Settling in · Sawston
Landing in Sawston? Start here.
The first fortnight in Sawston, 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
84 places in Sawston 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
Saint Andrew's
Christian, Anglican. Hours: We 14:00-16:00; Su 10:00-11:00
Coldhams Lane, Cambridge, CB1 3JS
About 8 km away
Cambridge Salvation Army
Christian, Salvation army
3 Tenison Road, Cambridge, CB1 2DG
About 9 km away
St. Bene't
Christian, Anglican
Bene't Street, Cambridge, CB2 3PT
About 10 km away
Great Saint Mary, The University Church
Christian, Anglican
Senate House Hill, Cambridge, CB2 3PQ
About 10 km away
German Church of Cambridge and Eastanglia
Christian, Lutheran
4 Shaftesbury Road, Cambridge, CB2 8BW
About 8 km away
Sawston Free Church
Christian, Methodist, united reformed
St Mary (Sawston Parish Church)
Christian, Anglican
Our Lady Of Lourdes
Christian, Catholic
Mosques and prayer rooms
Masjid Al Ikhlas & Cambridge Islamic Centre
Muslim, Sunni
4 Devonshire Road, Cambridge, CB1 2BH
About 9 km away
Synagogues
Beth Shalom Reform Synagogue
Jewish, Reform
Auckland Road, Cambridge, CB5 8DW
About 10 km away
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Cambridge
About 16 km away
Water Beach Barracks Sports Hall and Sudio, Cambridge, England, CB25 9PA
Worship services: Wed 7:00pm · Sun 11:00am · Sun 1:00pm (children)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Hertfordshire
About 38 km away
Datchworth Village Hall, 52 Datchworth Green, Datchworth, Knebworth, SG3 6TL
Worship services: Wed 8:00pm · 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
International Food Store
Convenience
96 Mill Road, Cambridge, CB1 2BD
About 9 km away
Ocean Supermarket
Supermarket. stocks Chinese goods. Hours: Mo-Su 10:15-19:00
58 Mill Road, Cambridge, CB1 2AS
About 9 km away
Spice Gate
Convenience. Hours: Sa-Th 10:00-19:00; Fr 10:00-12:00,14:00-19:00
14 Mill Road, Cambridge, CB1 2AD
About 9 km away
Jiamart
Supermarket. stocks Asian goods. Hours: Mo-Su 11:00-20:00
31 Burleigh Street, Cambridge, CB1 1DG
About 10 km away
Cambridge Indian Supermarket
Convenience. stocks Indian, philippines goods. Hours: Mo-Sa 08:00-22:00; Su 08:00-20:00
11 High Street, Cambridge, CB1 9HY
About 7 km away
Cho Mee
Convenience. stocks Chinese, malaysian goods. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-18:00; Sa 09:30-19:00; Su 10:00-18:00
108-110 Mill Road, Cambridge, CB1 2BD
About 9 km away
Polish Market Jess
Convenience. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-19:00; Su 11:00-18:00
72 Newmarket Road, Cambridge, CB5 8DZ
About 10 km away
Food and takeaways
Golpo
Indian. restaurant
36-38 Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 1LA
About 9 km away
Bedouin
North african. restaurant
98-100 Mill Road, Cambridge, CB1 2BD
About 9 km away
The House
Thai. restaurant. Hours: Tu-Th,Su 11:30-15:00,17:30-21:30; Fr-Sa 11:30-15:00,17:30-22:00; Mo off
106 Regent Street, Cambridge, CB2 1DP
About 9 km away
Baan Thai Street Food Restaurant
Thai. restaurant. Hours: 12:00-21:00
Park Terrace, Cambridge, CB1 1JH
About 9 km away
EKO Kitchen
African. restaurant. Hours: Mo,Tu,Th-Sa 13:00-20:30
8 Norfolk Street, Cambridge, CB1 2LF
About 9 km away
Giggling Squid
Thai. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Sa 12:00-22:00; Su 12:00-21:30
2 Wheeler Street, Cambridge, CB2 3QB
About 10 km away
Efes
Turkish. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Fr 12:00-14:30,18:00-23:00; Sa,Su 12:00-23:00
78-80 King Street, Cambridge, CB1 1LN
About 10 km away
Nadia's Café
Coffee shop, turkish, breakfast, ice cream, cake. cafe. Hours: Mo-Fr 07:00-17:00; Sa 08:00-17:00; Su 10:00-16:00
29 High Street, Harston, CB22 7PX
About 6 km away
Bibimbap House
Korean. restaurant. Hours: We,Th,Su,Mo 12:00-14:30,17:00-21:00; Fr,Sa 12:00-14:30,17:00-22:00
60 Mill Road, Cambridge, CB1 2AS
About 9 km away
Little Seoul
Korean. restaurant
108 Regent Street, Cambridge, CB2 1DP
About 9 km away
Sports and clubs
Cambridge Rugby Union Football Club
Stadium
Grantchester Road, Cambridge, CB3 9ED
About 9 km away
Hills Road Sports & Tennis Centre
Tennis, badminton, basketball, soccer, netball, cricket nets, pickleball, racquet, squash, table tennis, volleyball. Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 07:00-22:30; Sa-Su 08:00-21:00; PH 08:00-16:00
Purbeck Road, CB2 8PF
About 7 km away
Clip 'n Climb
Climbing. Sports centre
34 Clifton Road Industrial Estate, Cambridge, CB1 7ED
About 8 km away
F45 Training
Exercise, fitness. Fitness centre
60 Station Road, Cambridge, CB1 2JH
About 8 km away
OUTTRAIN
Fitness. Fitness centre
Grantchester Road, Cambridge, CB3 9ED
About 9 km away
Abbey Leisure Centre
Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 06:30-21:30; Sa-Su 08:00-18:00
Pool Way, Cambridge, CB5 8NT
About 10 km away
Rainbow Rocket Central
Climbing. Sports centre. Hours: Mo,Tu,Th,Fr 12:00-22:00; We 08:00-22:00; Sa-Su,PH 09:00-19:00
48 Clifton Road Industrial Estate, Cambridge, CB1 7ED
About 8 km away
The Gym Group
Fitness centre. Hours: 24/7
Cambridge Retail Park, Cambridge, CB5 8JL
About 10 km away
Frank Lee Leisure and Fitness Centre
Sports centre
Keith Day Road, Cambridge, CB2 0SN
About 6 km away
Blue Fitness at the University Centre
Sports centre
Granta Place, Cambridge, CB2 1RU
About 9 km away
Fishing spots and tackle shops
Driving schools
Community and support groups
Chesterfords Community Centre
Community centre
Newmarket Road, Uttlesford, CB10 1NS
About 6 km away
Mill Road Community Centre
Community centre
6 Hazell Street, Cambridge, CB1 2GN
About 9 km away
Shepreth Village Hall
Community centre
2 Station Road, South Cambridgeshire, SG8 6PZ
About 9 km away
Pampisford Village Hall
Community centre
Church Lane, South Cambridgeshire, CB22 3ET
About 2 km away
Whittlesford Memorial Hall
Community centre
Mill Lane, South Cambridgeshire, CB22 4NE
About 2 km away
Hildersham Village Hall
Community centre
High Street, South Cambridgeshire, CB21 6DE
About 6 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Barbers and salons
Rio Salon & Barber
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu,Th-Sa 09:00-17:00; Mo,We 10:00-17:00
12 The Broadway, Cambridge, CB1 3AH
About 9 km away
Lui's Barbershop
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo,Tu,Fr 08:45-17:30; We,Th 08:45-19:00; Sa 08:30-17:00; Su 11:00-15:00
5a Pembroke Street, Cambridge, CB2 3QY
About 9 km away
Urban Hair
Hairdresser
42 Burleigh Street, Cambridge, CB1 1DJ
About 9 km away
Marc Jason
Hairdresser
49 Burleigh Street, Cambridge, CB1 1DJ
About 10 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Cambridge Central Library and Learning Centre
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Tu, Th-Fr 09:30-18:00; We 09:30-19:00; Sa 10:00-18:00; Su 12:00-16:00
7 Lion Yard, Cambridge, CB2 3QD
About 10 km away
Cherry Hinton Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 15:00-18:00; Tu off; We,Fr 09:00-17:00; Th 09:00-13:00; Sa 10:00-14:00; Su off
High Street, Cambridge, CB1 9HZ
About 7 km away
Arts Picturehouse
Cinema. Hours: "depends on the showings"
38-39 Saint Andrew's Street, Cambridge, CB2 3AR
About 9 km away
Zoology Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Th 08:30-17:00; Fr 08:30-16:30; SH Mo-Th 08:30-17:00
Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ
About 10 km away
Newnham College Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Sidgwick Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 9DB
About 10 km away
Christ's College Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Cambridge CB2 3BU
About 10 km away
Sawston Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Rock Road Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 09:00-13:00; Tu 09:00-17:00; Th 09:00-17:00; Fr 03:00-18:00; Sa 10:00-14:00
Rock Road, Cambridge, CB1 7UG
About 7 km away
The Light Cinema
Cinema. Hours: Mo-Su,PH 10:00-23:00+
Clifton Way, Cambridge, CB1 7DY
About 8 km away
Peterhouse Library and Theatre
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Little St Mary's Lane, Cambridge, CB2 1RU
About 9 km away
Pembroke College Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
The Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 1RF
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 Sawston
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