Settling in · Royal Tunbridge Wells
Landing in Royal Tunbridge Wells? Start here.
The first fortnight in Royal Tunbridge Wells, 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 Royal Tunbridge Wells 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
TWCF Church (South Site)
Christian
Surrey Close, Tunbridge Wells, TN2 5RF
About 2 km away
St Matthew's Church
Christian, Anglican
High Brooms Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN4 9BW
About 2 km away
Christ Church
Christian
High Street, Tonbridge and Malling, TN9 1SG
About 7 km away
St Justus Catholic Church
Christian, Roman catholic
Mount Pleasant, Paddock Wood, TN12 6TY
About 10 km away
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Christian, Mormon
The Beeches, Tunbridge Wells, TN2 3JS
About 2 km away
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Orpington
About 30 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, Eastbourne
About 36 km away
Willingdon Trees Community Centre, 101 Holly Place, Eastbourne, BN22 0UT
Worship services: Wed 6:15pm · Sat 10:00am · Sat 12:00pm (children)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Royal Greenwich, London
About 41 km away
Woolwich Common Community Centre, 17 Leslie Smith Square, London SE18 4DW
Worship services: Tue 7:15pm · Fri 7:00pm
Iglesia ni Cristo, Sutton
About 41 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)
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
Food and takeaways
Giggling Squid
Thai. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 12:00-22:30
Calverley Street, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 2XN
Thai Orchid
Thai. restaurant
61 London Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN4 0PB
About 3 km away
Oriental Buffet Club
Asian. restaurant
High Street, Tonbridge and Malling, TN9 1AP
About 7 km away
Havet
Turkish. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 12:00-23:00
High Street, Tonbridge and Malling, TN9 1BL
About 7 km away
Sports and clubs
Pembury Athletic Youth Football Clubhouse
Sport club
Lower Green Road, Pembury, TN2 4EX
About 4 km away
Tunbridge Wells Sports Centre
Sports centre
St Gregory's Sports Access Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN4 9TX
About 2 km away
GCK Gymnastics For All
Gymnastics. Sports centre
Longfield Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN2 3BF
About 3 km away
Tonbridge Swimming Pool
Swimming. Sports centre
New Wharf Road, Tonbridge and Malling, TN9 1FS
About 7 km away
Fishing spots and tackle shops
Days out and things to do
Chimera Climbing
Sports centre
Chapman Way, Tunbridge Wells, TN2 3DR
About 3 km away
Community and support groups
Speldhurst Village Hall
Community centre
St Mary's Lane, Tunbridge Wells, TN3 0PR
About 4 km away
Langton Green Village Hall
Community centre
Speldhurst Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN3 0JQ
About 4 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Barbers and salons
Cinemas and libraries
Tunbridge Wells Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-We,Fr 09:00-18:00; Th 09:00-20:00, Sa 09:00-17:00; Su 10:00-16:00; PH off
Monson Way, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1NS
Wadhurst Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 14:00-16:30; Tu off; We 10:00-13:00; Th off; Fr 14:00-16:30; Sa 10:00-13:00; Su off
About 10 km away
Showfields
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu,Th 13:00-17:00; Fr 13:00-16:00; Sa 10:00-14:00
Showfields Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN2 5PR
About 2 km away
Rusthall Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Gladstone Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN4 8RU
About 3 km away
Southborough Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-We,Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 09:30-16:00
London Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN4 0PY
About 3 km away
Pembury Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Lower Green Road, Pembury, TN2 4HS
About 5 km away
Tonbridge Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Avebury Avenue, Tonbridge and Malling, TN9 1TF
About 7 km away
Tonbridge North Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu,Th 09:00-13:00,14:00-17:00; Fr 09:00-14:00; Sa 09:00-13:00
York Parade, Tonbridge and Malling, TN10 3NP
About 9 km away
Hildenborough Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
3 Riding Lane, Tonbridge and Malling, TN11 9HX
About 9 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 Royal Tunbridge Wells
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