Settling in · Henley-On-Thames
Landing in Henley-On-Thames? Start here.
The first fortnight in Henley-On-Thames, 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
75 places in Henley-On-Thames 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
Grace Church Caversham
Christian
119 Peppard Road, Reading, RG4 8TR
About 8 km away
Wycliffe Baptist Church
Christian, Baptist
233 King's Road, Reading, RG1 4LS
About 10 km away
Mountain of Fire & Miracle Ministries
Christian, Pentecostal
31 Kingsgate Street, Reading, RG1 3JR
About 10 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Gurdwaras
Buddhist temples and centres
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Reading
About 13 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)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Oxford
About 29 km away
Wheatley Park School Sixth Forom, Sixth Forom, Wheatley Holton, Oxfordshire, OX33 1QH
Worship services: Wed 7:15pm · Sun 10:00am · Sun 12:00pm (children)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Heathrow North, London
About 33 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 36 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, Guildford
About 40 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)
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
Banana Tree
Indonesian, vietnamese, malaysian, thai. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Th 11:30-22:00; Fr-Sa 11:30-22:30; Su 12:00-22:00
37 Hart Street, South Oxfordshire, RG9 2AR
Spice Oven
Indian. restaurant. Hours: closed
2-4 Church Street, Caversham, Reading, RG4 8AT
About 9 km away
Pathaan's
Pakistani, afghan. restaurant. Hours: Sa-Th 13:00-23:00, Fr 14:00-23:00
2 Bridge Street, Reading, RG4 8AA
About 9 km away
Vaasu by Atul Kochhar
Indian. restaurant
2 Chapel Street, Marlow, SL7 1DD
About 10 km away
Masakali
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Su-Th 11:00-22:00, Fr-Sa 11:00-23:00
93 - 97, Caversham Road, Reading, RG1 8AN
About 10 km away
Pachangas
Mexican. restaurant. Hours: Tu-Sa 12:00-14:30,18:00+
30 Duke Street, South Oxfordshire, RG9 1UP
Want Want Chinese take away
Chinese. takeaway
2 The Parade, Reading, Woodley, RG5 4PS
About 9 km away
Clay's Hyderabadi Kitchen
Indian. restaurant
22-24 Prospect Street, Reading, RG4 8JG
About 9 km away
Hong Kong Garden
Chinese. takeaway. Hours: Mo-Sa 12:00-14:00,17:00-23:00; Su 17:00-22:30
153 Crockhamwell Road, Reading, Woodley, RG5 3JP
About 9 km away
Sports and clubs
Wargrave Cricket Clubhouse
Cricket. Sport club. Hours: Sa-Su 14:00-19:00
Recreation Road, Reading, RG10 8BN
About 5 km away
Reading Hockey Club
Field hockey. Sports centre
Bath Road cycle path, Sonning, RG4 6ST
About 8 km away
Caversham Health Club
Fitness. Fitness centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 06:00-22:00
Archway Road, Reading, RG4 8HX
About 9 km away
Reading Canoe Club
Canoeing. Sports centre
The Warren, Reading, RG4 7TH
About 9 km away
Phyllis Court Croquet Club
Croquet. Sports centre
Phyllis Court Drive, South Oxfordshire, RG9 2HU
Henley Leisure Centre
Sports centre
Gillott's Lane, South Oxfordshire, RG9 1PS
About 2 km away
Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre
Sports centre
Marlow Road, Marlow, SL7 1RU
About 9 km away
Community and support groups
Bix and Assendon Village Hall
Community centre
Old Bix Road, South Oxfordshire, RG9 6BY
About 4 km away
1st Twyford Scout HQ
Community centre
Loddon Hall Road, Twyford, Reading, RG10 9JA
About 7 km away
Earley Home Guard Social Club
Community centre
22 Pitts Lane, Reading, RG6 1BT
About 9 km away
Pakistan Community Centre Park Hall
Community centre
London Road, Reading, RG1 3PA
About 10 km away
The Warehouse
Community centre
1a Cumberland Road, Reading, RG1 3LB
About 10 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Hot towel and traditional shaves
Top Class Turkish Barber
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-19:00; Su 10:00-18:00
1 Kidmore End Road, Reading, RG4 8SD
About 7 km away
The Art of Turkish barbering
Hairdresser
9 Spittal Street, Marlow, SL7 3HJ
About 10 km away
Turkish Barber
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-19:00; Sa 09:00-17:00; Su 10:00-17:00
197 London Road, Reading, RG1 3NU
About 10 km away
Barbers and salons
Barber Crew
Hairdresser. Hours: Su-We 10:00-19:30; Th 08:00-17:00; Fr 00:00-24:00; Sa 10:00-17:00
60 High Street, RG10 8BY
About 5 km away
Funky Barnet
Hairdresser
26 Wokingham Road, Reading, RG6 1JQ
About 10 km away
Kool Kidz Kutz
Hairdresser
26 Wokingham Road, Reading, RG6 1JQ
About 10 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Wargrave Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 14:00-17:00; We 09:30-13:00,14:00-17:00; Fr 14:00-17:00; Sa 09:30-13:00
Church Street, Reading, RG10 8EP
About 5 km away
Woodley Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu-Fr 09:00-17:00; Th 09:00-19:00; Sa 09:30-16:00; Su 10:30-16:00
Brigade Walk, Reading, RG5 4JA
About 9 km away
Marlow Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Institute Road, Marlow, SL7 1BL
About 10 km away
Palmer Park Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu 09:00-12:00,13:00-17:00; We 09:00-12:00; Th 09:00-12:00,13:00-16:00; Sa 10:00-13:00; Su-Mo, Fr off
St Bartholomew's Road, Reading, RG1 3QB
About 10 km away
Henley Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,Tu,Th,Fr 09:00-17:00; Sa 09:00-13:00
Ravenscroft Road, South Oxfordshire, RG9 2DH
Reading Library of Things
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Fr 16:00-19:00; Sa 09:15-09:45
About 9 km away
John H Dunning Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
A4155 Hambleden, RG9 3AN
About 3 km away
Sonning Common Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Grove Road, South Oxfordshire, RG4 9RJ
About 6 km away
Twyford Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,Th 14:00-17:00; Tu,Fr 10:00-13:00, 14:00-17:00; Sa 09:30-12:30; PH off
RG10 9RP
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 Henley-On-Thames
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