Settling in · Palmers Green
Landing in Palmers Green? Start here.
The first fortnight in Palmers Green, 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
93 places in Palmers Green 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
St. Luke's Kentish Town
Christian, Anglican
Oseney Crescent, London, NW5 2AT
About 8 km away
The Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Andrew
Christian, Orthodox
Kentish Town Road, London, NW1 9QA
About 8 km away
The Salvation Army
Christian, Salvation army
10-16 Haverstock Hill, Chalk Farm, London, NW3 2BL
About 9 km away
St Luke's Parish Church
Christian, Anglican
Hillmarton Road, Greater London, N7 9JE
About 7 km away
St Peter
Christian, Anglican. Hours: "Hours vary, see noticeboard"; PH off
Belsize Park, London, NW3 4HY
About 9 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Buddhist temples and centres
Synagogues
Sha'arei Tsedek North London Reform Synagogue
Jewish, Reform Judaism
120 Oakleigh Road North, Greater London, N20 9EZ
About 5 km away
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, North London
About 10 km away
Barnet Multicultural Community Centre, Algernon, Hendon, London, NW4 3TA, England
Worship services: Tue 7:30pm · Sat 6:00pm · Sat 8:00pm (children)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Central London
About 11 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, Stratford, London
About 12 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, Romford
About 12 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, Notting Hill
About 14 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, Battersea, London
About 16 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, Camberwell, London
About 16 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, Royal Greenwich, London
About 19 km away
Woolwich Common Community Centre, 17 Leslie Smith Square, London SE18 4DW
Worship services: Tue 7:15pm · Fri 7:00pm
Iglesia ni Cristo, Wimbledon
About 20 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, Hertfordshire
About 26 km away
Datchworth Village Hall, 52 Datchworth Green, Datchworth, Knebworth, SG3 6TL
Worship services: Wed 8:00pm · Sat 10:00am · Sat 12:00pm (children)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Heathrow North, London
About 27 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, Sutton
About 28 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, Orpington
About 31 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, Heathrow, London
About 31 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)
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
Personal Fitness Centre
Fitness
Navigator Square, Greater London, N19 3TD
About 6 km away
Moha Convenience Store
Newsagent. Hours: Mo-Sa 07:00-23:00; Su 08:00-20:00
486 West Green Road, Greater London, N15 3DA
About 3 km away
Luk Bros Convenience Store
Convenience. stocks Asian goods
Prince Edward Road, Greater London, E9 5LX
About 10 km away
Food and takeaways
Bengal Spice
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 17:00-23:00
604 Holloway Road, Greater London, N19 3PH
About 6 km away
Monsoon
Indian, bangladeshi. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 17:30-23:00
24 York Rise, Highgate, London, NW5 1ST
About 7 km away
Made in Brasil
Brazilian. restaurant. Hours: Su-Th 12:00-00:00; Fr-Sa 12:00-02:00
12 Inverness Street, London, NW1 7HJ
About 9 km away
Udon Cafe
Japanese, pan-asian. restaurant
106C Finchley Road, Greater London, NW3 5JJ
About 10 km away
Chipotle
Mexican. takeaway. Hours: Mo-Su 11:00-23:00
208 West End Lane, London, NW6 1UY
About 10 km away
Paolina Thai Cafe
Thai. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Sa 12:30-15:00, 18:00-22:00
181 King's Cross Road, London, WC1X 9BZ
About 10 km away
Sen Viet
Vietnamese. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Fr 11:00-15:00, 17:00-23:00; Su 12:00-16:00, 17:00-23:00
119 King's Cross Road, London, WC1X 9NH
About 10 km away
Yien
Chinese. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 12:00-14:30,18:00-23:00
15 Muswell Hill Broadway, Greater London, N10 3HA
About 4 km away
Lokkum Bar & Grill
Turkish. restaurant
Woodford New Road, Greater London, E18 2QD
About 8 km away
Wing Sing
Chinese. restaurant
78 George Lane, Greater London, E18 1JJ
About 10 km away
Yumi
Bubble tea, asian. restaurant. Hours: 12:00-22:30
235 Kentish Town Road, Greater London, NW5 2JT
About 8 km away
Sports and clubs
Chingford Cricket Club
Cricket. Sports centre
Woodedge Close, Greater London, E4 6BB
About 8 km away
Cumberland Lawn Tennis Club and Hampstead Cricket Club
Cricket, field hockey, fitness, squash, table tennis, tennis. Sports centre
Dresden Close, Greater London, NW3 6ES
About 9 km away
North Middlesex Cricket Club
Cricket. Sports centre
Cranley Gardens, Greater London, N10 3AH
About 4 km away
Crouch End Fitness Centre
Fitness centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 06:00-22:00; Sa-Su 08:00-20:00
184 Tottenham Lane, Greater London, N8 8SG
About 4 km away
Park Road Pools & Fitness
Multi, swimming, fitness. Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 06:00-21:30; Sa-Su 07:00-19:30; PH 07:00-18:00
Park Road, Greater London, N8 8JN
About 4 km away
London Fields Lido
Swimming. Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Su 06:30-21:00
London Fields West Side, Greater London, E8 3EU
About 9 km away
Frame
Fitness centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 06:30-22:00; Sa-Su 09:00-17:00
1 York Way, London, N1C 4AS
About 9 km away
Lee Valley VeloPark
Track cycling, pickleball. Stadium
Abercrombie Road, London, E20 3AB
About 10 km away
Fishing spots and tackle shops
Driving schools
Driveland
Driving school
Langham Road, Greater London, N15 3ND
About 3 km away
HGV Training
Driving school
12 Regis Road, Greater London, NW5 3EW
About 8 km away
Community and support groups
Wyke Estate Community Hall
Community centre
15 Berger Road, Greater London, E9 6HA
About 9 km away
Claremont Project
Community centre
24-27 White Lion Street, Greater London, N1 9PD
About 10 km away
Doreen Bazell Hall
Community centre. Hours: 12:00-18:00
1 Goldington Street, London
About 10 km away
Leytonstone Muslim Community Centre
Community centre
Carlton Road, Greater London, E11 3AQ
About 10 km away
Haringey Sea Cadets
Community centre
345 White Hart Lane, Greater London, N17 7JP
About 2 km away
Broadwater Farm Community Centre
Community centre
Adams Road, Greater London, N17 6HE
About 3 km away
Freehold Community Centre
Community centre
9 Alexandra Road, Greater London, N10 2EY
About 3 km away
Community Use For the Old Station
Community centre
The Avenue, Greater London, N10 2QE
About 3 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Barbers and salons
Belsize Hair Salon
Hairdresser
155 Haverstock Hill, London, NW3 4QT
About 9 km away
Lisa Hauck
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo off; Tu,Th-Fr 09:00-20:00; We 09:30-18:30; Sa 09:00-18:00; Su off; PH off
90 Haverstock Hill, London, NW3 2BD
About 9 km away
The Groom Room
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:30-19:00; Sa 09:00-17:00; Su 11:00-16:00
114 Fortune Green Road, London, NW6 1DH
About 9 km away
Crystalise
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-19:00; Sa 09:00-19:00
88 Fortune Green Road, London, NW6 1DS
About 10 km away
Tila Studio
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-19:00; Sa 09:00-18:00
78 Fortune Green Road, London, NW6 1DS
About 10 km away
HKR Aesthetics
Hairdresser
635 High Road Leytonstone, Greater London, E11 4RD
About 10 km away
Gro
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Th 09:00-21:00;Fr 09:00-19:00;Sa 09:00-18:00;Su 10:00-17:00
About 9 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Islington North Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu,Th 09:30-20:00; Fr 09:30-13:00; Sa 11:00-17:00
Manor Gardens, Greater London, N7 6JX
About 7 km away
Highgate Public Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Chester Road, London, N19 5DH
About 7 km away
Rio Cinema
Cinema
107 Kingsland High Street, Greater London, E8 2PB
About 8 km away
Keats Community Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu-We 10:00-18:00; Th-Fr 10:00-19:00; Sa-Su 12:00-16:00
10 Keats Grove, Greater London, NW3 2RR
About 8 km away
Swiss Cottage Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Th 10:00-20:00; Fr-Sa 10:00-17:00; Su off; PH off
88 Avenue Road, London, NW3 3HA
About 10 km away
Shoreditch Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Th 10:00-20:00; Fr 10:00-18:00; Sa 10:00-17:00
80 Hoxton Street, Greater London, N1 6LP
About 10 km away
British Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Th 09:30-20:00; Sa 09:30-17:00; Su 11:00-17:00; Fr 09:30-18:00
96 Euston Road, London, NW1 2DB
About 10 km away
North Finchley Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Ravensdale Avenue, Greater London, N12 9HP
About 5 km away
Kentish Town Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Th 10:00-17:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-17:00; Su off
262-268 Kentish Town Road, London
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 Palmers Green
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