Settling in · Shurlock Row
Landing in Shurlock Row? Start here.
The first fortnight in Shurlock Row, 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
75 places in Shurlock Row 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.
Nothing nearby matches that yet. Try a shorter word.
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 - Wokingham
Christian, Salvation army
Sturges Road, Wokingham, RG40 2HD
About 6 km away
Mount Zion Church
Christian
171A Wokingham Road, Reading, RG6 1LT
About 9 km away
Park United Reformed Church
Christian, United reformed
Reading RG6 1DN
About 10 km away
The Salvation Army Church
Christian, Salvation army
Chalfont Close, Reading, RG6 5HZ
About 10 km away
New Covenant Church
Christian, Pentecostal
Crowthorne Road North, Bracknell, RG12 7AU
About 7 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Gurdwaras
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Reading
About 12 km away
Whitley Children's Centre, 252 Northumberland Avenue, Reading, England, RG2 8LT
Worship services: Tue 6:00pm · Sat 10:00am · Sat 12:00pm (children)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Heathrow North, London
About 26 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, Heathrow, London
About 27 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)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Guildford
About 29 km away
Onslow Hall (Main Hall), Wilderness Road, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7 QR
Worship services: Tue 8:00pm · Sat 10:00am · Sat 12:00pm (children)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Oxford
About 40 km away
Wheatley Park School Sixth Forom, Sixth Forom, Wheatley Holton, Oxfordshire, OX33 1QH
Worship services: Wed 7:15pm · Sun 10:00am · Sun 12:00pm (children)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Notting Hill
About 41 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, North London
About 41 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, Wimbledon
About 43 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, Sutton
About 44 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, Battersea, London
About 44 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)
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
Big Bazaar
Convenience. Hours: Mo-Su 07:00-22:30; Fr,Sa 07:00-23:00
343 Wokingham Road, Earley, Reading, RG6 7EB
About 8 km away
Food and takeaways
Emperor of India
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Sa 17:30-22:00, Su 12:00-15:00, 17:30-22:00
5 Windsor Road, Maidenhead, SL6 1UZ
About 8 km away
Peppermills
Indian. takeaway. Hours: 17:00-22:00
Royal Hunt House, Fernbank Road
About 9 km away
Maidenhead Spice
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 12:00-14:00, Su-Th 17:30-22:30, Fr,Sa 17:30-23:00
117 Bridge Road, Maidenhead, SL6 8NA
About 9 km away
Gulab Indian Kitchen
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Sa 12:00-14:30,17:00-23:30; Su off
130 Wokingham Road, Reading, RG6 1JL
About 10 km away
Tamarind Tree
Indian. restaurant
54 Peach Street, Wokingham, RG40 1XQ
About 6 km away
Want Want Chinese take away
Chinese. takeaway
2 The Parade, Reading, Woodley, RG5 4PS
About 6 km away
Nando's
Chicken, portuguese. restaurant
29 Market Place, Wokingham, RG40 1AP
About 6 km away
Best Kebab in Town
Turkish. takeaway
12 Wildridings Square, Bracknell, RG12 7SJ
About 7 km away
China Express
Chinese. takeaway
13 Wildridings Square, Bracknell, RG12 7SJ
About 7 km away
Sports and clubs
Wargrave Cricket Clubhouse
Cricket. Sport club. Hours: Sa-Su 14:00-19:00
Recreation Road, Reading, RG10 8BN
About 6 km away
Wokingham Leisure Centre
Swimming, multi. Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 06:00-22:30; Sa-Su 07:00-20:00
Wellington Road, Wokingham, RG40 2AF
About 7 km away
Studio 9
Fitness. Fitness centre
Oaklands Park, Wokingham, RG41 2AN
About 8 km away
Reading Hockey Club
Field hockey. Sports centre
Bath Road cycle path, Sonning, RG4 6ST
About 8 km away
Fifield Polo Club
Polo. Sports centre
5 Oakley Green Rd, Fifield, Windsor, SL4 4QF
About 8 km away
Coral Reef Waterworld
Swimming. Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-20:45; Sa-Su 09:00-17:45; PH 09:00-19:00
Nine Mile Ride, Bracknell, RG12 7JQ
About 9 km away
Fishing spots and tackle shops
Community and support groups
1st Twyford Scout HQ
Community centre
Loddon Hall Road, Twyford, Reading, RG10 9JA
About 5 km away
Woosehill Community Centre
Community centre
Emmview Close, Wokingham, RG41 3DA
About 7 km away
Jennett's Park Community Centre
Community centre
Jennett's Park Community Centre, Tawny Owl Square, Bracknell, RG12 8EB
About 7 km away
Earley Home Guard Social Club
Community centre
22 Pitts Lane, Reading, RG6 1BT
About 8 km away
Indian Comunity Centre
Community centre. Hours: Tu 14:30-18:15; We 10:30-18:15; Fr 00:00-24:00; Sa-Mo off
2 Norris Road, Reading, RG6 1NJ
About 9 km away
Pakistan Community Centre Park Hall
Community centre
London Road, Reading, RG1 3PA
About 10 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Hot towel and traditional shaves
Winnersh Turkish Barber
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo,We,Th,Fr,Sa 09:00-18:30, Su 10:00-17:00
418 Reading Road, Winnersh, RG41 5EP
About 7 km away
Barbers and salons
Barber Crew
Hairdresser. Hours: Su-We 10:00-19:30; Th 08:00-17:00; Fr 00:00-24:00; Sa 10:00-17:00
60 High Street, RG10 8BY
About 6 km away
Boston's Barbers
Hairdresser
Reading Road, Wokingham, RG41 5HU
About 7 km away
Image
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-18:00; We,Th 09:00-20:00; Sa 09:00-17:00; Su 10:00-16:00
7 Wildridings Square, Bracknell, RG12 7SJ
About 7 km away
The Hair Shop
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu,We 09:00-17:00; Th 09:00-20:00; Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 09:00-16:00
1A Kingfisher Drive, Woodley, RG5 3SJ
About 8 km away
Bracknell Town Barber
Hairdresser
16 High Street, Bracknell, RG12 1LL
About 7 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Wargrave Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 14:00-17:00; We 09:30-13:00,14:00-17:00; Fr 14:00-17:00; Sa 09:30-13:00
Church Street, Reading, RG10 8EP
About 6 km away
Woodley Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu-Fr 09:00-17:00; Th 09:00-19:00; Sa 09:30-16:00; Su 10:30-16:00
Brigade Walk, Reading, RG5 4JA
About 7 km away
Palmer Park Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu 09:00-12:00,13:00-17:00; We 09:00-12:00; Th 09:00-12:00,13:00-16:00; Sa 10:00-13:00; Su-Mo, Fr off
St Bartholomew's Road, Reading, RG1 3QB
About 10 km away
Wokingham Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,Tu,Fr 09:30-19:00; We 09:30-19:00; Th 09:30-19:00; Sa 09:30-17:00; Su 10:00-14:00; PH off
About 7 km away
Twyford Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,Th 14:00-17:00; Tu,Fr 10:00-13:00, 14:00-17:00; Sa 09:30-12:30; PH off
RG10 9RP
About 5 km away
Great Hollands Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Great Hollands Square, Bracknell, RG12 8UX
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 Shurlock Row
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