Settling in · Whiteley
Landing in Whiteley? Start here.
The first fortnight in Whiteley, 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
73 places in Whiteley 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
Sarisbury Green United Reformed Church
Christian
Chapel Road, Southampton, SO31 7EJ
About 2 km away
St Patrick's Church
Christian, Roman catholic
Manor Road South, Southampton, SO19 2DP
About 8 km away
Swanmore Methodist Church
Christian, Methodist
Chapel Road, Southampton, SO32 2QB
About 9 km away
Oasis Church Southampton
Christian
16 Manor Farm Road, Southampton, SO18 1NP
About 10 km away
Swanwick Shore Strict Baptist Chapel
Christian, Baptist
Bridge Road, Southampton, SO31 7FN
About 3 km away
Priory Church of St. Andrew the Apostle
Christian, Anglican
Old Priory Close, Eastleigh, SO31 4QP
About 5 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Hindu temples
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Southampton
About 14 km away
St. Peter's Church, Lockerly Cresent, Southampton, SO16 4ER
Worship services: Tue 6:00pm · Sat 4:00pm · Sat 6:00pm (children)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Portsmouth City
About 16 km away
St. Cuthbert's Center, 2 Lichfield Road, Copner, P03 6DE
Worship services: Thu 6:15pm · Sat 10:30am · Sat 12:30pm (children)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Salisbury
About 43 km away
URC hall, 30 Fisherton St. Salisbury, SP2 7RG England
Worship services: Tue 6:00pm · Sat 4:00pm
Iglesia ni Cristo, Bournemouth
About 44 km away
673 Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, BH7 6AA
Worship services: Thu 6:15pm · Sat 10:30am · Sat 12:30pm (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
Food and takeaways
Full House
Chinese. takeaway
41 Melchet Road, Southampton, SO18 5GW
About 8 km away
Spice Garden
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 16:30-22:00
43 Melchet Road, Southampton, SO18 5GW
About 8 km away
Shah Faisal
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Sa 17:00-23:00; Su 17:00-22:00
Bitterne Road East, Southampton, SO18 5EE
About 8 km away
New Kung Fu Wok
Chinese, thai, malaysian. takeaway. Hours: We-Mo,PH 17:00-23:00
23B Rowner Road, Gosport, PO13 9UE
About 10 km away
Lowford Indian Takeaway
Indian. restaurant
Portsmouth Road, Southampton, SO31 8EP
About 4 km away
Eastern Nights
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Tu-Su 17:30-23:30
56 Thornhill Park Road, Southampton, SO18 5TQ
About 7 km away
Happy Garden
Chinese. takeaway. Hours: Tu-Su 17:00-23:00
9 Thornhill Park Road, Southampton, SO18 5TP
About 7 km away
Hoi's Chinese Takeaway
Chinese. takeaway. Hours: Mo 17:00-21:30; Tu closed; We-Sa 17:00-22:00; Su 17:00-21:30
184 Nobes Avenue, Gosport, PO13 0HY
About 8 km away
Solent Tandoori
Indian. restaurant
159,161 High Street, Lee-on-the-Solent, PO13 9BX
About 10 km away
T&J (Solent)
Chinese. takeaway. Hours: Mo-Tu, Th-Sa 17:00-23:00; Su 17:00-22:30
Anstice Court, Lee-on-the-Solent, PO13 8AT
About 10 km away
China Garden
Chinese. takeaway. Hours: Su-Mo, We-Th 17:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 17:00-22:30
159 Rowner Lane, Gosport, PO13 9SP
About 10 km away
Mandarin
Chinese. takeaway. Hours: Mo,PH off; Tu-Th 17:00-22:30; Fr-Sa 17:00-23:00; Su 17:30-22:30
67,69 High Street, Lee-on-the-Solent, PO13 9BU
About 10 km away
Sports and clubs
Wildern Leisure Centre
Swimming. Sports centre
Wildern Lane, Southampton, SO30 4EJ
About 5 km away
Fareham Leisure Centre
Sports centre
Park Lane, Fareham, PO16 7JU
About 6 km away
Praetorian MMA
Fitness centre. Hours: Mo-Th 09:00-21:00; Fr 15:30-20:30; Sa 09:00-00:00
176 Nobes Avenue, PO13 0HY
About 8 km away
Holly Hill Leisure Centre
Swimming. Sports centre
Barnes Lane, Southampton, SO31 7BJ
About 2 km away
TeamSport Karting
Karting. Sports centre
166 Fareham Reach, Gosport, PO13 0FW
About 8 km away
Calshot Activity Centre
Climbing, skiing. Sports centre
Calshot Spit, Southampton, SO45 1BR
About 8 km away
Fishing spots and tackle shops
Bill's Bait & Tackle
Tackle shop, and the place to ask where to fish and about permits. Hours: Tu-Fr 09:00-17:00; Sa 08:00-17:00; Su 08:00-12:00; Mo off
About 9 km away
Community and support groups
Monty's Community Hub
Community centre. Hours: Tu-Th
59 Montague Avenue, Southampton, SO19 0QB
About 6 km away
Sholing Community Centre
Community centre
Butt's Road, Southampton, SO19 1BN
About 7 km away
Merryoak Community Centre
Community centre
Acacia Road, Southampton, SO19 7JY
About 8 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Barbers and salons
Just Gents Barbers
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-We 09:00-17:30; Th-Fr 09:00-19:00; Sa 08:30-16:30
Fairfield Avenue, Fareham, PO14 1EH
About 6 km away
Dolly Birds Hair Studio
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu-Sa 09:00-17:00; Th 09:15-19:15
Hinkler Road, Southampton
About 6 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Harbour Lights Picturehouse
Cinema
Maritime Walk, Southampton, SO14 3TL
About 10 km away
Fair Oak Community Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 09:30-13:00; Tu 14:00-17:00; We 09:30-17:00; Th 14:00-17:00; Fr 09:30-13:00; Sa 09:30-13:00
Campbell Way, Eastleigh, SO50 7AX
About 10 km away
Cineworld Whiteley
Cinema. Hours: "According to screenings"
Bluebell Way, Winchester, PO15 7FG
Fareham Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 09:00-19:00; Tu-We 09:00-17:00; Th-Fr 09:00-19:00; Sa 09:00-17:00; Su off
Osborn Road, Fareham, PO16 7EN
About 6 km away
Stubbington Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 09:00-19:00; Tu 09:00-17:00; We closed; Th-Fr 09:00-17:00; Sa 09:30-13:00; Su closed
Stubbington Lane, Fareham, PO14 2PP
About 7 km away
West End Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Chapel Road, Eastleigh, SO30 3GG
About 8 km away
Bishop's Waltham Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu 14:00-19:00; We 10:00-17:00; Fr 10:00-17:00; Sa 09:30-13:00; PH off
Free Street, Southampton, SO32 1EE
About 9 km away
Cobbett Road Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Cobbett Road, Southampton, SO18 1HL
About 9 km away
Lockswood Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Centre Way, Fareham, SO31 6DX
About 2 km away
Hedge End Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:30-17:00; We 09:00-17:00; Th 09:30-19:00; Sa 09:30-13:00
Upper Northam Road, Southampton, SO30 4DY
About 5 km away
Thornhill Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Canon Place, Southampton, SO19 6AG
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 Whiteley
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