Settling in · Warwickshire
Landing in Warwickshire? Start here.
The first fortnight in Warwickshire, 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
92 places in Warwickshire 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
Emmanuel Evangelical Church
Christian
Heath Terrace, Leamington Spa
About 4 km away
St Peter's
Christian, Roman catholic
Dormer Place, Leamington Spa, CV32 5AA
About 4 km away
Leamington Spa Baptist Church
Christian, Baptist. Hours: Th 10:00-12:00
Chandos Street, Leamington Spa, CV32 4RN
About 5 km away
The Salvation Army - Leamington Spa
Christian, Salvation army
1A Chapel Street, Leamington Spa, CV31 1EJ
About 5 km away
Saint Joseph's Roman Catholic Church
Christian, Catholic
Murcott Road East, Leamington Spa, CV31 2JJ
About 6 km away
St. Mark's New Milverton
Christian, Anglican. Hours: Mo-Sa closed
About 4 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
SIEA Highlands Mosque
Muslim
Cranmore Avenue, Metropolitan Borough of Solihull, B90 4LE
About 18 km away
The Hub
Muslim
5-9 Hermitage Road, Metropolitan Borough of Solihull, B91 2LL
About 18 km away
Hindu temples
Shri Krishna Mandir
Hindu, Vaishnavism
10B High Street, Royal Leamington Spa, CV31 3AG
About 5 km away
Gurdwaras
Synagogues
Solihull & District Hebrew Congregation
Jewish
3 Monastery Drive, Metropolitan Borough of Solihull, B91 1DW
About 20 km away
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Birmingham
About 35 km away
2 Causeway Green Road Oldbury, West Midlands B68 8LD
Worship services: Wed 7:00pm · Sat 10:00am · 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
Shops from home
The Meat House & Turkish Groceries
Butcher. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-19:00; Su 10:00-18:00
71 Brunswick Street, Leamington Spa, CV31 2EE
About 5 km away
European Mini Market
Convenience
12d Greenhill Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6LF
About 14 km away
Food and takeaways
Royal Currys
Indian. restaurant. Hours: 08:00-22:00
204 Emscote Road, Warwick, CV34 5QT
About 3 km away
Thai Elephant
Thai. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 17:30-22:30,12:00-15:00
20 Regent Street, Leamington Spa, CV32 5HQ
About 4 km away
Paprika Club
Indian. restaurant
22 Regent Street, Leamington Spa, CV32 5EH
About 4 km away
Kayal
Indian. restaurant
42 Regent Street, Leamington Spa, CV32 5EG
About 4 km away
Wagamama
Asian. restaurant. Hours: Su-We 11:30-22:30; Th-Sa 11:30-23:00
95 Parade, Leamington Spa, CV32 4AY
About 5 km away
Nando's
Chicken, portuguese. restaurant
17-19 Livery Street, Leamington Spa, CV32 4NP
About 5 km away
Turtle Bay
Caribbean. restaurant
11 Livery Street, Leamington Spa, CV32 4NP
About 5 km away
Full House
Chinese. restaurant. Hours: We-Mo,PH 16:30-22:00
86 Warwick Road, Kenilworth, CV8 1HL
About 5 km away
Craving Kebabs
Kebab. takeaway
25 Bath Street, Leamington Spa, CV31 3AF
About 5 km away
Happy Nest Chinese Takeaway
Chinese. takeaway. Hours: Mo,We,Th 17:00-23:00; Su 17:00-22:30; Fr,Sa 17:00-24:00
Leamington Spa, CV31 2LT
About 7 km away
Sports and clubs
Stratford-upon-Avon Leisure Centre
Soccer, swimming, running, climbing. Sports centre
Bridgeway Stratford-on-Avon, CV37 6YX
About 14 km away
Castle Farm Leisure Centre
Basketball, fitness, badminton, spinning. Sports centre
Fishponds Road, Kenilworth, CV8 1EY
About 5 km away
Cleary's Boxing Gym
Fitness centre
Acre Close, Whitnash, Leamington Spa, CV31 2ND
About 6 km away
Coventry Building Society Arena
Multi, american football, darts, netball, rugby league, rugby union, snooker, tennis. Sports centre
71 Phoenix Way, Coventry, CV6 6GE
About 18 km away
Spiritual Warrior Martial Arts Centre
Sports centre
Foleshill Road, Coventry, CV6 5HP
About 16 km away
Sports and Wellness Hub
Soccer, tennis, swimming, table tennis, fitness, basketball, climbing, netball, badminton, yoga, football, multi, gymnastics. Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 06:00-23:00; Sa-Su,PH 07:00-20:00
About 9 km away
Old Laurentians RFC
Rugby union. Sports centre
Lime Tree Avenue, Bilton, Rugby, CV22 7QT
About 22 km away
Wellesbourne Sports Association
Soccer, cricket, cricket nets, football. Sports centre
Westfield Crescent, Stratford-on-Avon, CV35 9RP
About 12 km away
Fishing spots and tackle shops
Days out and things to do
Driving schools
Vijay Driving School
Driving school
33 Rollason Road, Coventry, CV6 4AP
About 16 km away
Complete HGV
Driving school. Hours: Sunday Closed Monday 10am-5pm Tuesday 10am-5pm Wednesday 10am-5pm Thursday 10am-5pm Friday 10am-5pm Saturday Closed
Unit 21 Henley Industrial Park, Henley Road, Coventry, CV2 1ST
About 17 km away
Community and support groups
Whitnash Civic Centre & Library
Community centre
Acre Close, Whitnash, Leamington Spa, CV31 2ND
About 6 km away
Barnacle Village Hall
Community centre
Lower Road, Barnacle, CV7 9LD
About 21 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Barbers and salons
Hair on the Square
Hairdresser
25 Market Street, Warwick, CV34 4DH
About 2 km away
Frank
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Th 09:00-17:30; Fr 09:00-18:30; Sa 08:30-17:30
Regent Street, Leamington Spa
About 4 km away
gianluca hair design
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Th 09:00-18:00; Fr 09:00-19:00; Sa 09:00-17:00
Tavistock Street, Leamington Spa
About 4 km away
Toni & Guy
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-We,Fr 09:30-18:30; Th 10:30-19:30; Sa 09:00-17:00
Parade Leamington Spa
About 5 km away
Alexander James
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu-Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 09:00-17:00
1A Chandos Street, Leamington Spa, CV32 4RP
About 5 km away
Lord & Sword
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu-Fr 09:00-19:00; Sa 09:00-17:30; Su 10:30-17:00
Regent Street, Leamington Spa
About 5 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Warwick University Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Su 08:30-00:00
Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry, CV4 7AL
About 9 km away
Willenhall Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Tu, Th-Fr 09:00-19:00; Sa 10:00-16:00
Hagard Community Centre, Remembrance Road, Coventry, CV3 3DG
About 14 km away
Stratford Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-17:00; Sa 10:00-15:00
Henley Street, Stratford-on-Avon, CV37 6PZ
About 14 km away
Southam Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Tu 09:30-17:30; Th-Fr 09:30-17:30; Sa 09:30-12:30
High Street, Stratford-on-Avon, CV47 0HB
About 15 km away
Kenilworth Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Smalley Place, Kenilworth, CV8 1QG
About 5 km away
Cineworld
Cinema
47 Jubilee Walk, Metropolitan Borough of Solihull, B91 3QW
About 17 km away
Whitnash Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,Tu 10:30-17:00; We 13:30-17:00; Fr 10:30-16:00; Sa 10:30-13:30
Acre Close, Leamington Spa, CV31 2ND
About 6 km away
Warwick Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Th 08:00-17:30; Fr 08:00-17:00; Sa 09:00-16:00
About 2 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 Warwickshire
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