Settling in · Holborn
Landing in Holborn? Start here.
The first fortnight in Holborn, 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
102 places in Holborn 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 Dunstan-in-the-West
Christian, Anglican, romanian orthodox
186a Fleet Street, London, EC4A 2HR
St Peter's Italian Catholic Church
Christian, Catholic
136 Clerkenwell Road, London, EC1R 5DL
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
St Helen's Bishopsgate
Christian, Anglican
Great St. Helens, London, EC3A 6AT
About 2 km away
St Katharine Cree
Christian, Anglican
86 Leadenhall Street, London, EC3A 3BP
About 2 km away
St Olave Hart Street
Christian, Anglican
8 Hart Street, London, EC3R 7NB
About 2 km away
The City Church
Christian
14 Pratt Mews, Greater London, NW1 0AD
About 3 km away
Saint Peter's Walworth
Christian, Anglican
Liverpool Grove, Greater London, SE17 2HW
About 4 km away
The Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Andrew
Christian, Orthodox
Kentish Town Road, London, NW1 9QA
About 4 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Masjid Daar Al-Hadeeth
Muslim
96B Lower Clapton Road, Greater London, E5 0QR
About 6 km away
Islamic Centre Upton Park
Muslim, Sunni
72-74 Selwyn Road, London, E13 0PY
About 10 km away
King's Cross Mosque and Islamic Centre
Muslim, Sunni
Cromer Street, King's Cross, London, WC1H 8DU
Muslim World League - London Office
Muslim, Sunni
46 Goodge Street, London, W1T 4LU
About 2 km away
BECA East Street Islamic Centre
Muslim
168-170 Old Kent Road, Greater London, SE17 2SX
About 4 km away
West London Islamic Cultural Centre
Muslim
7 Bridges Place, Greater London, SW6 4HW
About 8 km away
Other places of worship
University Chaplaincy
30 Torrington Square, Greater London, WC1E 7JL
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, Camberwell, London
About 5 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, Battersea, London
About 6 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 7 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, Stratford, London
About 9 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 9 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, Wimbledon
About 10 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 11 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 13 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 22 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, Orpington
About 24 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, Heathrow, London
About 24 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, 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
Personal Fitness Centre
Fitness
Navigator Square, Greater London, N19 3TD
About 6 km away
Herne Hill Convenience Store
Alcohol
87 Norwood Road, Greater London, SE24 9AA
About 7 km away
Baker St. News & Convenience
Newsagent
202 Baker Street, City of Westminster, NW1 5RT
About 3 km away
Stadium Store
Sports, gift, souvenir. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:30-17:00; Sa 09:00-17:00; Su 11:00-17:00
Stadium Crescent West, London, E20 2ST
About 7 km away
Food and takeaways
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
Namaste Holborn
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 10:00-21:00
33 Boswell Street, London, WC1N 3BP
Leydi
Turkish. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 07:00-11:30, 12:00-22:00
6 Holborn Viaduct, London, EC1A 2AE
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
Antalya Restaurant
Turkish, mediterranean, grill. restaurant. Hours: PH,Mo-Su 11:00-23:00
103-105 Southampton Row, London, WC1B 4HH
Haz St Paul's
Turkish. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 11:30-23:30
34 Foster Lane, London, EC2V 6HD
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
Thenga
Indian. cafe. Hours: Mo-Th 11:00-18:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-16:00; Su off
120 Cromer Street, London, WC1H 8BS
Burrito Joe
Mexican. takeaway. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-15:30; Sa off; Su off
54 Bow Lane, London, EC4M 9DJ
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
Chilango
Mexican. takeaway. Hours: Mo-Fr 11:00-22:00
18 King William Street, London, EC4N 7BP
About 2 km away
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
About 2 km away
Sports and clubs
Crouch End Cricket Club
Cricket. Sports centre
Perimeter Walk, Greater London, N8 8JP
About 8 km away
Newham Boys Amateur Boxing Club
Boxing. Sports centre
Queen's Road West, Greater London, E13 0RY
About 10 km away
East London Rugby Football Club
Rugby union. Sports centre
71 Holland Road, Greater London, E15 3BP
About 9 km away
The Spencer Club
Cricket, tennis, field hockey, squash, lacrosse, netball. Sports centre
Openview Greater London, SW18 3PD
About 9 km away
Nuffield Health Fitness & Wellbeing
Fitness. Fitness centre. Hours: Mo-Th 06:00-22:00; Fr 06:00-21:00; Sa,Su 09:00-17:00
97 Aldersgate Street, London
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
Pure Ride
Bicycling. Sports centre
1 Fore Street Avenue, London, EC2Y 5EJ
About 2 km away
Club Q
Personal training. Fitness centre
59 Charlotte Street, London, W1T 4PE
About 2 km away
Virgin Active
Fitness. Fitness centre. Hours: Mo-Th 06:00-22:30; Fr 06:00-22:00; Sa 10:00-18:00; Su off; PH 10:00-18:00
97 Cannon Street, London, EC4N 5AE
About 2 km away
Driving schools
HGV Training
Driving school
12 Regis Road, Greater London, NW5 3EW
About 4 km away
Driveland
Driving school
Langham Road, Greater London, N15 3ND
About 8 km away
1st Time School of Motoring
Driving school. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:30-17:30; Sa 10:00-14:00
Lee High Road, Greater London, SE13 5LQ
About 9 km away
Abbies Driving School
Driving school
2A Balaam Street, Greater London, E13 8AQ
About 9 km away
Data Cars Driver Training Centre
Driving school
92 Lee High Road, Greater London, SE13 5HE
About 10 km away
Earlsfield School Of Motoring
Driving school
360 Garratt Lane, Greater London, SW18 4ES
About 10 km away
Community and support groups
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
Doreen Bazell Hall
Community centre. Hours: 12:00-18:00
1 Goldington Street, London
About 2 km away
Portsoken Community Centre
Community centre
20 Little Somerset Street, London, E1 8AH
About 3 km away
West Hampstead Women's Centre
Community centre. Hours: Tu-Fr 09:30-17:00
26-30 Cotleigh Road, London, NW6 2NP
About 6 km away
Wally Foster Community Centre
Community centre
Homerton Road, Greater London, E9 5QB
About 7 km away
Sidings Community Centre
Community centre
150 Brassey Road, London, NW6 2BA
About 7 km away
Haringey Chinese Community Centre
Community centre
211 Langham Road, Greater London, N15 3LH
About 8 km away
St Luke's Community Centre
Community centre
87-89 Tarling Road, London, E16 1HN
About 9 km away
Royal Wharf Community Dock
Community centre
2 John Harrison Square, London, E16 2ZA
About 10 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Afro hair specialists
3D Afro & European
Hairdresser
272 Uxbridge Road, Greater London, W12 7JA
About 8 km away
Barbers and salons
Cutbox
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-19:00
87 Clerkenwell Road, London, EC1R 5BX
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
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
Fowler35
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu-Fr 10:00-21:00; Sa,Su 09:00-18:00
35 Windmill Street, London, W1T 2JS
Manoj Men's Grooming
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-20:00
45-47 Queen Victoria Street, London, EC4N 4SF
RAVEN Barbers
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-19:00
35 Grafton Way, London, W1T 5DB
About 2 km away
Swagger
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-19:00; Sa-Su off
7 Harrow Place, London
About 2 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Picturehouse Central
Cinema. Hours: Mo-Su
Great Windmill Street, City of Westminster, W1D 7DH
About 2 km away
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
About 2 km away
Electric Cinema
Cinema
64-66 Redchurch Street, Greater London, E2 7DP
About 3 km away
Rich Mix Cinema
Cinema
35-47 Bethnal Green Road, Greater London, E1 6LA
About 3 km away
Dalston CLR James Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Th 09:00-20:00; Sa 09:00-17:00; Su 13:00-17:00; Fr 09:00-18:00
Dalston Square, Greater London, E8 3BQ
About 4 km away
The Cinema in the Arches
Cinema
22 Arches Lane, Greater London, SW11 8AB
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
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, Greater London, NW3 3HA
About 5 km away
Paddington Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Porchester Road, City of Westminster, W2 5DS
About 5 km away
Highgate Public Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Chester Road, London, N19 5DH
About 6 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, Hampstead Heath, London, NW3 2RR
About 6 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 Holborn
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