Settling in · Ayrshire
Landing in Ayrshire? Start here.
The first fortnight in Ayrshire, 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
72 places in Ayrshire 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 - Ayr
Christian, Salvation army
59 John Street, Ayr, KA8 0BS
About 8 km away
Saint John's
Christian, Protestant
Wardneuk Drive, Kilmarnock, KA3 2EX
About 20 km away
Auld Kirk of Ayr
Christian, Church of scotland
Blackfriars Walk, Ayr, KA7 1TT
About 8 km away
Holy Trinity Episcopal Church
Christian, Scottish episcopal
Fullarton Street, Ayr, KA7 1UB
About 8 km away
North Carrick Parish Maybole Church
Christian, Church of scotland
Culzean Road, Maybole, KA19 7DE
About 16 km away
North Carrick Parish Crosshill Church
Christian
Milton Street, Crosshill, KA19 7RB
About 16 km away
Tarbolton Parish Church
Christian, Presbyterian
Cunningham Street, Tarbolton, KA5 5QQ
About 7 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Glasgow
About 43 km away
White House Hall, 20 Neilson road, Paisley, Scotland, PA2 6LN
Worship services: Tue 6:00pm · Sat 3:00pm (children) · Sat 5:00pm
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
Lychees
Chinese. restaurant
41 South Harbour Street, Ayr, KA7 2AX
About 8 km away
Ayr India – Town Centre
Indian. restaurant
1A Alloway Place, Ayr, KA7 2AA
About 9 km away
3idiots
Indian. restaurant
39 Portland Street, Troon, KA10 6AA
About 15 km away
The Coconut Bunch
Indian, arab. restaurant
47 Burns Statue Square, Ayr, KA7 1SZ
About 8 km away
Ruby 7 Day Cuisine
Indian. restaurant
22 New Bridge Street, Ayr, KA7 1JX
About 8 km away
Kashmir Tandoori Restaurant
Indian. restaurant
42 Sandgate, Ayr, KA7 1BX
About 9 km away
Lychees Ayr
Chinese. restaurant. Hours: We,Th 12:00-14:00,17:00-22:00; Fr,Sa 12:00-22:00; Su 14:30-22:00
42 South Harbour Street, Ayr, KA7 1JA
About 9 km away
Sports and clubs
The Portal
Fitness, tennis, badminton, basketball, soccer, pickleball, swimming, table tennis. Sports centre. Hours: Mo 07:00-21:00: Tu 06:30-21:00: We 07:00-21:00: Th 06:30-21:00: Fr 07:00-21:00: Sa 08:00-17:00 Su 08:00-16:00
66 High Street, Irvine, KA12 0AZ
About 21 km away
Bouncestation
Fitness, basketball, football. Sports centre
34 Mackintosh Place, Irvine, KA11 4JT
About 20 km away
Days out and things to do
Community and support groups
Netherthird Community Centre
Community centre
65 Ryderston Drive, Cumnock, KA18 3DT
About 16 km away
The Base
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Su 08:00-22:00
1 Woodstock Street, Kilmarnock, KA1 2BE
About 18 km away
Social Services Headquarters
Community centre
9 Balmoral Road, Kilmarnock, KA3 1HL
About 18 km away
Ayr & Prestwick Men's Shed
Community centre. Hours: Tu-Th 10:00-14:00, We 18:00-21:00
1a Taylor Street, Ayr, KA8 8AU
About 9 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Hot towel and traditional shaves
Ayr's Traditional Turkish Barber
Hairdresser
92a Sandgate, Ayr, KA7 1DD
About 9 km away
Barbers and salons
Rainbow Room International
Hairdresser
6 Cathcart Street, Ayr, KA7 1BJ
About 9 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Forehill Branch Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
31 Mount Oliphant Crescent, Ayr, KA7 3EN
About 7 km away
The Lorimer Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Montgomerie Street, Tarbolton, KA5 5QB
About 7 km away
Carnegie Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Garden Street, Ayr, KA8 0BB
About 8 km away
Alloway Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Doonholm Road, Ayr, KA7 4QQ
About 9 km away
Prestwick Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,Th 09:00-19:00; Tu,We,Fr,Sa 09:00-17:00
Kyle Street, Prestwick, KA9 1PQ
About 9 km away
Troon Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Ayr Street, Troon, KA10 6HS
About 15 km away
Cumnock Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Greenholm Road, Cumnock, KA18 1LH
About 15 km away
Maybole Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
St Cuthbert's Road, Maybole, KA19 7HE
About 16 km away
Bellfield Community Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,Th,Fr 10:00-13:00,14:00-17:00; Tu,We 09:00-13:00,14:00-17:00; Sa 09:00-12:00
Buchanan Place, Kilmarnock, KA1 3QJ
About 16 km away
Hurlford Community Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Blair Road, Hurlford, KA1 5BN
About 17 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 Ayrshire
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