Settling in · Otham
Landing in Otham? Start here.
The first fortnight in Otham, 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
72 places in Otham 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
Salvation Army
Christian, Salvation army
74-80 Union Street, Maidstone, ME14 1ED
About 4 km away
Union Street Methodist Church
Christian, Methodist
Union Street, Maidstone, ME14 1RU
About 4 km away
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Orpington
About 32 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, Southend
About 33 km away
71-73 Elm Road, Leigh-on-Sea, Southend-on-Sea, Leigh-on-Sea, SS9 1SP
Worship services: Tue 7:30pm · Sat 10:00am
Iglesia ni Cristo, Canterbury
About 35 km away
Canterbury Umbrella Centre, 22 St. Peter's Place, Canterbury, Canterbury, CT1 2DB
Worship services: Thu 6:30pm
Iglesia ni Cristo, Royal Greenwich, London
About 44 km away
Woolwich Common Community Centre, 17 Leslie Smith Square, London SE18 4DW
Worship services: Tue 7:15pm · Fri 7:00pm
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
Food and takeaways
Shamrat
Indian. restaurant
36 Lower Stone Street, Maidstone, ME15 6LX
About 4 km away
Tandoor Mahal
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Tu-Su 18:00-22:00
Medway Street, ME14 1JS
About 4 km away
Spice Lounge
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Sa 12:00-14:00,18:00-23:00; Su 12:00-14:30,18:00-22:30
118 Heath Road, ME17 4PN
About 6 km away
Staplehurst Kebab & Pizza
Kebab, pizza, burger, wraps, chips, cold drinks. takeaway. Hours: Mo-Sa 15:00-23:00; Su 17:00-23:00
Station Road, TN12 0QJ
About 9 km away
Sports and clubs
Maidstone United FC - Gallagher Stadium
Soccer. Stadium
ME14 1LQ
About 5 km away
Maidstone Leisure Centre
Swimming, fitness, badminton, soccer, volleyball, basketball, table tennis, pickleball. Sports centre
About 3 km away
Lordswood Leisure Centre
Sports centre
North Dane Way, Chatham, ME5 8YE
About 10 km away
Lordswood Sports and Social Club
Sports centre
North Dane Way, Chatham, ME5 8YE
About 10 km away
Fishing spots and tackle shops
Community and support groups
Beechen Hall
Community centre
Wildfell Close, Chatham, ME5 9RU
About 8 km away
Boughton Monchelsea Village Hall
Community centre
Church Street, Maidstone, ME17 4HN
About 4 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Barbers and salons
Maidstone Hairy Bear
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Su 08:30-17:00
70 Union Street, ME14 1ED
About 4 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Kent History and Library Centre
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
James Whatman Way, Maidstone, ME14 1LQ
About 5 km away
Bearsted Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,Tu,Th,Fr 10:00-13:00,14:40-17:00; Sa 09:00-13:00; We,Su closed
Ware Street, Maidstone, ME14 4PH
About 2 km away
Coxheath Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Heath Road, Maidstone, ME17 4PN
About 6 km away
Headcorn Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
17 Kings Road, Headcorn, TN27 9QP
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 Otham
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