Settling in · Ovingdean
Landing in Ovingdean? Start here.
The first fortnight in Ovingdean, 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
85 places in Ovingdean 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 Salvation Army
Christian, Salvation army
Leybourne Road, Bevendean, Brighton, BN2 4LT
About 3 km away
Brighton Salvation Army CItadel
Christian, Salvation army
1-6 Park Crescent Terrace, Brighton & Hove, BN2 3HD
About 4 km away
Emmanuel Church
Christian
21-23 Clarendon Villas, Hove, BN3 3RE
About 7 km away
Salvation Army Citadel
Christian, Salvation army
Conway Street, Hove, BN3 3LA
About 7 km away
Park Hill Evangelical Church
Christian, Evangelical
Park Hill, Brighton, BN2 0BT
About 4 km away
St Mary the Virgin
Christian, Anglican
61 St. James's Street, Brighton, BN2 1PR
About 4 km away
Brighton National Spiritualist Church
Spiritualist
62 Edward Street, Brighton, BN2 0JR
About 4 km away
Buddhist temples and centres
Synagogues
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Eastbourne
About 24 km away
Willingdon Trees Community Centre, 101 Holly Place, Eastbourne, BN22 0UT
Worship services: Wed 6:15pm · 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
Emmanuel International Groceries
Supermarket. Hours: Mo-Sa 07:45-13:00, Mo-Sa 14:00-20:15, Su 10:00-13:00, Su 13:15-17:00
1A Whitehawk Road, Brighton, BN2 5FA
About 2 km away
Polskie Smaki
Convenience. Hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-20:00; Su 11:00-18:00
96 St. James's Street, Brighton, BN2 1TP
About 4 km away
Dracula's House
Supermarket. stocks Romanian goods
58 London Road, Brighton, BN1 4JE
About 5 km away
Food and takeaways
Lotus House
Chinese. restaurant. Hours: Mo off; Tu-Su 17:00-23:00
191 Elm Grove, Brighton, BN2 3EL
About 3 km away
Kemptown Tandoori
Indian. restaurant. Hours: We-Mo 17:30-22:00; Tu off
111 St Georges Road, Brighton, BN2 1EA
About 3 km away
China Star
Chinese. takeaway. Hours: Tu-Su 17:00-22:00
45 Southover Street, Brighton, BN2 9UE
About 4 km away
Swallow House
Chinese. takeaway. Hours: Mo,We-Su 17:00-22:00
3 Lewes Road, Brighton, BN2 3HP
About 4 km away
Bua Thai
Thai. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Tu off; We-Su 15:30-22:00
1A Richmond Parade, Brighton, BN2 9PH
About 4 km away
Mohammed Spice Of Life
Asian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-18:00; Su 10:00-16:00
Marshalls Row, Brighton, BN1 4JU
About 4 km away
O'Shio
Japanese, korean. restaurant. Hours: Tu-Su 12:00-15:00,17:00-22:00; Mo off
87-88 Trafalgar Street, Brighton, BN1 4ER
About 5 km away
Milk No Sugar
Noodles, vietnamese. cafe. Hours: Mo-Sa 11:45-20:00; Su 11:45-18:00
68 Trafalgar Street, Brighton, BN1 4EB
About 5 km away
Mowgli Street Food
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Su-Th 11:30-20:00; Fr-Sa 11:30-22:30
12-14 Dukes Lane, Brighton, BN1 1BG
About 5 km away
CK Bistro
Cantonese, chinese. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 12:00-21:30
23 Queens Road, Brighton & Hove, BN1 3XA
About 5 km away
Nazende
Turkish. restaurant. Hours: 12:00-22:00
94 Western Road, Brighton, BN1 2LB
About 6 km away
Ashoka Tandoori Restaurant
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 17:00-23:00
95 Church Road, Hove, BN3 2BA
About 7 km away
Sports and clubs
Yellowave
Volleyball, yoga. Sports centre
299 Madeira Drive, Brighton, BN2 1EN
About 3 km away
Peacehaven & Telscombe FC training ground
Soccer. Sports centre
Gladys Avenue, Peacehaven, BN10 8FF
About 7 km away
Green Gym Group
Fitness centre. Hours: Mo-Su 06:00-22:00
39-40 St. James's Street, Brighton, BN2 1RG
About 4 km away
Preston Bowls Club
Bowls. Sport club
189 Preston Road, BN1 6SA
About 6 km away
Fishing spots and tackle shops
Community and support groups
Cornerstone Community Centre
Community centre
Church Road, Hove, BN3 2FL
About 6 km away
Fitzherbert Community Hub
Community centre. Hours: Tu-Fr 10:00-14:00
2 Bristol Road, Brighton, BN2 1AP
About 4 km away
The Cowley Club
Community centre. Hours: Sa 12:00-17:00; Th-Fr 19:30-23:00
12 London Road, Brighton, BN1 4JA
About 5 km away
Exeter Street Hall
Community centre
16-17 Exeter Street, Brighton, Brighton & Hove, BN1 5PG
About 6 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Hot towel and traditional shaves
Barbers and salons
Barnets Mens Hair Shop
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 08:30-17:30; Sa 08:00-16:30
15 St. George's Place, Brighton, BN1 4GB
About 4 km away
Dawson Hair & Imaging
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Su 10:00-20:00
90A Trafalgar Street, Brighton, BN1 4ER
About 5 km away
Lipstick & Gunpowder
Hairdresser
7 King's Road, Brighton, BN1 1NE
About 5 km away
Gloucester Road Barber
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 08:30-17:30; Sa 08:30-16:00
98 Gloucester Road, BN1 4AP
About 5 km away
Med's Barber
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-We 09:00-19:00; Th,Fr 09:00-19:30; Sa 09:00-18:30; Su 10:00-17:00
30A Western Road, Hove, BN3 1AF
About 6 km away
Rock 'n' Blonde
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo,We,Sa 09:00-17:00; Th,Fr 09:00-19:00; Tu,Su off
53 Western Road, Hove, BN3 1JD
About 6 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Jubilee Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,Tu,Th 10:00-19:00; We,Fr,Sa 10:00-17:00; Su 11:00-17:00
Jubilee Street, Brighton, BN1 1GE
About 5 km away
Dukes at the Komedia Picturehouse
Cinema
44-47 Gardner Street, Brighton, BN1 1UN
About 5 km away
Duke of York's Cinema
Cinema
Stanley Road, Brighton, BN1 4NA
About 5 km away
Newhaven Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 10:00-13:00; Tu,Th,Sa 10:00-16:30; Fr 13:00-16:30
36-38 High Street, Newhaven, BN9 9PD
About 9 km away
Moulsecoomb Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu 10:00-13:00,14:00-19:00; Th 14:00-18:00; Fr 10:00-13:00,14:00-17:00; Sa 10:00-13:00,14:00-16:00
The Highway, Brighton, BN2 4PA
About 4 km away
The Cowley Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Sa 12:00-17:00
12 London Road, Brighton, BN1 4JA
About 5 km away
The Keep
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu-Fr 09:30-17:00; Sa 09:30-16:00
Woollards Way, Brighton, BN1 9BP
About 5 km away
Hove Public Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,Tu,Th-Sa 10:00-17:00; We 10:00-19:00; Su off
182-186 Church Road, Portslade by Sea, BN3 2EG
About 7 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 Ovingdean
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