Settling in · Ryde
Landing in Ryde? Start here.
The first fortnight in Ryde, 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
87 places in Ryde 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
Grace Church
Christian, Evangelical
79 Marlborough Road, Ryde, PO33 1AF
About 2 km away
The Salvation Army - Gosport
Christian, Salvation army
The Crossways, Gosport, PO12 4RH
About 8 km away
The Salvation Army - Gosport
Christian, Salvation army
The Crossways, Gosport, PO12 4RH
About 8 km away
The Lighthouse Church
Christian
Fort Street, Sandown, PO36 8BA
About 8 km away
Southsea Citadel
Christian, Salvation army
84 Albert Road, Southsea, PO5 2SN
About 9 km away
St Paul's
Christian, Anglican
Staplers Road, Newport, PO30 2DB
About 9 km away
Immanuel
Christian, Baptist
109 Victoria Road North, Portsmouth, PO5 1PS
About 9 km away
The Church on the Roundabout
Christian, Evangelical
Coppins Bridge Roundabout, Newport, PO30 2BX
About 9 km away
The Salvation Army
Christian, Salvation army
17 Lake Road, Portsmouth, PO1 4HA
About 10 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Portsmouth Jami Mosque
Muslim, Sunni
111 Victoria Road North, Portsmouth, PO5 1PS
About 9 km away
Portsmouth Central Masjid
Muslim, Sunni
300 Somers Road North, Portsmouth, PO1 1PL
About 10 km away
Other places of worship
Unitarian Meeting House
Unitarian universalist
High Street, Newport, PO30 1SS
About 10 km away
Portsmouth Temple of Spiritualism
Spiritualist
73a Victoria Road South, Portsmouth, PO5 2BU
About 8 km away
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Portsmouth City
About 11 km away
St. Cuthbert's Center, 2 Lichfield Road, Copner, P03 6DE
Worship services: Thu 6:15pm · Sat 10:30am · Sat 12:30pm (children)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Southampton
About 30 km away
St. Peter's Church, Lockerly Cresent, Southampton, SO16 4ER
Worship services: Tue 6:00pm · Sat 4:00pm · Sat 6:00pm (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
Afro Cart Foods
Convenience. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-18:00; Sa 10:00-19:00
80A Elm Grove, Southsea, PO5 1LN
About 9 km away
Okey Oriental Supermarket
Supermarket
104,106 Elm Grove, Southsea, PO5 1LP
About 9 km away
Food and takeaways
Oriental Pearl
Chinese, thai, malaysian. takeaway. Hours: Tu-Su 17:00-23:30
14 Granada Road, Southsea, PO4 0RH
About 8 km away
Spicy House
Chinese. takeaway. Hours: Su-Th 17:00-23:30; Fr-Sa 17:00-00:00
8 Grove Road South, Southsea, Portsmouth, PO5 3QT
About 8 km away
Eastern Eye
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su,PH 17:00-23:00
95 High Street, Sandown, PO36 8AQ
About 8 km away
Lee's Kitchen
Chinese. takeaway. Hours: PH,Tu-Su 17:00-22:00; Mo off
12 Melville Street, Sandown, PO36 8JW
About 8 km away
Cardamom
Indian. restaurant
18 High Street, Sandown, PO36 8DE
About 8 km away
Royal China Restaurant
Chinese. restaurant
16 High Street, Sandown, PO36 8DE
About 8 km away
Mumbai Bites
Indian. restaurant. Hours: We,Th,Su,Mo 17:00-22:00; Tu,Fr,Sa 17:00-23:00
12B High Street, Sandown, PO36 8DA
About 8 km away
Golden Curry
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Sa 17:30-00:30; Su,PH 17:30-00:00
16 Albert Road, Southsea, PO5 2SH
About 9 km away
The Coriander
Indian. restaurant
54 Albert Road, Portsmouth, PO5 2SJ
About 9 km away
Real China
Chinese. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Th 15:00-00:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-00:00; Su 11:00-00:00
7 Albert Road, Southsea, PO5 2SE
About 9 km away
Leliamezze
Lebanese. restaurant
104 St Pauls Road, Portsmouth, PO5 4AQ
About 9 km away
Kadir's
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Su-Th 17:00-23:00; Fr-Sa 17:00-23:30
217 Albert Road, Southsea, PO4 0JP
About 9 km away
Sports and clubs
Gosport & Fareham RFC
Rugby league. Sports centre
Crosslands Close, Gosport, PO12 2HE
About 7 km away
Isle of Wight Indoor Bowls Club
Bowls. Sports centre
Brading Road, Ryde, PO33 1QG
About 2 km away
Westridge Leisure Centre
Fitness. Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 06:00-21:00; Sa 08:00-14:00
Brading Road, Ryde, PO33 1QS
About 3 km away
Westridge Golf Centre
Golf. Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 08:00-20:00, Sa-Su 08:00-18:00
Brading Road, Ryde, PO33 1QS
About 3 km away
Anytime Fitness
Weightlifting. Fitness centre. Hours: 24/7
131 Stoke Road, Gosport, PO12 1SD
About 7 km away
The Heights Leisure Centre
Fitness. Fitness centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 06:00-21:00; Sa,Su 08:00-18:00
13 Broadway, Sandown, PO36 9ET
About 9 km away
Medina Leisure Centre
Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 06:00-21:00; Sa,Su 08:00-17:00
Fairlee Road, Newport, PO30 2DX
About 9 km away
Fishing spots and tackle shops
Last Cast Saloon
Tackle shop, and the place to ask where to fish and about permits
South Street, Gosport, PO12 1HA
About 8 km away
UK Hooks
Tackle shop, and the place to ask where to fish and about permits
Whitecross Lane, Shanklin, PO37 7EJ
About 10 km away
Solent Tackle
Tackle shop, and the place to ask where to fish and about permits
About 10 km away
Arthurs Chandlery
Tackle shop, and the place to ask where to fish and about permits
Mumby Road, Gosport
About 8 km away
Days out and things to do
Driving schools
Community and support groups
The Way Forward Programme
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:30-15:30; Sa,Su off
Dodnor Park, Newport, PO30 5XJ
About 10 km away
Southsea Waverley Bowls Club
Community centre
91 Waverley Road, Southsea, PO5 2PL
About 9 km away
The Community Care Centre
Community centre
Stockmans Close, Sandown, PO36 0EQ
About 10 km away
Connect Centre
Community centre
7 Bowling Green Lane, Newport, PO30 1JX
About 10 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Hot towel and traditional shaves
Barbers and salons
Ryde Barber Shop
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo,We 10:00-18:00; Tu 10:00-16:00; Th,Fr 09:00-19:00; Sa 09:00-17:00
12 High Street, Ryde, PO33 2HS
the terrace
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-19:00; Sa 09:00-17:00
29 Landport Terrace, Portsmouth, PO1 2RG
About 8 km away
Kensington Hair
Hairdresser. Hours: We-Fr 09:00-17:00; Sa 09:00-16:00; Tu 10:00-18:00
13-15 Highland Road, Southsea, PO4 9DA
About 9 km away
O' Hanlon & Ray
Hairdresser
11 Orchard Street, Newport, PO30 1JZ
About 10 km away
Twenty One
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu,We,Fr 10:00-18:00; Th 11:00-20:00; Sa 10:00-17:00
21 Cross Street, Ryde, PO33 2AA
Union Jack Hair
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu,Sa 09:00-16:00; We 09:00-18:00; Th,Fr 09:00-19:00
11 Union Street, Ryde, PO33 2LG
Cinemas and libraries
Ryde Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,Tu,Fr 09:00-17:30; We 10:30-19:00; Sa 09:00-17:00
101 George Street, Ryde, PO33 2JE
Bembridge Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: We,Sa 10:00-12:00
Church Road, Bembridge, PO35 5NA
About 7 km away
Sandown Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu,Th,Fr 09:00-12:30,13:30-17:00; Sa 09:00-12:30,13:30-16:30; We,Su,Mo off
119 High Street, Sandown, PO36 8AF
About 8 km away
East Cowes Community Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 10:00-13:00; Tu 17:00-18:00; Th 09:30-12:30
York Avenue, East Cowes, PO32 6RU
About 9 km away
Lord Louis Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,Tu,Th,Fr 09:00-17:30; Sa 09:00-17:00
Orchard Street, Newport, PO30 1LL
About 10 km away
Gosport Discovery Centre
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-19:00; Sa 09:00-17:00
High Street, Gosport, PO12 1BT
About 8 km away
University of Portsmouth Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: 24/7
Cambridge Road, Portsmouth, PO1 2ST
About 8 km away
Southsea LIbrary
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
19-21 Palmerston Road, Southsea, PO5 3QQ
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 Ryde
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