Settling in · Keston
Landing in Keston? Start here.
The first fortnight in Keston, 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 Keston 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
Bromley Christian Centre
Christian, Pentecostal
2 Masons Hill, Greater London, BR2 9HA
About 4 km away
The Salvation Army - Thornton Heath
Christian
66 High Street, Thornton Heath, CR7 8LF
About 9 km away
St Chad's Catholic Church
Christian, Catholic
Whitworth Road, Greater London, SE25 6XG
About 8 km away
St. Michael and All Angels with St. James
Christian, Anglican
Poplar Walk, Greater London, CR0 2ZD
About 9 km away
West Croydon Methodist Church
Christian, Methodist
93 London Road, Greater London, CR0 2RF
About 9 km away
St Laurence Church
Christian, Anglican
37 Bromley Road, Greater London, SE6 2TP
About 10 km away
Elim Pentecostal Church
Christian, Pentecostal
Mersham Road, Thornton Heath, CR7 8NP
About 10 km away
Other places of worship
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Orpington
About 10 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, 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, Camberwell, London
About 15 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, Sutton
About 15 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, Wimbledon
About 17 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, Battersea, London
About 19 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, Romford
About 19 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, Stratford, London
About 19 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, Central London
About 21 km away
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, Notting Hill
About 24 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, North London
About 30 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, Heathrow, London
About 32 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, Heathrow North, London
About 35 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
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
Bedensfield Convenience Store
Convenience
94 St James Way, Greater London, DA14 5HF
About 10 km away
Food and takeaways
Simla Balti House
Indian. restaurant
17 Stanley Way, Greater London, BR5 2HE
About 6 km away
Radhuny
Indian, ice cream. restaurant
Chinbrook Road, Greater London, SE12 9QL
About 8 km away
Sports and clubs
Crystal Palace F.C. Academy
Soccer. Sports centre
Copers Cope Road, Greater London, BR3 1RP
About 8 km away
Locksbottom Cricket Club
Cricket. Sports centre
Willow Walk, Greater London, BR6 7AA
About 2 km away
Scrubs Farm Sports Ground
Soccer. Sports centre
Lower Gravel Road, Greater London, BR2 8LL
About 3 km away
Whyteleafe Football Club
Sports centre
15 Church Road, Caterham, Whyteleafe, CR3 0AR
About 10 km away
Red 1 Airsoft Chislehurst
Sports centre. Hours: Su 08:00-15:30
Foxbury Avenue, Greater London, BR7 6SD
About 7 km away
Colfe's Leisure Centre
Multi. Sports centre
Horn Park Lane, Greater London, SE12 8AW
About 10 km away
Bromley Wendover Lawn Tennis Club
Tennis. Sports centre
Glanville Road, Greater London, BR2 9LW
About 4 km away
Knoll Orpington Lawn Tennis
Tennis. Sports centre
Mayfield Avenue, Greater London, BR6 0AQ
About 5 km away
Bromley Bowling Club
Bowls. Sports centre
Plaistow Lane, Greater London, BR1 3JF
About 6 km away
Chislehurst Lawn Tennis Club
Tennis. Sports centre
Cow Path, Greater London, BR7 5DS
About 7 km away
Days out and things to do
Bromley Central Library
Museum. Hours: Mo-We,Fr 09:30-18:00; Sa 09:30-17:00; Th 09:30-20:00; Su,PH off
High Street, Greater London, BR1 1EX
About 5 km away
Driving schools
Community and support groups
Assembly Halls
Community centre
18 Gates Green Road, Greater London, BR4 9JW
About 2 km away
St Paul’s Cray Community Support Centre
Community centre. Hours: Mo-We 09:00-13:00,14:00-16:00; Th,Fr,Sa,Su,PH off
Mickleham Road, Greater London, BR5 2RW
About 7 km away
Mottingham Community Centre
Community centre
Kimmeridge Road, Greater London, SE9 4EB
About 7 km away
Middle Park Community Centre
Community centre
Middle Park Avenue, Greater London, SE9 5HS
About 9 km away
Horn Park Community Centre
Community centre
Sibthorpe Road, Greater London, SE12 9DS
About 9 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Afro hair specialists
Unity Locs
Hairdresser
6 Brownhill Road, Greater London, SE6 2HG
About 10 km away
Barbers and salons
Klinik
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu 09:30-17:00; We 09:30-19:00; Th 09:30-17:00; Fr 09:30-17:00; Sa 09:30-16:00
9 Station Approach, Greater London, BR2 7EQ
About 2 km away
Divas & Dudes Hair Boutique
Hairdresser
34 Queensway, Greater London, BR5 1DE
About 4 km away
Senol Uzan Hair Salon
Hairdresser
15 Stanley Way, Greater London, BR5 2HE
About 6 km away
IBO's Barbers
Hairdresser
28 Randlesdown Road, Greater London, SE6 3BT
About 9 km away
The Cutting Company
Hairdresser
52 Brigstock Road, Thornton Heath, CR7 8RX
About 10 km away
Hills Hair & Beauty Salon
Hairdresser
5 Brownhill Road, Greater London, SE6 2DA
About 10 km away
S.A. Grooming
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-We 09:30-19:00; Th,Fr 09:30-20:00; Sa 09:30-18:00
66a Station Approach, Greater London, BR2 7EJ
About 2 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Hayes Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu,Th, 09:30-13:00, 14:00-17:30; Sa 09:30-13:00, 14-00-17:00; Mo,We,Fr,Su,PH off
Hayes Street, Greater London, BR2 7LH
About 2 km away
Petts Wood Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,Tu,Fr 09:30-17:30; Th 09:30-19:00; We,Su,PH off
Frankswood Avenue, Greater London, BR5 1BP
About 4 km away
Orpington Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 09:30-19:00; Tu-Fr 09:30-17:30; Sa 09:30-17:00; Su,PH off
Walnuts Shopping Centre, Greater London, BR6 0TW
About 5 km away
Odeon
Cinema
Walnuts Shopping Centre, Greater London, BR6 0TW
About 5 km away
Biggin Hill Memorial Library and Swimming Pool
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Library Mo-Fr 9:30-19:00; Sa 9:30-17:00, Su 10:00-13:00; Swimming Pool Mo 07:00-21:00; Tu 07:00-21:30; We,Th 07:00-21:00; Fr 07:00-20:00, Sa,Su 8:00-18:00
Church Road, Greater London, TN16 3LB
About 6 km away
Mottingham Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 9:30-13:00, 14:00-17:00; We 9:30-13:00, 14:00-19:00, Fr 9:30-13:00 14:00-17:30; Sa 9:30-13:00 14:00-17:00, Tu,Th,Su closed
31 Mottingham Road, Greater London, SE9 4QZ
About 8 km away
Upper Norwood Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu-We, Fr-Sa 10:00-18:00; Th 10:00-20:00
39 Westow Hill, Greater London, SE19 1TJ
About 10 km away
Catford Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-19:00; Sa 09:00-17:00; Su 10:00-16:00
23-24 Winslade Way, Greater London, SE6 4JU
About 10 km away
Shortlands Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,Tu,Fr 09:30-13:00,14:00-17:30; Sa 09:30-13:00,14:00-17:00; Su closed
110 Shortlands Road, Greater London, BR2 0JP
About 5 km away
Shirley Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Wickham Road, Greater London, CR0 8BH
About 5 km away
Laser Quest & VR Centre Bromley
Cinema. Hours: Mo-Th 15:00-21:00; Fr 15:00-22:00; Sa,Su 10:00-22:00
94 Bromley Hill, Greater London, BR1 4JU
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 Keston
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