Landing
First 48 hours in London
The bare minimum to get through arrival: phone data, money, transport, safe stay and documents.
London Setup Hub
Get functioning in London without drowning in first-week admin
A practical setup hub for newcomers: phone, transport, money access, proof of address, bank account, GP registration, National Insurance, utilities and the admin order that keeps one task from blocking the next.
Setup journey
See the full roadmap- 01LandMoney, transport, shelter, documents
- 02Get connectedSIM, data, maps, contact details
- 03Unlock adminAddress, bank, GP, NI number
- 04StabiliseBills, council tax, payroll, routines
The eight setup paths newcomers actually need
Setup gets easier when you stop treating every task as equally urgent. Start with access, then unlock the documents and systems that make the rest possible.
Mobile
UK SIM and phone setup
Get reliable data, a reachable number and the basics for maps, recruiters, banks and viewings.
Travel
Transport and Oyster/contactless
How to pay for the Tube, buses and rail without overcomplicating your first week.
Proof
Proof of address
The admin unlock for banking, GP registration, employers and future paperwork.
Bank
Bank account setup
When to use a bridge account, when to open a UK account and what documents matter.
Health
GP / NHS registration
How to register with a local GP, what address means and what healthcare tasks can wait.
Work
National Insurance and payroll basics
What you need for employers, PAYE, payroll forms and first payslip checks.
Home
Utilities, broadband and council tax
The practical bills and home admin that start once you move into longer-term housing.
Week one vs month one: what needs doing now?
The fastest way to reduce overwhelm is knowing what unlocks other tasks. Some admin is urgent; some only matters once you have housing, work or a stable address.
| Task | Priority | Why it matters | What it unlocks | Usually waits for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SIM / mobile data | Do now | Maps, calls, viewings, bank codes, recruiters | Everything practical | Nothing |
| Transport payment | Do now | You need to move around cheaply and predictably | Viewings, interviews, admin trips | Nothing |
| Bank account path | Start soon | Payroll, rent, transfers, subscriptions | Jobs, housing, bills | ID and sometimes address proof |
| Proof of address | Start soon | Unlocks banking, GP, some employer admin | Banking, healthcare, future paperwork | Housing or official letters |
| GP registration | Do when stable | Primary healthcare access and prescriptions | NHS care, repeat medication | Local address or catchment |
| Utilities / council tax | After housing | Only relevant once you have a longer-term place | Proof of address, bills, stable setup | Tenancy start |
This table is a prioritisation guide, not a legal checklist. Pair it with banking, housing, jobs and healthcare as your situation becomes clearer.
The order that makes London setup feel manageable
Sequence matters here. Do the tasks that give you access first, then the tasks that unlock admin systems, then the tasks that stabilise everyday life.
- 01
Land and cover the first 48 hours
Make sure you can communicate, travel, pay, sleep safely and access your documents.
- 02
Get connected and mobile
Set up the tools that make every other task easier: phone data, maps, transport and reachable contact details.
- 03
Unlock admin systems
Build the sequence for address proof, banking, GP registration, NI number and employer onboarding.
- 04
Stabilise day-to-day life
Once housing or work settles, complete bills, council tax, broadband, healthcare and routines.
Essential reads
View all setup guides
The setup guides to read before the admin spiral starts
Cornerstone
Your first 48 hours in London
The practical arrival plan: phone, money, transport, food, documents, temporary address and next decisions.
ChecklistThe first-week setup checklist
What to do immediately, what to start, and what can wait until housing or work stabilises.
AdminHow to get proof of address in the UK
Accepted documents, common blockers and the newcomer sequence that usually works.
OrderSIM, transport, bank: the fastest setup order
The sequence that gets you reachable, mobile and able to pay without looping.
PrioritiesWhat to set up immediately vs what can wait
A calm ranking of urgent access tasks, admin unlocks and later-life setup.
SystemsHow to become fully functional in London fast
Phone, banking, health, payroll, address and transport pulled into one practical plan.
Six questions newcomers ask constantly
Short answers here, deeper guides linked where the decision needs more context.
What should I do first when I land in London?
Start with function: phone data, transport payment, access to money, safe accommodation and your key documents. Then move into address, banking, health and payroll.
Do I need a UK SIM immediately?
You need reliable data quickly. An eSIM or short-term plan can cover arrival, then a longer-term UK mobile plan can wait until your banking and address setup is clearer.
Should I use Oyster or contactless?
Most adults can use contactless easily if they have a compatible card or device. Oyster still matters for some discounts, children, certain railcards and specific situations.
What admin can wait until later?
Utilities, council tax and broadband usually wait until you have a longer-term place. GP registration, banking and NI number depend on your address, work and health needs.
How do I get proof of address after arriving?
Usually through housing documents, bank statements, utility bills, council tax or official letters. Newcomers often need to build proof in steps rather than finding one instant document.
Do I need a National Insurance number before starting work?
You can often start work while waiting if you have the right to work, but employers need payroll details and you should apply or confirm your NI status as soon as relevant.
Personalised
Get your London setup plan in the right order
Tell us when you arrive, where you are staying, whether you have work or housing lined up and what documents you already have. We will map the first tasks, admin unlocks and can-wait items for your move.
- Arrival date
- Accommodation
- Work status
- Documents
Takes 2 minutes - Free - No sign-up required
Why trust us
Built for the jetlagged reality of actually landing
Setup advice gets useless when everything is marked urgent. This hub focuses on sequence: what makes you functional now, what unlocks other admin, and what only matters once housing or work settles.
No checklist theatre. Just the practical order of operations people need when they are tired, temporary, and trying to make London workable.
Order over overwhelm
Tasks are grouped by what they unlock, not dumped into one giant list.
Newcomer friction
Temporary addresses, missing documents, phone setup and bank loops are treated as normal.
Connected admin
Setup routes into banking, housing, jobs, transport, healthcare and visas where the deeper work lives.
Community sharpened
Our guides are challenged and improved by movers in our active community.
Ready to make London start working?
Pick the next step that matches your landing stage: first 48 hours, full first-week checklist or a personalised setup plan.
01
Start with 48 hours
Get the essentials handled first: phone, transport, money, documents and safe base.
Open 48-hour guide →02Use the first-week checklist
Move through urgent tasks, admin unlocks and can-wait items in order.
Open checklist →03Build your setup plan
Get a tailored order based on your arrival date, housing, work and documents.
Start my plan →Also worth a look: Banking - Housing - Jobs - Healthcare