Settling in · Wicken
Landing in Wicken? Start here.
The first fortnight in Wicken, 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
63 places in Wicken 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
Faith Dimensions Ministries
Christian
63 Stratford Road, Wolverton, MK12 5LT
About 7 km away
St Edward the Confessor
Christian, Catholic
Burchard Crescent, Milton Keynes, MK5 6DX
About 9 km away
Saint James Ecumenical Church
Christian, Anglican
Church Street, New Bradwell, Milton Keynes, MK13 0DA
About 9 km away
Potterspury United Reformed Church
Christian, United reformed
Yardley Road, Potterspury, NN12 7PY
About 4 km away
Yardley Gobion United Reformed Church
Christian
Chestnut Road, Yardley Gobion, NN12 7PX
About 6 km away
Castlethorpe SS Simon and Jude
Christian, Anglican
North Street, Wolverton, MK19 7EW
About 7 km away
St. Peter & St. Paul Buckingham Parish
Christian, Anglican
Church Hill, Buckingham, MK18 1BS
About 8 km away
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Milton Keynes
About 15 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, Oxford
About 36 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
Longdan
Supermarket. stocks Asian goods. Hours: M0-Sa 10:00-21:00; Su 10:00-17:00
1 Bradwell Common Boulevard, Milton Keynes, MK13 8BF
About 10 km away
Central Oriental
Supermarket
Alston Drive, Bradwell Abbey;Bradwell Abbey Industrial Estate, Milton Keynes, MK13 9HG
About 8 km away
Food and takeaways
Braai Shack Restaurant
African. restaurant
42 Church Street, Wolverton, MK12 5JN
About 7 km away
Antep Kitchen
Turkish. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 12:00-23:00
1 Stratford Road, Wolverton, Milton Keynes, MK12 5LJ
About 7 km away
Mii & U
Asian. restaurant
Alston Drive, Milton Keynes, MK13 9HG
About 8 km away
Kam Tong Gardens
Chinese. restaurant
Attingham Hill, Great Holm, Milton Keynes, MK8 9BY
About 9 km away
St Mary's Chinese
Chinese. takeaway. Hours: Tu-Sa 17:00-22:00
42 Redgrave Drive, Oxley Park, Milton Keynes, MK4 4TB
About 9 km away
Papa J's Restaurant
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Fr 12:00-14:30, 17:30-23:00; Sa-Su 12:00-15:00, 17:30-22:30
20 Redgrave Drive, Oxley Park, Milton Keynes, MK4 4TB
About 9 km away
Sports and clubs
MK Dons SET - Fairfields Sports Hub
Soccer. Sport club
Apollo Avenue, Milton Keynes, MK11 4BA
About 6 km away
Stantonbury Leisure Centre
Basketball, swimming, tennis, fitness, volleyball, multi. Sports centre
Purbeck Milton Keynes, MK14 6BL
About 10 km away
The DVCC - Personal Training Centre
Fitness. Fitness centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 06:00-21:00; Sa 06:00-12:00
6 Cochran Close, Milton Keynes, MK8 0AJ
About 8 km away
Shenley Leisure Centre
Multi. Sports centre
Burchard Crescent, Shenley Church End, Milton Keynes, MK5 6HF
About 9 km away
MK Springers Gymnastics Club
Gymnastics. Sports centre
17 Carters Lane, Kiln Farm, Milton Keynes, MK11 3ER
About 6 km away
The Pro Shot Golf Club
Golf. Sports centre
Erica Road, Stacey Bushes, Milton Keynes, MK12 6HS
About 8 km away
Tenpin Milton Keynes
10pin. Sports centre
1 Grafton Gate, Milton Keynes, MK9 1AH
About 10 km away
Deanshanger Playing Fields Sports Club
Sports centre
Little London, Milton Keynes, MK19 6HU
About 2 km away
Fishing spots and tackle shops
Fishing Republic
Tackle shop, and the place to ask where to fish and about permits
MK13 8PU
About 9 km away
Days out and things to do
Community and support groups
New Bradwell Community Centre
Community centre
Church Street, Milton Keynes, MK13 0DA
About 9 km away
Buszy
Community centre
401 Elder Gate, Central Milton Keynes, Milton Keynes, MK9 1LR
About 10 km away
Seedlings Children's Centre
Community centre
Singleton Drive, Milton Keynes, MK8 0PZ
About 8 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Barbers and salons
Golson
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu-We 10:00-20:00; Th-Fr 09:30-17:30; Sa 08:00-16:00
66 Redgrave Drive, MK4 4TB
About 9 km away
Rok Barbers
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Th 09:00-18:00; Fr 09:00-19:00; Sa 08:30-14:00; Su off
Wimborne Crescent, Westcroft, Milton Keynes, MK4 4DD
About 10 km away
ShortCuts Children's Salon (Milton Keynes)
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu-Sa 09:00-17:30; Su 10:00-14:00
29 Singleton Drive, Milton Keynes, MK8 0PX
About 8 km away
Bowtique Hair Beauty and Fashion
Hairdresser. Hours: 10:00-21:00
50 Lennon Drive, Milton Keynes, MK8 0AS
About 8 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Wolverton Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Creed Street, Milton Keynes, MK12 5LY
About 8 km away
Westcroft Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-16:30; Sa 10:00-12:30
1 Wimborne Crescent, Milton Keynes, MK4 4DE
About 9 km away
Deanshanger Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: We,Sa 10:00-14:00; Th,Fr 14:00-18:00; Su 11:00-14:00
Little London, Deanshanger, MK19 6HT
About 2 km away
Stony Stratford Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Market Square, Milton Keynes, MK11 1BE
About 4 km away
Buckingham Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Verney Close, Buckingham, MK18 8AX
About 7 km away
University Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Hunter Street, Buckingham, MK18 1EG
About 8 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 Wicken
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