Settling in · Stevenage
Landing in Stevenage? Start here.
The first fortnight in Stevenage, 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
74 places in Stevenage 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
Salvation Army
Christian, Salvation army
190 Bedwell Crescent, Stevenage, SG1 1NE
Passion for Christ Church
Christian
115 London Road, Knebworth, SG3 6ES
About 4 km away
Hitchin Christian Centre
Christian, Pentecostal
Bedford Road, North Hertfordshire, SG5 1HF
About 8 km away
Christchurch
Christian, Methodist, united reformed
Bedford Road, North Hertfordshire, SG5 1HF
About 8 km away
Gurdwaras
Buddhist temples and centres
Letchworth Dhamma Nikethanaya
Buddhist
69 Pix Road, Letchworth, SG6 1PZ
About 9 km away
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Hertfordshire
About 6 km away
Datchworth Village Hall, 52 Datchworth Green, Datchworth, Knebworth, SG3 6TL
Worship services: Wed 8:00pm · Sat 10:00am · Sat 12:00pm (children)
Iglesia ni Cristo, North London
About 36 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, Milton Keynes
About 37 km away
Fenny Stratford Community Centre, 13 George St., Milton Keynes, England, MK2 2NR
Worship services: Thu 7:00pm · Sat 6:00pm
Iglesia ni Cristo, Central London
About 42 km away
YMCA - Indian Student Hostel 41, Fitzroy Square, London, W1T-6AQ, England
Worship services: Tue 7:30pm · Sat 6:30pm · Sat 8:00pm (children)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Notting Hill
About 43 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, Romford
About 44 km away
Temporarily using, Stratford chapel, 25 Meath road, London, England, E15 3DS
Worship services: Sat 10:00am · Sat 12:00pm (children) · Sat 6:30pm
Iglesia ni Cristo, Stratford, London
About 44 km away
25 MEATH ROAD, STRATFORD, LONDON, E15 3DS, ENGLAND
Worship services: Wed 7:00am · Wed 7:00pm · Sat 6:00pm · Sun 9:00am · Sun 11:30am (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
Food and takeaways
Wagamama
Asian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Th,Su 11:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-23:00
Stevenage Leisure Park, Stevenage, SG1 2UA
Nando's
Chicken, portuguese. restaurant. Hours: Mo 11:30-18:00; Tu-Th 11:30-22:00; Fr-Su 11:00-22:00
Great North Road, Stevenage, SG1 1XN
Gangnam
Korean. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Sa 18:00-22:00
22-24 The Glebe, Stevenage, SG2 0DJ
About 2 km away
Dragon King
Chinese. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Th 12:00-15:00,17:00-22:00; Fr 12:00-15:00,17:00-22:30; Sa 12:00-17:00,17:00-22:30; Su 12:00-17:00,17:00-22:00
14-16 Station Road, Letchworth, SG6 3AU
About 9 km away
Banana Tree
Indonesian, vietnamese, malaysian, thai. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Th 12:00-21:30; Fr-Sa 11:30-22:00; Su 11:30-21:30
Kings Way, Stevenage, SG1 2UA
Cantina Carnitas Hitchin
Mexican. restaurant. Hours: Th-Su 11:30-21:00
31 Bucklersbury, North Hertfordshire, SG5 1BG
About 7 km away
Sukawatee
Thai, malaysian. restaurant
80 Hermitage Road, North Hertfordshire, SG5 1DB
About 7 km away
Sports and clubs
David Lloyd Clubs
Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 06:00-22:00; Sa 07:00-19:30; Su 08:00-19:30
Kings Way, Stevenage, SG1 2UA
Odyssey Health Club
Tennis, swimming, fitness. Fitness centre. Hours: Mo-Th 06:00-22:00; Fr 06:00-21:00; Sa-Su 08:00-20:00
Old Knebworth Lane, Stevenage, SG2 8DU
About 2 km away
Letchworth Lido
Swimming. Sports centre
Icknield Way, Letchworth, SG6 4UF
About 9 km away
North Hertfordshire College Sports Centre
Sports centre
Cambridge Road, North Hertfordshire, SG4 0HY
About 7 km away
Days out and things to do
Community and support groups
Chells Manor Community Centre
Community centre
12 Emperors Gate, Stevenage, SG2 7QX
About 3 km away
Hampson Park Community Centre
Community centre
Webb Rise, Stevenage, SG1 5QU
About 2 km away
Woolmer Green Village Hall
Community centre
Hall Lane, Welwyn Hatfield, SG3 6FD
About 6 km away
Stoney Hall Community Center
Community centre
Bedwell Community Centre
Community centre
Datchworth Village Hall
Community centre
52 Datchworth Green, East Hertfordshire, SG3 6TL
About 6 km away
St John's Community Centre
Community centre
Folly Path, North Hertfordshire, SG4 9JS
About 7 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Hot towel and traditional shaves
Barbers and salons
Anne Marie
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-We,Fr 09:30-17:30; Th 09:30-19:00; Sa 09:30-17:00
83 Mobbsbury Way, Stevenage
About 2 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Stevenage Old Town Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
38 High Street, Stevenage
Hitchin Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Nun's Close, North Hertfordshire, SG5 1EP
About 8 km away
Letchworth Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,We,Fr 10:00-18:00; Tu 13:00-19:00; Th off; Sa 10:00-17:00; Su off; PH off
Gernon Road, Letchworth, SG6 3PF
About 9 km away
Stevenage Mobile Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Th 10:00-13:00,14:00-16:30
Chells Way, Stevenage, SG2 0DJ
About 2 km away
Stevenage Mobile Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Fr 09:30-13:00,14:00-16:15
About 3 km away
Welwyn Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Prospect Place, Welwyn Hatfield, AL6 9ER
About 8 km away
Baldock Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Simpson Drive, North Hertfordshire, SG7 6DH
About 10 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 Stevenage
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