greater London, N1 9PD
About 2 km away
Portsoken Community Centre
Community centre
20 Little Somerset Street, London, E1 8AH
About 4 km away
West Hampstead Women's Centre
Community centre. Hours: Tu-Fr 09:30-17:00
26-30 Cotleigh Road, London, NW6 2NP
About 5 km away
Sidings Community Centre
Community centre
150 Brassey Road, London, NW6 2BA
About 5 km away
The Brunswick Club for Young People
Community centre. Hours: Tu-Fr 15:00-21:00
34 Haldane Road, Greater London, SW6 7EU
About 6 km away
Wyke Estate Community Hall
Community centre
15 Berger Road, Greater London, E9 6HA
About 7 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Barbers and salons
RAVEN Barbers
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-19:00
35 Grafton Way, London, W1T 5DB
Fowler35
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu-Fr 10:00-21:00; Sa,Su 09:00-18:00
35 Windmill Street, London, W1T 2JS
Sanrizz
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Tu 10:00-19:00; We-Fr 10:00-20:00; Sa 09:00-18:00; Su off
38A Brunswick Square, London, WC1N 1AE
Frankie Cochrane
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo off, Tu 08:00-20:00, We 08:00-18:00, Th 08:00-20:00, Fr 08:00-19:00, Sa 08:00-17:00
42 Lamb's Conduit Street, London, WC1N 3LJ
Cutbox
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-19:00
87 Clerkenwell Road, London, EC1R 5BX
About 2 km away
Lisa Hauck
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo off; Tu,Th-Fr 09:00-20:00; We 09:30-18:30; Sa 09:00-18:00; Su off; PH off
90 Haverstock Hill, London, NW3 2BD
About 3 km away
Manoj Men's Grooming
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-20:00
45-47 Queen Victoria Street, London, EC4N 4SF
About 3 km away
Cinemas and libraries
British Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Th 09:30-20:00; Sa 09:30-17:00; Su 11:00-17:00; Fr 09:30-18:00
96 Euston Road, London, NW1 2DB
Swiss Cottage Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Th 10:00-20:00; Fr-Sa 10:00-17:00; Su off; PH off
88 Avenue Road, London, NW3 3HA
About 3 km away
Paddington Children’s Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:30-05:30; Sa 10:30-05:00
Westbourne Park Villas, City of Westminster, W2 5EF
About 4 km away
Durning Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
167 Kennington Lane, Greater London, SE11 4HF
About 4 km away
Shoreditch Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Th 10:00-20:00; Fr 10:00-18:00; Sa 10:00-17:00
80 Hoxton Street, Greater London, N1 6LP
About 4 km away
The Cinema in the Arches
Cinema
22 Arches Lane, Greater London, SW11 8AB
About 4 km away
Keats Community Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu-We 10:00-18:00; Th-Fr 10:00-19:00; Sa-Su 12:00-16:00
10 Keats Grove, Greater London, NW3 2RR
About 4 km away
Islington North Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu,Th 09:30-20:00; Fr 09:30-13:00; Sa 11:00-17:00
Manor Gardens, Greater London, N7 6JX
About 5 km away
Highgate Public Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Chester Road, London, N19 5DH
About 5 km away
Una Marson Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-18:00,Sa 10:00-17:00
62 Thurlow Street, Greater London, SE17 2GN
About 5 km away
Rio Cinema
Cinema
107 Kingsland High Street, Greater London, E8 2PB
About 5 km away
Tower Hamlets Local History Library and Archives
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu 10:00-17:00; We 09:00-17:00; Th 09:00-20:00; Sa[1,3] 09:00-17:00
Bancroft Road, Greater London, E1 4DQ
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 Fitzrovia
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