Settling in · Lewisham
Landing in Lewisham? Start here.
The first fortnight in Lewisham, 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
95 places in Lewisham 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
The Apostolic Faith Mission
Christian, Apostolic
95 Fenham Road, Greater London, SE15 1AE
About 4 km away
Destiny International Christian Fellowship
Christian
95 Camberwell Station Road, Greater London, SE5 9JJ
About 6 km away
St Luke's Church
Christian, Anglican
Ruscoe Road, London, E16 1JB
About 7 km away
St Anne's Catholic Church
Christian, Catholic
1 Berwick Road, London, E16 3DR
About 7 km away
Custom House Baptist Church
Christian, Baptist
260 Prince Regent Lane, London, E16 3JJ
About 7 km away
St Olave Hart Street
Christian, Anglican
8 Hart Street, London, EC3R 7NB
About 8 km away
St Katharine Cree
Christian, Anglican
86 Leadenhall Street, London, EC3A 3BP
About 8 km away
St Helen's Bishopsgate
Christian, Anglican
Great St. Helens, London, EC3A 6AT
About 8 km away
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
About 8 km away
The Salvation Army - Thornton Heath
Christian
66 High Street, Thornton Heath, CR7 8LF
About 9 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Islamic Centre Upton Park
Muslim, Sunni
72-74 Selwyn Road, London, E13 0PY
About 9 km away
Alhidaya Croydon
Muslim
177 Brigstock Road, Thornton Heath, CR7 7JP
About 10 km away
Other places of worship
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Camberwell, London
About 6 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, Royal Greenwich, London
About 6 km away
Woolwich Common Community Centre, 17 Leslie Smith Square, London SE18 4DW
Worship services: Tue 7:15pm · Fri 7:00pm
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, Battersea, London
About 11 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, Central London
About 11 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, Wimbledon
About 12 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, Orpington
About 14 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, Notting Hill
About 15 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, Sutton
About 16 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, North London
About 21 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 29 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 29 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, Hertfordshire
About 45 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
Longdan Express
Supermarket. stocks Asian goods. Hours: 10:00-20:30
25 Hackney Road, Greater London, E2 7NX
About 9 km away
Kidbrooke Parade Post Office
Convenience. Hours: Mo-Sa 08:00-21:00; Su 09:00-13:00
122 Rochester Way, Greater London, SE3 8AR
About 3 km away
Herne Hill Convenience Store
Alcohol
87 Norwood Road, Greater London, SE24 9AA
About 6 km away
Luk Bros Convenience Store
Convenience. stocks Asian goods
Prince Edward Road, Greater London, E9 5LX
About 10 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 9 km away
Polski Sklep Gaska
Convenience. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-21:00; Su 10:00-20:00
8 Broadway, London, E15 4QS
About 9 km away
Food and takeaways
Chilli Indian Street Kitchen
Indian. restaurant
219 Lee High Road, Greater London, SE13 5PQ
Nakhon Thai Waterfront
Thai. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Fr 12:00-14:30,18:00-23:00; Sa,Su 13:00-23:00
1 Dock Road, London, E16 1AH
About 6 km away
Squires
African. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 11:00-00:00
6 Beckton Road, London, E16 1EW
About 7 km away
Pier Masala
Indian, bangladeshi. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 17:00-22:30
9 Pier Road, London, E16 2JJ
About 7 km away
Wagamama
Asian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr,Sa 11:00-23:00; Su 11:00-21:00
Tower Place, London, EC3R 5BT
About 7 km away
The Rajasthan I
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Fr 11:30-15:00, 18:00-23:00
49 Monument Street, London, EC3R 8BU
About 8 km away
itsu
Asian. takeaway. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-22:00; Sa,Su 11:00-21:00
1 Minories, London, EC3N 1BJ
About 8 km away
The India - Monument
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 11:30-23:30
2 St. Mary at Hill, London
About 8 km away
Nando's
Chicken, portuguese. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Fr 11:30-22:00; Sa 12:00-20:00
27 Lime Street, London, EC3M 7HR
About 8 km away
The Rajasthan III
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Fr 11:30-15:00, 18:00-23:00
39 Houndsditch, London, EC3A 7DB
About 8 km away
Chilango
Mexican. takeaway. Hours: Mo-Fr 11:00-22:00
18 King William Street, London, EC4N 7BP
About 8 km away
Café Luca
African, coffee shop, fine dining, italian, mediterranean, oriental, spanish. restaurant. Hours: Tu-Sa 12:00-23:00
17 Devonshire Square, London, EC2M 4SQ
About 8 km away
Sports and clubs
John Orwell Sports Centre
Badminton, soccer, basketball, volleyball, table tennis, tennis, netball. Sports centre
Tench Street, Greater London, E1W 2QD
About 6 km away
Diesel Gym
Martial arts, muay thai, mma, jiu-jitsu, wrestling, boxing. Hours: Mo,We 07:00-21:15; Tu 10:00-21:00; Th 07:00-21:00; Fr 09:00-20:45; Sa 09:00-12:30; Su 10:00-14:30
1012 Dockside Road, London, E16 2QT
About 7 km away
Power League - 5 A Side Football
Soccer. Sports centre
Jenkins Lane, Greater London, IG11 0AD
About 10 km away
Sportsdock at UEL
Basketball, wheelchair basketball, multi, badminton, volleyball, gymnastics, fitness, table tennis, netball, soccer. Fitness centre. Hours: Weekdays 6am to 10.15pm, Weekends 9am to 8pm
4-6 University Way, London, E16 2RD
About 8 km away
West Ham United Foundation Community Hub
Soccer. Sports centre
Newham Way, Greater London, E6 5NX
About 8 km away
City Bouldering
Climbing. Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 06:30-23:00; Sa-Su 09:00-22:00
33 Aldgate High Street, London, EC3N 1AH
About 8 km away
Gymbox
Fitness centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 06:00-23:00; Sa-Su 10:00-18:00
1 Suffolk Lane, London, EC4R 0AT
About 8 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 8 km away
Stones Gym & Fitness Centre
Fitness centre
50 Northwood Road, Thornton Heath, CR7 8HQ
About 8 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 6 km away
Driving schools
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
ACBT London Motorcycle Training school
Driving school. Hours: 24/7
Dursley Road, Greater London, SE3 8PB
About 3 km away
Abbies Driving School
Driving school
2A Balaam Street, Greater London, E13 8AQ
About 8 km away
Holborn School Of Motoring
Driving school
Clerkenwell Road, Greater London, EC1R 4PP
About 10 km away
Community and support groups
Royal Wharf Community Dock
Community centre
2 John Harrison Square, London, E16 2ZA
About 6 km away
St Luke's Community Centre
Community centre
87-89 Tarling Road, London, E16 1HN
About 6 km away
Royal Docks Learning and Activity Centre
Community centre
Albert Road, London, E16 2JB
About 7 km away
Portsoken Community Centre
Community centre
20 Little Somerset Street, London, E1 8AH
About 8 km away
The Well Community Centre
Community centre
49 Vicarage Lane, East Ham, London, E6 6DQ
About 9 km away
Hollington Youth Centre
Community centre
Redcar Street, Greater London, SE5 0LT
About 6 km away
Shrewsbury House Community Centre
Community centre
Bushmoor Crescent, Greater London, SE18 3EG
About 6 km away
Trinity Community Centre
Community centre
Bothwell Close, Canning Town, London, E16 1QS
About 7 km away
Shipman Youth Zone
Community centre
340 Prince Regent Lane, Greater London, E16 3JH
About 7 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Barbers and salons
Elite Hair Lounge
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu-We 10:00-18:00; Th 11:30-20:00; Fr 10:00-18:00; Sa 09:00-16:00
288 Lee High Road, Greater London, SE13 5PJ
Gents Barber Lounge
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-19:00; Sa 09:00-17:00; Su off
47 Vanbrugh Park, Greater London, SE3 7JQ
About 3 km away
Diamond Hair & Beauty
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Tu, Th, Sa 09:00-18:00; Fr 09:00-20:00; Su 10:00-16:00
184 Shooters Hill Road, Greater London, SE3 8RP
About 4 km away
Nouvelle hair and beauty
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo 10:00-15:00; We 10:00-18:00; Th 10:00-19:00; Fr 10:00-20:00; Sa 10:00-18:00; Su 11:00-17:00
109 High Street, Greater London, SE20 7DT
About 5 km away
Swagger
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-19:00; Sa-Su off
7 Harrow Place, London
About 8 km away
Manoj Men's Grooming
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-20:00
45-47 Queen Victoria Street, London, EC4N 4SF
About 8 km away
Cutbox
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-19:00
87 Clerkenwell Road, London, EC1R 5BX
About 10 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Deptford Lounge Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-19:00; Sa 09:00-17:00
9 Giffin Street, Greater London, SE8 4RJ
About 2 km away
Blackheath Standard Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 10:00-19:00, Tu,We,Fr 09:00-17:30, Th 09:00-19:00, Sa 09:00-17:00
17 Old Dover Road, Greater London, SE3 7BT
About 3 km away
Peckham Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,Tu,Th,Fr 09:00-20:00; We 10:00-20:00; Sa 10:00-17:00; Su 12:00-16:00
122 Peckham Hill Street, Greater London, SE15 5JR
About 4 km away
Mottingham Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 09:30-13:00, 14:00-17:00; We 09:30-13:00, 14:00-19:00, Fr 09:30-13:00, 14:00-17:30; Sa 09:30-13:00, 14:00-17:00, Tu,Th,Su closed
31 Mottingham Road, Greater London, SE9 4QZ
About 5 km away
Cineworld
Cinema
1 Peninsula Square, Greater London, SE10 0DX
About 5 km away
Beckenham Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 09:30-19:00; Tu,We,Fr 09:30-17:30; Sa 09:30-17:00, Th,Su closed
22 Beckenham Road, Greater London, BR3 4PE
About 6 km away
Una Marson Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-18:00,Sa 10:00-17:00
62 Thurlow Street, Greater London, SE17 2GN
About 6 km away
Whirled Cinema
Cinema
259 Hardess Street, Greater London, SE24 0HN
About 6 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 6 km away
Chislehurst library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,Tu,Fr 09:30-17:30; Th 09:30-19:00; Sa 09:30-17:00, We,Su closed
Red Hill, Greater London, BR7 6DA
About 7 km away
Custom House Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Tu 10:00-18:00; Th 13:00-20:00; Sa 10:00-18:00
Prince Regent Lane, London, E16 3JJ
About 7 km away
Durning Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
167 Kennington Lane, Greater London, SE11 4HF
About 8 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 Lewisham
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