Settling in · Kent
Landing in Kent? Start here.
The first fortnight in Kent, 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
59 places in Kent 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
The Salvation Army Fordingbridge
Christian, Salvation army
Round Hill, New Forest, SP6 1AQ
About 4 km away
Ringwood Salvation Army
Christian, Salvation army
Christchurch Road, Ringwood, BH24 1DL
About 6 km away
Church of St Mary and All Saints
Christian, Anglican
Ellingham Drive, New Forest, BH24 3PJ
About 2 km away
Our Lady of Sorrows and St Philip Benizi
Christian, Roman catholic
15 Salisbury Road, New Forest, SP6 1EG
About 4 km away
Church of St Peter and St Paul
Christian, Anglican. Hours: Mo-Su 10:00-15:30
Market Place, Ringwood
About 5 km away
Trinity United Church
Christian, United reformed, methodist
53 Christchurch Road, Ringwood, BH24 1DH
About 5 km away
Crowe Hill Methodist Church
Christian, Methodist
Barrack Lane, New Forest, BH24 3ES
About 7 km away
Sandleheath Uniting Church
Christian, Methodist, anglican
Alderholt Road, New Forest, SP6 1PT
About 5 km away
Church of the Sacred Heart and St Thérèse of Lisieux
Christian, Roman catholic
1 The Close, Ringwood, BH24 1LA
About 5 km away
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Bournemouth
About 19 km away
673 Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, BH7 6AA
Worship services: Thu 6:15pm · Sat 10:30am · Sat 12:30pm (children)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Salisbury
About 20 km away
URC hall, 30 Fisherton St. Salisbury, SP2 7RG England
Worship services: Tue 6:00pm · Sat 4:00pm
Iglesia ni Cristo, Southampton
About 25 km away
St. Peter's Church, Lockerly Cresent, Southampton, SO16 4ER
Worship services: Tue 6:00pm · Sat 4:00pm · Sat 6:00pm (children)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Gillingham, Dorset
About 39 km away
Salisbury st. Mere, Warminster, Wiltshire, BA12 6HA
Worship services: Thu 6:15pm · Sat 10:30am
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
Food and takeaways
The Star Inn - Thai Kitchen
Thai, asian, pub. restaurant. Hours: Tu-Sa 12:00-14:30,18:00-21:00
12 Market Place, Ringwood, BH24 1AW
About 5 km away
Masala
Indian. takeaway. Hours: Mo-Su 17:00-23:00
9 Meeting House Lane, Ringwood, BH24 1AY
About 5 km away
Keskins
Kebab, burger, pizza. takeaway. Hours: Mo-Su 16:00-23:30
17 Market Place, Ringwood, BH24 1AN
About 5 km away
India Cottage
Indian. restaurant
35 Christchurch Road, Ringwood, BH24 1DG
About 5 km away
Antepli Restaurant
Turkish. restaurant
24a Meeting House Lane, New Forest, BH24 1AY
About 5 km away
Gurkha
Indian, indonesian, thai. restaurant. Hours: Su, Tu-Th 17:00-22:00; Mo, Fr-Sa 12:00-22:00
2 Southampton Road, Ringwood, BH24 1HY
About 5 km away
The Raj of India
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Su-Th 17:30-22:00; Fr,Sa 17:30-22:30
75 Shaftesbury Street, New Forest, SP6 1JG
About 4 km away
Sports and clubs
Go Ape - Treetop Adventure
Climbing adventure. Sports centre
Horton Road, Three Legged Cross, BH24 2ET
About 6 km away
Elements Health & Wellness Hub
Yoga. Fitness centre
41 Southampton Road, Ringwood, BH24 1HE
About 5 km away
Fishing spots and tackle shops
Community and support groups
Ringwood Meeting House & History Centre
Community centre. Hours: Mo,Tu,Th-Sa 10:00-12:00; We 10:00-14:30
22 Meeting House Lane, Ringwood, BH24 1EY
About 5 km away
Carvers Clubhouse
Community centre
92 Southampton Road, New Forest, BH24 1JD
About 5 km away
Avonway Community Centre
Community centre
36 Shaftesbury Street, New Forest, SP6 1JF
About 4 km away
Greyfriars Community Centre
Community centre
44 Christchurch Road, Ringwood, BH24 1DW
About 5 km away
Three Legged Cross Village Hall
Community centre
Brackendale Court, Verwood, BH21 6SG
About 8 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Barbers and salons
Toni & Guy
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-We,Fr 09:30-18:00; Th 09:30-19:00; Sa 08:30-17:00
1 Meeting House Lane, New Forest, BH24 1EY
About 5 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Ringwood Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Christchurch Road, New Forest, BH24 1DW
About 5 km away
Fordingbridge Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
High Street, New Forest, SP6 1AQ
About 4 km away
Verwood Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Manor Road, Verwood, BH31 6DY
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 Kent
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