Settling in · Lighthorne
Landing in Lighthorne? Start here.
The first fortnight in Lighthorne, 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
54 places in Lighthorne 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
Saint Joseph's Roman Catholic Church
Christian, Catholic
Murcott Road East, Leamington Spa, CV31 2JJ
About 8 km away
The Salvation Army - Leamington Spa
Christian, Salvation army
1A Chapel Street, Leamington Spa, CV31 1EJ
About 10 km away
St John the Baptist
Christian, Anglican
Tachbrook Street, Royal Leamington Spa, CV31 3BN
About 9 km away
Saint George the Martyr
Christian, Anglican
Newbold Road, Stratford-on-Avon, CV35 9DP
About 4 km away
Gurdwaras
The nearest Iglesia ni Cristo to Lighthorne
Iglesia ni Cristo, Birmingham
About 47 km away
2 Causeway Green Road Oldbury, West Midlands B68 8LD
Worship services: Wed 7:00pm · Sat 10:00am · Sat 12:30pm (children)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Cheltenham
About 53 km away
SPRINGBANK COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTRE, Springbank Way, Cheltenham, GL51 0LG
Worship services: Tue 5:45pm · Sat 5:00pm · Sat 7:00pm (children)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Oxford
About 56 km away
Wheatley Park School Sixth Forom, Sixth Forom, Wheatley Holton, Oxfordshire, OX33 1QH
Worship services: Wed 7:15pm · Sun 10:00am · Sun 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
The Meat House & Turkish Groceries
Butcher. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-19:00; Su 10:00-18:00
71 Brunswick Street, Leamington Spa, CV31 2EE
About 9 km away
Food and takeaways
Happy Nest Chinese Takeaway
Chinese. takeaway. Hours: Mo,We,Th 17:00-23:00; Su 17:00-22:30; Fr,Sa 17:00-24:00
Leamington Spa, CV31 2LT
About 7 km away
Craving Kebabs
Kebab. takeaway
25 Bath Street, Leamington Spa, CV31 3AF
About 10 km away
Millenium Balti
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Th 17:30-11:30; Fr 12:00-01:00; Sa 17:30-00:00; Su 17:30-23:30
41 Bath Street, Leamington Spa, CV31 3AG
About 10 km away
Ayla Grill & Restaurant
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 17:00-24:00, Fr 00:00-01:00, Sa,Su 00:00-02:00
21 Bath Street, Royal Leamington Spa, CV31 3AF
About 10 km away
Sports and clubs
Cleary's Boxing Gym
Fitness centre
Acre Close, Whitnash, Leamington Spa, CV31 2ND
About 8 km away
Wellesbourne Sports Association
Soccer, cricket, cricket nets, football. Sports centre
A429 Stratford-on-Avon, CV35 9TA
About 7 km away
Whitnash Sports & Social Club
Bowls, petanque. Sports centre
CV31 2NF
About 8 km away
The Workout Mill
Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 07:00-21:00;Sa-Su 09:00-14:00
11 Regent Place, Leamington Spa, CV31 1EH
About 10 km away
Fitness Worx
Fitness centre. Hours: Mo-Th 06:00-21:00; Fr 06:00-20:30; Sa 07:30-16:00; Su 09:30-16:00
About 10 km away
Nemo Raceway
Rc car. Sports centre
Knightcote Bottoms, Stratford-on-Avon, CV47 2QX
About 4 km away
Wellesbourne Sports & Community Centre
Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 07:00-21:00; Sa, Su 09:00-15:00
Loxley Close, Stratford-on-Avon, CV35 9RU
About 7 km away
Community and support groups
Whitnash Civic Centre & Library
Community centre
Acre Close, Whitnash, Leamington Spa, CV31 2ND
About 8 km away
Lighthorne Heath Village Hall
Community centre. Hours: 24/7
Valiant Close, Stratford-on-Avon, CV33 9TE
Knightcote Village Hall
Community centre
Knightcote Lane, Stratford-on-Avon, CV47 2EF
About 6 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Barbers and salons
Headmasters
Hairdresser
26 Clemens Street, Royal Leamington Spa, CV31 2DL
About 9 km away
Jan Barber
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:30-18:30; Su 10:00-16:00
About 9 km away
Francesco
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 08:30-17:30; Sa 08:00-16:30
35 High Street, Leamington Spa, CV31 1LN
About 10 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Southam Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Tu 09:30-17:30; Th-Fr 09:30-17:30; Sa 09:30-12:30
High Street, Stratford-on-Avon, CV47 0HB
About 10 km away
Harbury Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
High Street, Stratford-on-Avon, CV33 9HW
About 5 km away
Wellesbourne LIbrary
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
School Road, Stratford-on-Avon, CV35 9NH
About 6 km away
Whitnash Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,Tu 10:30-17:00; We 13:30-17:00; Fr 10:30-16:00; Sa 10:30-13:30
Acre Close, Leamington Spa, CV31 2ND
About 8 km away
Leamington Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-We,Fr 09:30-17:30; Sa 09:30-16:30; Su 12:00-16:00; Th 10:00-17:30
About 10 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 Lighthorne
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