Settling in · Houghton Regis
Landing in Houghton Regis? Start here.
The first fortnight in Houghton Regis, 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
92 places in Houghton Regis 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
Salvation Army
Christian, Salvation army
Bull Pond Lane, Dunstable, LU6 3AH
About 2 km away
Church Of The Holy Ghost
Christian, Roman catholic
33 Westbourne Road, Luton, LU4 8JD
About 6 km away
Luton Christian Fellowship
Christian
Castle Street, Luton, LU1 3AL
About 8 km away
Central Baptist Church
Christian, Baptist
52a Park Street, Luton, LU1 3ET
About 8 km away
The Salvation Army
Christian, Salvation army
1 Vicarage Street, Luton, LU1 3HZ
About 8 km away
Christ Church Dunstable
Christian, Independent
West Street, Dunstable, LU6 1SX
About 2 km away
Polish RC Church of Our Lady of Częstochowa
Christian, Roman catholic
17 Victoria Street, Dunstable, LU6 3AZ
About 2 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Kokni Community Luton
Muslim, Sunni
Bury Park Road, Luton, LU1 1HB
About 7 km away
Masjid e Noor
Muslim, Sunni
20 Cromwell Road, Luton, LU3 1DN
About 7 km away
Gurdwaras
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Milton Keynes
About 17 km away
Fenny Stratford Community Centre, 13 George St., Milton Keynes, England, MK2 2NR
Worship services: Thu 7:00pm · Sat 6:00pm
Iglesia ni Cristo, Hertfordshire
About 25 km away
Datchworth Village Hall, 52 Datchworth Green, Datchworth, Knebworth, SG3 6TL
Worship services: Wed 8:00pm · Sat 10:00am · Sat 12:00pm (children)
Iglesia ni Cristo, North London
About 41 km away
Barnet Multicultural Community Centre, Algernon, Hendon, London, NW4 3TA, England
Worship services: Tue 7:30pm · Sat 6:00pm · Sat 8:00pm (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
Al Karim Halal Butchers and Grocers
Butcher. Hours: Mo-Su 08:00-20:00
11 The Crossway, Luton, LU1 5LY
About 7 km away
Food and takeaways
Alankar
Indian. restaurant
276 Dunstable Road, Luton, LU4 8JL
About 6 km away
Raj
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Fr-Sa 17:00-00:00, Su-Mo 17:00-23:30; We-Th 17:00-23:30
37 Adelaide Street, Luton, LU1 5BD
About 7 km away
Nando's
Chicken, portuguese. restaurant
Bridge Street, Luton, LU1 2NB
About 8 km away
Red Chilli
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Sa-Th 12:00-14:30, 18:00-23:30; Fr 18:00-23:30
96-104 Wellington Street, Luton, LU1 5AF
About 8 km away
Victoria Kitchen
African. restaurant
7 Dudley Street, Luton, LU2 0NP
About 8 km away
Pades Lounge
African. cafe. Hours: Mo-Th 12:30-00:00; Fr 12:00-03:00; Sa 13:00-02:00; Su 17:00-00:00
39 Wellington Street, Luton, LU1 2QH
About 8 km away
German Doner Kebab
Kebab. takeaway. Hours: Mo-Th,Su 10:00-24:00; Fr-Sa 10:00-01:00
57-59 George Street, Luton, LU1 2AL
About 8 km away
Tikka Nation
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-We 11:00-18:00; Fr-Su 11:00-18:00; Th 11:00-19:00
112 Luton, LU1 2TJ
About 8 km away
Wama Michi
Asian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Fr 12:30-14:30,17:00-23:00; Sa-Su 12:00-22:30
83 Park Street, Luton, LU1 3HG
About 8 km away
Jay Raj
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 17:00-23:30
636 Hitchin Road, Luton, LU2 7UG
About 8 km away
Thai Chef
Thai. restaurant. Hours: We-Sa 12:00-14:30; Mo-Su 17:30-23:00
12 Hockliffe Street, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 1HJ
About 10 km away
Sports and clubs
Indoor cricket dome construction
Cricket. Sports centre
Pastures Way, Luton, LU4 0PF
About 3 km away
Luton Town Football Club training centre
Soccer. Sports centre
Eynsford Road, Luton, LU4 9FH
About 4 km away
Houghton Regis Leisure and Community Centre
Sports centre
Parkside Drive, Dunstable, LU5 5PX
The Dunstable Centre
Sports centre
Court Drive, Dunstable, LU5 4JD
About 2 km away
LJM Fitness Studio
Yoga. Fitness centre
9 Capron Road, Luton, LU4 9BU
About 4 km away
Leighton Leisure and Community Centre
Swimming, fitness. Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 06:00-22:00; Sa 07:00-19:00; Su 07:30-21:00
Henry Edge, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 3SS
About 8 km away
The Cue and Arrow
Snooker, billiards. Sports centre
6 Dudley Street, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 1SE
About 10 km away
Community and support groups
Chaul End Centre
Community centre
515 Dunstable Road, Luton, LU4 8QN
About 5 km away
Astral Park Sports & Community Centre
Community centre
Johnson Drive, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 4AY
About 8 km away
British Legion
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Sa 19:00-23:00, Fr,Sa 10:00-15:00, Su 12:00-20:00
West Street, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 1DA
About 10 km away
Dunstable Detachment - Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire ACF
Community centre
Victoria Street, Dunstable, LU6 1HW
About 2 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Barbers and salons
Burns Barber
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-20:00, Su 11:00-18:00
High Street, Luton, LU4 9LQ
About 4 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Toddington Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Market Square, Dunstable, LU5 6BP
About 5 km away
University Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Dec-Feb: Mo-Su 08:30-22:00; Mar-Nov "open 24/7"
Vicarage Street, Luton, LU1 3JU
About 8 km away
Dunstable Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Court Drive, Dunstable, LU5 4JD
About 2 km away
Leighton Buzzard Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Lake Street, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 1RX
About 10 km away
Houghton Regis Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Bedford Square, Houghton Regis, LU5 5ES
Lewsey Community Centre and Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Luton LU4 0ZH
About 2 km away
Leagrave Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Marsh Road, Luton, LU3 2NL
About 5 km away
Bury Park & Community Resource Centre
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
161-161b Dunstable Road, Luton, LU1 1BW
About 7 km away
Barton Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Bedford Road, Barton-le-Clay, MK45 4LL
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 Houghton Regis
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