Settling in · Lode
Landing in Lode? Start here.
The first fortnight in Lode, 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
84 places in Lode 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
Waterbeach Salvation Army
Christian, Salvation army
7 Station Road, Waterbeach, CB25 9HT
About 5 km away
Barnwell Baptist Church
Christian, Baptist
Howard Road, Cambridge, CB5 8QS
About 6 km away
Saint Andrew's
Christian, Anglican. Hours: We 14:00-16:00; Su 10:00-11:00
Coldhams Lane, Cambridge, CB1 3JS
About 7 km away
St Laurence's
Christian, Catholic
91 Milton Road, Cambridge, CB4 1XB
About 8 km away
Cambridge Salvation Army
Christian, Salvation army
3 Tenison Road, Cambridge, CB1 2DG
About 9 km away
Jesus Lane Friends Meeting House (Quaker Meeting House)
Christian, Quaker
12 Jesus Lane, Cambridge, CB5 8BA
About 9 km away
Saint Giles
Christian, Anglican, romanian orthodox
Castle Street, Cambridge, CB3 0AQ
About 9 km away
Great Saint Mary, The University Church
Christian, Anglican
Senate House Hill, Cambridge, CB2 3PQ
About 9 km away
St. Bene't
Christian, Anglican
Bene't Street, Cambridge, CB2 3PT
About 10 km away
Resurrection Lutheran Church
Christian, Lutheran
25 Westfield Lane, Cambridge, CB4 3QS
About 10 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Masjid Al Ikhlas & Cambridge Islamic Centre
Muslim, Sunni
4 Devonshire Road, Cambridge, CB1 2BH
About 9 km away
Synagogues
Beth Shalom Reform Synagogue
Jewish, Reform
Auckland Road, Cambridge, CB5 8DW
About 8 km away
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Cambridge
About 5 km away
Water Beach Barracks Sports Hall and Sudio, Cambridge, England, CB25 9PA
Worship services: Wed 7:00pm · Sun 11:00am · Sun 1:00pm (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
JSG's Asian Dukan
Convenience. stocks Indian goods. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-17:30; Sa 09:00-13:00
6 Kings Hedges Road, Cambridge, CB4 2PA
About 7 km away
Jiamart
Supermarket. stocks Asian goods. Hours: Mo-Su 11:00-20:00
31 Burleigh Street, Cambridge, CB1 1DG
About 9 km away
International Food Store
Convenience
96 Mill Road, Cambridge, CB1 2BD
About 9 km away
Ocean Supermarket
Supermarket. stocks Chinese goods. Hours: Mo-Su 10:15-19:00
58 Mill Road, Cambridge, CB1 2AS
About 9 km away
Spice Gate
Convenience. Hours: Sa-Th 10:00-19:00; Fr 10:00-12:00,14:00-19:00
14 Mill Road, Cambridge, CB1 2AD
About 9 km away
J&M Oriental Supermarket
Convenience. Hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-19:00; Su 10:00-17:00
185-187 Histon Road, Cambridge, CB4 3HL
About 9 km away
Cambridge Indian Supermarket
Convenience. stocks Indian, philippines goods. Hours: Mo-Sa 08:00-22:00; Su 08:00-20:00
11 High Street, Cambridge, CB1 9HY
About 8 km away
Polish Market Jess
Convenience. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-19:00; Su 11:00-18:00
72 Newmarket Road, Cambridge, CB5 8DZ
About 8 km away
Cho Mee
Convenience. stocks Chinese, malaysian goods. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-18:00; Sa 09:30-19:00; Su 10:00-18:00
108-110 Mill Road, Cambridge, CB1 2BD
About 9 km away
Food and takeaways
Grill Brothers
Burger, kebab, chicken. takeaway. Hours: 16:00-02:00
529b Newmarket Road, Cambridge, CB5 8LG
About 7 km away
The Bengal Fox
Indian. restaurant
2 North Street, East Cambridgeshire, CB25 0BA
About 7 km away
Golden Crown
Chinese. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Fr 16:00-21:40; Sa 16:00-21:00
2 Arbury Court, Cambridge, CB4 2JQ
About 8 km away
Anchor Fish Bar
Fish and chips, kebab, burger. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Sa 12:00-21:00
42 Arbury Road, Cambridge, CB4 2JQ
About 8 km away
EKO Kitchen
African. restaurant. Hours: Mo,Tu,Th-Sa 13:00-20:30
8 Norfolk Street, Cambridge, CB1 2LF
About 8 km away
Renu's
Indian. takeaway. Hours: Su-Th 16:30-22:30; Fr-Sa 16:30-23:00
26 Milton Road, Cambridge, CB4 1JY
About 9 km away
Efes
Turkish. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Fr 12:00-14:30,18:00-23:00; Sa,Su 12:00-23:00
78-80 King Street, Cambridge, CB1 1LN
About 9 km away
Baan Thai Street Food Restaurant
Thai. restaurant. Hours: 12:00-21:00
Park Terrace, Cambridge, CB1 1JH
About 9 km away
The House
Thai. restaurant. Hours: Tu-Th,Su 11:30-15:00,17:30-21:30; Fr-Sa 11:30-15:00,17:30-22:00; Mo off
106 Regent Street, Cambridge, CB2 1DP
About 9 km away
Thaikhun
Thai. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Th 12:00-22:00; Fr,Sa 12:00-22:30; Su 12:00-21:30
3-5 Quayside, Cambridge, CB5 8AB
About 9 km away
Golden Wok
Chinese. takeaway. Hours: Mo-Sa 12:00-14:00,16:30-22:30; Su,PH 16:30-22:30; Tu off
191 Histon Road, Cambridge, CB4 3HL
About 9 km away
Thanh Binh
Vietnamese. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Sa 12:00-02:00,18:00-22:00
17 Magdalene Street, Cambridge, CB3 0AF
About 9 km away
Sports and clubs
Hills Road Sports & Tennis Centre
Tennis, badminton, basketball, soccer, netball, cricket nets, pickleball, racquet, squash, table tennis, volleyball. Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 07:00-22:30; Sa-Su 08:00-21:00; PH 08:00-16:00
Purbeck Road, CB2 8PF
About 10 km away
Abbey Leisure Centre
Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 06:30-21:30; Sa-Su 08:00-18:00
Pool Way, Cambridge, CB5 8NT
About 7 km away
Clip 'n Climb
Climbing. Sports centre
34 Clifton Road Industrial Estate, Cambridge, CB1 7ED
About 9 km away
F45 Training
Exercise, fitness. Fitness centre
60 Station Road, Cambridge, CB1 2JH
About 9 km away
Cambridge Gun Club
Shooting. Sports centre. Hours: We-Sa 10:00-16:00; Su 10:00-15:00
Long Drove, South Cambridgeshire, CB24 8AH
About 10 km away
Rainbow Rocket North
Climbing. Sports centre. Hours: Mo,Tu,Th,Fr 12:00-22:00; We 08:00-22:00; Sa-Su,PH 09:00-19:00
Wadloes Road, Cambridge, CB5 8PD
About 7 km away
RP Fitness
Fitness centre. Hours: Mo-Su,PH 00:00-24:00
Trinity Hall Farm Industrial Estate, Cambridge, CB4 1TG
About 7 km away
The Gym Group
Fitness centre. Hours: 24/7
Cambridge Retail Park, Cambridge, CB5 8JL
About 8 km away
Satyam Yoga Wellbeing Centre
Yoga. Fitness centre
2-4 Hawthorn Way, Cambridge, CB4 1AX
About 8 km away
Rainbow Rocket Central
Climbing. Sports centre. Hours: Mo,Tu,Th,Fr 12:00-22:00; We 08:00-22:00; Sa-Su,PH 09:00-19:00
48 Clifton Road Industrial Estate, Cambridge, CB1 7ED
About 9 km away
Days out and things to do
Newmarket Racecourse
Sight worth seeing
Racehorse Statue Roundabout, East Cambridgeshire, CB8 0TW
About 8 km away
Community and support groups
Brown's Field Youth and Community Centre
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-17:00
31a Green End Road, Cambridge, CB4 1RU
About 7 km away
Marleigh Community Centre
Community centre. Hours: 24/7
2 Jubilee Square, Cambridge, CB5 8UW
About 5 km away
"twelve"
Community centre. Hours: Mo 14:00-16:30; Tu,Th,Fr 09:30-16:30; Sa 09:30-12:30
15 High Street, South Cambridgeshire, CB21 5DH
About 6 km away
Mill Road Community Centre
Community centre
6 Hazell Street, Cambridge, CB1 2GN
About 8 km away
All Saints Hall
Community centre
High Street, South Cambridgeshire, CB24 8QN
About 10 km away
Swaffham Prior Village Hall
Community centre
High Street, East Cambridgeshire, CB25 0LD
About 4 km away
The Hub
Community centre. Hours: Tu 14:00-16:00; Th,Fr 10:00-12:00
15 Barnwell Road, Cambridge, CB5 8RG
About 6 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Hot towel and traditional shaves
Istanbul Barbers
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-19:00; Su 09:00-17:00
192 Mill Road, Cambridge, CB1 3LP
About 8 km away
Barbers and salons
Rio Salon & Barber
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu,Th-Sa 09:00-17:00; Mo,We 10:00-17:00
12 The Broadway, Cambridge, CB1 3AH
About 8 km away
Urban Hair
Hairdresser
42 Burleigh Street, Cambridge, CB1 1DJ
About 9 km away
Alibabas Hair Studio
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo 09:30-13:00; Th-Fr 09:30-16:30; Sa 08:30-16:00; Su,Tu,We,PH off
29 Victoria Road, Cambridge, CB4 3BW
About 9 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Cambridge Central Library and Learning Centre
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Tu, Th-Fr 09:30-18:00; We 09:30-19:00; Sa 10:00-18:00; Su 12:00-16:00
7 Lion Yard, Cambridge, CB2 3QD
About 9 km away
Cherry Hinton Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 15:00-18:00; Tu off; We,Fr 09:00-17:00; Th 09:00-13:00; Sa 10:00-14:00; Su off
High Street, Cambridge, CB1 9HZ
About 8 km away
Arbury Court Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu,Fr 09:00-17:00; Mo 15:00-18:00; Th 09:00-13:00; Sa 10:00-14:00
46-47 Arbury Road, Cambridge, CB4 2JQ
About 8 km away
Christ's College Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Cambridge CB2 3BU
About 9 km away
Arts Picturehouse
Cinema. Hours: "depends on the showings"
38-39 Saint Andrew's Street, Cambridge, CB2 3AR
About 9 km away
Zoology Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Th 08:30-17:00; Fr 08:30-16:30; SH Mo-Th 08:30-17:00
Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ
About 9 km away
Cottenham Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 13:00-18:00; Tu 10:00-17:00; We 10:00-13:00; Th 10:00-17:00; Sa 10:00-13:00
Margett Street, CB24 8QY
About 10 km away
Fitzwilliam College Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: 24/7
Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, CB4 3YH
About 10 km away
Barnwell Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu,We 10:00-17:00; Th,Fr 14:00-17:00; Sa 10:00-13:00
49 Barnwell Road, Cambridge, CB5 8RG
About 6 km away
Burwell Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Guyatt Court, East Cambridgeshire, CB25 0DU
About 7 km away
Milton Road Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Sa 10:00-15:00; Su off; Tu,We 09:00-17:00; Mo,Th,Fr 09:00-18:00
Ascham Road, Cambridge, CB4 2BD
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 Lode
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