Settling in · Merstham
Landing in Merstham? Start here.
The first fortnight in Merstham, 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
68 places in Merstham 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
New Birth African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
Christian, Episcopal
Windermere Road, Greater London, CR5 2BF
About 6 km away
Carshalton Beeches Baptist Free Church
Christian, Baptist
Banstead Road, Carshalton, SM5 3NL
About 10 km away
St Augustine's Church
Christian, Anglican
St Augustine's Avenue, Greater London, CR2 6JP
About 10 km away
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Sutton
About 12 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 19 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, Camberwell, London
About 23 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, Battersea, London
About 23 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, Heathrow, London
About 25 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, Orpington
About 26 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 28 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, Royal Greenwich, London
About 28 km away
Woolwich Common Community Centre, 17 Leslie Smith Square, London SE18 4DW
Worship services: Tue 7:15pm · Fri 7:00pm
Iglesia ni Cristo, Central London
About 28 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, Romford
About 31 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 31 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, Guildford
About 31 km away
Onslow Hall (Main Hall), Wilderness Road, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7 QR
Worship services: Tue 8:00pm · Sat 10:00am · Sat 12:00pm (children)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Heathrow North, London
About 32 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, North London
About 35 km away
Barnet Multicultural Community Centre, Algernon, Hendon, London, NW4 3TA, England
Worship services: Tue 7:30pm · Sat 6:00pm · Sat 8:00pm (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
Food and takeaways
Everest Spice
Asian, indian, nepalese. restaurant
39 Holland Close, Reigate and Banstead, RH1 1HT
About 4 km away
Summer Garden
Chinese. restaurant
94 High Street, Reigate and Banstead, RH2 9AP
About 5 km away
Cappadocia
Turkish. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 12:00-22:00
14 Station Road, Reigate and Banstead, RH1 1NZ
About 3 km away
Hatay
Turkish. restaurant
12 Church Street, Reigate and Banstead, RH2 0AN
About 5 km away
Ghurha Kitchen
Asian. restaurant
75 High Street, Reigate and Banstead, RH2 9AE
About 5 km away
Sports and clubs
Whyteleafe Football Club
Sports centre
15 Church Road, Caterham, Whyteleafe, CR3 0AR
About 6 km away
Redhill Tennis Club
Tennis. Sports centre
Linkfield Lane, Reigate and Banstead, RH1 1LT
About 3 km away
Redhill Bowling Club
Bowls. Sports centre
St Anne's Way, Reigate and Banstead, RH1 1AR
About 3 km away
YMCA
Sports centre
Princes Road, Reigate and Banstead, RH1 6JJ
About 5 km away
Caterham School Sports Centre
Sports centre
Harestone Lane, Caterham Valley, CR3 6BD
About 4 km away
Donyngs Leisure Centre
Sports centre
Linkfield Corner (Refell's Bridge), Reigate and Banstead, RH1 1DP
About 4 km away
Donyngs Bowls Club
Sports centre
Donyngs overflow Car Park, Reigate and Banstead, RH1 6AF
About 4 km away
Days out and things to do
Peach Blossom (Camby Ltd.)
Sight worth seeing. Hours: Tu-Su 17:00-23:00; Mo off
11 Hatchlands Road, Reigate and Banstead, RH1 6AA
About 4 km away
Community and support groups
Redhill Safe Haven
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Su,PH 18:00-23:00
St Anne's Drive, Reigate and Banstead, RH1 1AU
About 3 km away
St John's Church Community Centre
Community centre
Church Road, Reigate and Banstead, RH1 6QA
About 5 km away
The Centre Wallington
Community centre
Milton Road, Greater London, SM6 9RP
About 10 km away
Royal British Legion
Community centre
Chartfield Road, Reigate and Banstead, RH2 7JZ
About 5 km away
Whitebushes Community Centre
Community centre
Three Arch Road, Reigate and Banstead, RH1 5GP
About 6 km away
Salfords Village Hall
Community centre
5 Honeycrock Lane, Reigate and Banstead, RH1 5DG
About 7 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Barbers and salons
Bella Donna
Hairdresser
32 Horley Road, Reigate and Banstead, RH1 5AB
About 6 km away
Redhill Barbers
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-18:30
Cromwell Road, Reigate and Banstead, RH1 1RF
About 4 km away
Angie’ s Hair Boutique
Hairdresser
36 Brighton Road, Reigate and Banstead, RH1 5BX
About 7 km away
A Cut Above
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu, Th 09:30-17:30; We 09:30-16:00; Fr 09:30-19:00; Sa 09:00-17:00
228a Godstone Road, Whyteleafe, CR3 0EE
About 7 km away
Cinemas and libraries
The Library @ The Phoenix Centre
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Mollison Drive, Wallington, SM6 9NZ
About 9 km away
Reigate Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Bancroft Road, Reigate and Banstead, RH2 7RP
About 5 km away
Everyman Cinema, Reigate
Cinema
Bancroft Road, Reigate and Banstead, RH2 7RP
About 5 km away
Wallington Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Shotfield Wallington, SM6 0HY
About 10 km away
Redhill Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
London Road, Reigate and Banstead, RH1 1LY
About 3 km away
Library & Knowledge Services
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Canada Avenue, Reigate and Banstead, RH1 5RH
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 Merstham
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