Settling in · Soham
Landing in Soham? Start here.
The first fortnight in Soham, 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
66 places in Soham 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
The Ark
Christian, Baptist
101 Beck Road, East Cambridgeshire, CB7 5QP
About 6 km away
St Cyriac and St Julitta
Christian, Anglican
High Street, East Cambridgeshire, CB25 0LD
About 9 km away
St Laurence (Wicken Parish Church)
Christian, Anglican
Church Road, East Cambridgeshire, CB7 5XT
About 3 km away
St Peter & St Mary Magdalene
Christian, Anglican
Collins Hill, East Cambridgeshire, CB7 5PD
About 4 km away
Little Thetford Baptist Chapel
Christian, Baptist
Chapel Close, East Cambridgeshire, CB6 3HA
About 7 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Cambridge
About 12 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, Watton
About 40 km away
CWS venue, Frettenham Village hall, & AWS, Thompson Community Hall, Thompson, Thetford, England, IP24 1PY
Worship services: Wed 7:30pm · Sun 10:00am · Sun 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
Ely Oriental Groceries
Grocery. Hours: Tu-Su 09:30-17:30
11 Broad Street, Ely, CB7 4AJ
About 9 km away
Food and takeaways
The Bengal Fox
Indian. restaurant
2 North Street, East Cambridgeshire, CB25 0BA
About 6 km away
Indian Edge
Curry, indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Fr 17:30-22:00; Sa-Su 12:00-14:30,17:00-22:00
9A Broad Street, Ely, CB7 4AJ
About 9 km away
Ely Turkish Restaurant & Meze Bar
Turkish. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 12:00-23:00
33 Fore Hill, Ely, CB7 4AA
About 9 km away
The Malabarikh Atelier
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 11:00-22:00
11 Fore Hill, Ely, CB7 4AA
About 9 km away
Ely King
Burger, fish and chips, kebab. takeaway. Hours: Mo-Su,PH 12:00-23:00
2 New Barns Road, Ely, CB7 4PN
About 9 km away
Balti King
Indian. takeaway. Hours: Tu-Th,Su 17:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 17:00-03:00
28 Market Street, Ely, CB7 4LS
About 9 km away
Eat Thai
Thai. restaurant. Hours: Mo 12:00-15:00,17:30-22:30; Tu off; We-Th,Su 12:00-15:00,17:30-22:30; Fr,Sa 12:00-15:00,17:30-23:00
8 St Mary's Street, Ely, CB7 4ES
About 9 km away
Lucky Panda
Chinese. takeaway. Hours: Mo off; Tu-Sa,PH 16:30-22:30; Su 16:30-21:30
44 Newnham Street, Ely
About 9 km away
New Dragon Inn
Chinese. takeaway. Hours: Mo,We,Th 16:30-22:30; Fr,Sa 16:30-23:00; Su 16:30-22:30; PH 16:30-22:30
1a Downham Road, Ely, CB6 1AG
About 9 km away
Sports and clubs
Chippenham Cricket Clubhouse
Sports centre
Dane Hill Road, East Cambridgeshire, CB7 5GR
About 8 km away
Newmarket Rugby Club
Rugby. Sports centre
King Edward VII Road, West Suffolk, CB8 0EU
About 10 km away
Chippenham Cricket Pavilion
Cricket. Sports centre
Dane Hill Road, East Cambridgeshire, CB7 5GR
About 8 km away
Atrium Fitness
Weightlifting, cycling, swimming. Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 07:00-21:00; Sa,Su 08:00-15:00
39 Newnham Street, Ely, CB7 4PQ
About 9 km away
WildTracks Outdoor Activity Park
Karting, motocross, quad biking, archery, clay shooting. Sports centre
Turnpike Road, East Cambridgeshire, CB8 7QJ
About 10 km away
School Swimming Pool
Swimming. Sports centre
Malting Lane, East Cambridgeshire, CB7 5RZ
About 5 km away
Burwell Sports Centre
Multi. Sports centre
Buntings Path, East Cambridgeshire, CB25 0DL
About 6 km away
Fishing spots and tackle shops
Community and support groups
Studlands Park Sports and Social Club
Community centre
Hyperion Way, Newmarket, CB8 7RX
About 8 km away
Bob Hope Community Centre
Community centre
Dakota Road, West Suffolk, IP28 8HA
About 10 km away
Victoria Hall and Hayward Institute
Community centre
2 Carter Street, East Cambridgeshire, CB7 5NG
About 4 km away
Little Thetford Village Hall
Community centre
The Wytches, East Cambridgeshire, CB6 3HG
About 7 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Hot towel and traditional shaves
Barbers and salons
Cinemas and libraries
Ely Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 09:30-13:00; Tu-Fr 09:30-17:00; Th 09:30-19:00; Sa 09:30-16:00; Su off; PH off
6 The Cloisters, Ely, CB7 4ZH
About 9 km away
RAF Mildenhall Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Lincoln Road, West Suffolk, IP28 8HA
About 10 km away
Soham Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Clay Street, East Cambridgeshire, CB7 5HJ
Burwell Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Guyatt Court, East Cambridgeshire, CB25 0DU
About 6 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 Soham
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