Settling in · Swallowfield
Landing in Swallowfield? Start here.
The first fortnight in Swallowfield, 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
91 places in Swallowfield 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 Salvation Army Church
Christian, Salvation army
Chalfont Close, Reading, RG6 5HZ
About 6 km away
Christ Church
Christian, Anglican
Christchurch Road, Reading, RG2 7AT
About 8 km away
Mount Zion Church
Christian
171A Wokingham Road, Reading, RG6 1LT
About 8 km away
Park United Reformed Church
Christian, United reformed
Reading RG6 1DN
About 9 km away
Wycliffe Baptist Church
Christian, Baptist
233 King's Road, Reading, RG1 4LS
About 9 km away
Reading National Spiritualist Church
Christian, Spritualist
81 Baker Street, Reading, RG1 7XY
About 9 km away
Mountain of Fire & Miracle Ministries
Christian, Pentecostal
31 Kingsgate Street, Reading, RG1 3JR
About 9 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Central Jamme Masjid (Reading)
Muslim, Sunni
18a Waylen Street, Reading, RG1 7UR
About 9 km away
ShahJalaal Islamic Centre
Muslim, Sunni
2 Stanley Street, Reading
About 9 km away
Gurdwaras
Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara Reading
Sikh
30a Cumberland Road, Reading, RG1 3LB
About 9 km away
Buddhist temples and centres
Sakya Ling Tibetan Buddhist Centre
Buddhist
97a Swansea Road, Reading, RG1 8DZ
About 10 km away
Other places of worship
48 Chaplaincy Centre
Multifaith. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-17:00
Park House Lodge, Whiteknights Campus, RG6 6AH
About 7 km away
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Reading
About 5 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, Guildford
About 30 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, Heathrow, London
About 38 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, Heathrow North, London
About 39 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, Oxford
About 44 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)
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
Seoul Plaza
Supermarket. stocks Korean goods. Hours: Mo-Su 09:00-20:00
6-7 St Marys Butts, Reading, RG1 2LN
About 9 km away
Food and takeaways
itsu
Asian. takeaway. Hours: Su-Th 11:00-21:30; Fr-Sa 11:00-22:30
Reading RG2 0QG
About 6 km away
Mo Li Yuan
Chinese. restaurant. Hours: Tu-Th,Su 17:00-22:00, Fr,Sa 17:00-22:30, Sa,Su 12:00-14:00
250 Shinfield Road, Reading
About 6 km away
Burghfield Spices
Indian. restaurant. Hours: 11:30-14:30; 16:40-23:30
Hatch Lane, Reading, RG30 3TH
About 7 km away
Dhaulagiri Kitchen
Nepalese, indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Fr 11:00-22:30; Sa, Su 10:30-22:30
63 Basingstoke Road, Reading, RG2 0ER
About 7 km away
Xenuk Tandoori
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Sa 05:30-23:00
428 Finchampstead Road, Wokingham, RG40 3RB
About 8 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 8 km away
Wagamama
Asian. restaurant. Hours: Su-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr,Sa 11:00-23:00
Riverside Court, Reading, RG1 2AG
About 9 km away
The Biryani Lounge
Burger, pizza, coffee shop, sandwich, kebab, chicken, indian, ice cream, bubble tea. restaurant. Hours: 24/7
89 Wokingham Rd, Berkshire, Reading, RG6 1LH
About 9 km away
Nando's
Chicken, portuguese. restaurant. Hours: Su-We 11:00-23:00; Th 11:00-22:30; Fr,Sa 11:00-23:00
Unit 4, The Riverside, The Oracle Shopping Centre, Reading, RG1 2AG
About 9 km away
Mission Burrito
Mexican. restaurant. Hours: closed
Unit R15A, The Riverside, The Oracle Shopping Centre, Reading, RG1 2AG
About 9 km away
Bombay Brothers
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Tu-Fr 12:00-15:30, Tu-Fr 17:30-22:00, Sa,Su 12:00-22:00
19-23 King Street, Reading, RG1 2HG
About 9 km away
Sports and clubs
South Reading Leisure Centre
Soccer, swimming, fitness, badminton, basketball, netball, table tennis, dancing. Sports centre
Northumberland Avenue, Reading, RG2 8DF
About 6 km away
Reading Amateur Boxing & Fitness Club
Boxing. Sports centre
Charles Street, Reading, RG1 7DB
About 9 km away
Nuffield Health Fitness & Wellbeing
Multi. Fitness centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 06:30-22:00; Sa-Su 08:00-20:00
240 South Oak Way, Reading, RG2 6UL
About 5 km away
Loddon Valley Leisure Centre
Multi. Sports centre
Rushey Way, Reading, RG6 4GD
About 6 km away
Whiteknights Indoor Bowling Club
Bowls. Sports centre
Beech Lane, Reading, RG6 5PT
About 7 km away
Reading Bowling Club
Bowls. Sport club
94 Kendrick Road, Reading, RG1 5DW
About 8 km away
Studio 9
Fitness. Fitness centre
Oaklands Park, Wokingham, RG41 2AN
About 9 km away
GymHippie Holistic Personal Training
Fitness. Fitness centre. Hours: 24/7
100 Kings Road, Reading, RG1 3BY
About 9 km away
MGFitness
Fitness. Fitness centre. Hours: Mo-Sa 06:00-08:00; Su off
100 Kings Road, Reading, RG1 3BY
About 9 km away
Bulmershe Gymnastics Club
Gymnastics. Sports centre
Reading
About 10 km away
Days out and things to do
Community and support groups
FBC Centre
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-17:00; Sa 09:00-16:00
Gorse Ride North, RG40 4ES
About 7 km away
Coley Park Community Centre
Community centre
140 Wensley Road, Reading, RG1 6DW
About 8 km away
The Oasis Community Centre
Community centre
21 Baker Street, Reading, RG1 7XT
About 9 km away
Reading Men's Shed
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-14:00, PH off
37 Hilcot Road, Reading, RG30 2SX
About 9 km away
California Ratepayers Hall
Community centre
Finchampstead Road, Finchampstead
About 8 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 9 km away
Turkish Barber
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-19:00; Sa 09:00-17:00; Su 10:00-17:00
197 London Road, Reading, RG1 3NU
About 9 km away
Barbers and salons
The Salon
Hairdresser
Reading Road, Basingstoke and Deane, RG27 0EZ
About 8 km away
Boston's Barbers
Hairdresser
Reading Road, Wokingham, RG41 5HU
About 9 km away
Funky Barnet
Hairdresser
26 Wokingham Road, Reading, RG6 1JQ
About 9 km away
Kool Kidz Kutz
Hairdresser
26 Wokingham Road, Reading, RG6 1JQ
About 9 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 9 km away
Bloc. Hair
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo 10:00-17:30; Tu 10:00-18:00; We 10:00-19:00; Th 09:00-21:00; Fr 09:00-20:00; Sa 09:00-17:30
2 Gun Street, Reading, RG1 2JR
About 9 km away
The Barber Shop
Hairdresser. Hours: We-Fr 09:00-17:30; Sa 09:00-17:00
177 Wokingham Road, Reading, RG6 1LT
About 8 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Battle Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu 13:00-19:00, Th-Fr 09:00-17:00, Sa 10:00-15:00
420 Oxford Road, Reading, RG30 1EE
About 9 km away
Whitley Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
252 Northumberland Avenue, Reading, RG2 7QA
About 6 km away
University Reading Room & Special Collections
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:30-12:30; 13:30-16:00
Redlands Road, Reading, RG1 5EX
About 8 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 9 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 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 10 km away
Education Library Resource Centre
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Commercial Road, Reading, RG2 0RB
About 6 km away
Lower Earley Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 09:30-17:00; Tu 09:30-19:00; Th 09:30-19:00; Fr 09:30-17:00; Sa 09:30-13:00
Chalfont Close, Reading
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 Swallowfield
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