Settling in · Birmingham
Landing in Birmingham? Start here.
The first fortnight in Birmingham, 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
121 places in Birmingham 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
Cathedral Church of Saint Philip
Christian, Anglican. Hours: Mo-Fr 07:20-17:00; Sa 08:20-17:00; Su 08:20-17:15
Colmore Row, Birmingham, B3 2QB
Salvation Army Citadel
Christian, Salvation army
24 St Chads Queensway, Birmingham, B4 6HH
The Salvation Army
Christian, Salvation army
Gladstone Street, Aston, Birmingham, B6 7NY
About 3 km away
St Mary's
Christian, Anglican
31 St Mary's Row, Birmingham, B13 8HW
About 4 km away
Our Lady of Good Counsel & St Gregory the Great Catholic Church
Christian, Catholic, roman catholic
Three Shires Oak Road
About 5 km away
Holy Trinity Church
Christian, Anglican
Church Hill Street, B67 7AH
About 5 km away
Smethwick Seventh Day Adventist Church
Christian, Seventh day adventist
St Pauls Road
About 6 km away
Londonderry Baptist Church
Christian, Baptist
Bristnall Hall Road
About 6 km away
Holy Trinity Parish Church
Christian, Anglican
Burlington Road, West Bromwich, B70 6LQ
About 7 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Birmingham Central Mosque
Muslim
180 Belgrave Middleway, Birmingham, B12 0XS
About 2 km away
Green Lane Masjid
Muslim, Sunni
20 Green Lane, Birmingham, B9 5DB
About 3 km away
Faizan e Medina
Muslim. Hours: Mo-Su 08:00-23:30
Richmond Road, Birmingham, B33 8TN
About 6 km away
Shah Jalal Jami Masjid & Madrasah
Muslim, Sunni
48 Hart Street, Walsall, WS1 3PE
About 12 km away
Zia-E-Medina
Muslim, Sunni
153 Walsall Road, Sandwell, WS10 9SW
About 13 km away
Hindu temples
Gurdwaras
Guru Nanak Gurdwara Smethwick
Sikh
128-130 High Street, B66 3AP
About 5 km away
Guru Nanak Gurduwara Bhat Singh Sabha Temple
Sikh
Highgate Place, Birmingham, B12 0DA
About 2 km away
Synagogues
Solihull & District Hebrew Congregation
Jewish
3 Monastery Drive, Metropolitan Borough of Solihull, B91 1DW
About 9 km away
Other places of worship
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Birmingham
About 8 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
Masala Bazaar Metro
Supermarket. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-20:00; Su 09:00-17:00
Walsall Road, Birmingham, B42 1AA
About 4 km away
U Mista Polish Supermarket
Supermarket
297-301 Bearwood Road
About 5 km away
Haji Baba Halal Meats
Butcher. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-17:00
Wolverhampton Road
About 8 km away
Blessing Market African Food Store
Convenience
10 King Edwards Road, Birmingham, B1 2PZ
Bismillah Halal Meat and Chicken
Butcher. Hours: Mo-Su 08:00-18:00
2 Woodridge, Birmingham, B6 6LN
About 3 km away
International Food Store
Convenience. Hours: 24/7
386-388 Bearwood Road
About 5 km away
Euro Express International Supermarket
Convenience. Hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-21:00; Su 10:00-19:00
1541 Pershore Road, Birmingham, B30 2JH
About 6 km away
Food and takeaways
Asha's
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo 17:30-21:30; Tu 12:00-14:30,17:30-22:00; We-Fr 12:00-14:30,17:30-22:30; Sa 12:00-23:00; Su 12:00-21:00
22 Newhall Street, Birmingham, B3 3LX
Turtle Bay
Caribbean. restaurant. Hours: Mo-We 12:00-23:00, Th 12:00-24:00, Fr 11:00-01:00, Sa 10:00-01:00, Su 11:00-22:00
81-91 John Bright Street, Birmingham, B1 1BL
Chaophraya
Thai. restaurant. Hours: Su-Th 12:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 12:00-22:30
6 Spiceal Street, Birmingham, B5 4BH
Peach Garden
Chinese, asian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 11:00-22:00
34 Ladywell Walk, Birmingham, B5 4ST
Wagamama
Asian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Th 11:30-22:00; Fr 11:30-23:00; Sa 11:00-23:00; Su 11:30-22:00
Edgbaston Street, Birmingham, B5 4QL
Vietnamese Street Kitchen
Vietnamese. restaurant. Hours: Su-Th 12:00-21:30; Fr-Sa 12:00-22:30
St Martins Square, Birmingham, B5 4BW
Taste of Pakistan
Pakistani. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-23:00; Sa-Su 06:00-23:00
6 Highgate Road, Birmingham, B12 8DP
About 3 km away
Dilshad
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Su-Th 17:30-01:00, Fr-Sa 17:30-03:00
618-620 Bristol Road, Birmingham, B29 6BQ
About 5 km away
Purnima Indian Cuisine
Indian. restaurant
622 Bearwood Road, Smethwick, B66 4BW
About 5 km away
Old Dresser Cafe
Polish, local. cafe. Hours: Su, Tu 10:00-16:00; We-Th 10:00-20:00; Fr 12:00-22:00; Sa 10:00-22:00
434 Bearwood Road, Smethwick, B66 4EY
About 5 km away
Bharawan Da Dhaba
Indian. takeaway
269 High Street, Smethwick, B66 3NJ
About 5 km away
Amritsari Tarka
Indian. restaurant
261 High Street, Smethwick, B66 3NJ
About 5 km away
Sports and clubs
Temple Martial Arts
Martial arts, kickboxing, kung fu. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-21:00; Sa 10:00-16:00
16 Digbeth, Birmingham, B5 6BJ
Portway Lifestyle Centre
Gymnastics, gym, fitness, dance, cycling, soccer, swimming, boxing, zumba, yoga, pilates, table tennis, karate, martial arts. Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 06:30-22:00; Sa-Su 07:00-18:00
Newbury Lane
About 9 km away
Veseyans Rugby & Sports Club
Rugby
Little Hardwick Road, WS9 0SQ
About 12 km away
The Sir Doug Ellis Woodcock Sports Centre
Squash, badminton, swimming, multigym, aerobics. Sports centre
Aston Street, Birmingham, B4 7EH
Leasowes Sports Centre
Soccer, badminton, basketball, fitness, judo, kickboxing, yoga, dance, trampoline, netball. Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 17:00-22:00, Sa-Su 09:30-18:30
Kent Road, Dudley, B62 8PJ
About 9 km away
Stick and Wicket
Cricket, running, football, hockey, squash. Sport club
The Green, Aldridge, Walsall, WS9 8NH
About 14 km away
JD Gyms
Fitness, multi, gymnastics, exercise, boxing. Fitness centre. Hours: 24/7
Birchley Island Retail Park
About 8 km away
Tipton Sports Academy
Squash, padel, fitness, weightlifting, dance, badminton, soccer, athletics, tennis, netball, five-a-side. Sports centre
Wake Green Road, Sandwell, DY4 0AN
About 13 km away
Fox Hollies Leisure Centre
Badminton, swimming, squash. Sports centre
Shirley Road, Birmingham, B27 7NS
About 7 km away
Fishing spots and tackle shops
Fishermans Friend Fishing Tackle
Tackle shop, and the place to ask where to fish and about permits
31 Abbey Road
About 5 km away
Smithy's Angling Centre
Tackle shop, and the place to ask where to fish and about permits. Hours: Mo 07:30-12:30; Tu,Th,Fr 07:30-17:00; We 07:45-13:00; Sa 07:00-17:00; Su 07:00-09:00
1692 Bristol Road South, Birmingham, B45 9TZ
About 11 km away
K J Tackle & Baits
Tackle shop, and the place to ask where to fish and about permits
186 Maryland Avenue, Birmingham, B34 6EA
About 7 km away
Days out and things to do
Bliston Craft Gallery and Library
Museum. Hours: Tu 10:00-17:00; We 10:00-19:00; Th 10:00-17:00; Fr 10:00-17:00; Sa 10:00-15:00
Mount Pleasant, Wolverhampton, WV14 7LU
About 15 km away
Driving schools
Community and support groups
Avery Fields Sports & Events
Community centre
79 Sandon Road, Birmingham, B17 8DS
About 4 km away
Smethwick Youth & Community Centre
Community centre
Trinity Street
About 5 km away
Langley Park Lodge Community Centre
Community centre
34 Langley High Street
About 8 km away
Royal British Legion (Oldbury)
Community centre
5 Windsor Road, Sandwell, B68 8PB
About 8 km away
Heart of Oldbury Community Centre
Community centre
31 Church Street, Sandwell, B69 3AF
About 8 km away
The Factory
Community centre
5 Devon Way, Birmingham, B31 2TS
About 11 km away
Street Teams
Community centre
51 Bradford Street, Bloxwich, WS1 3QD
About 13 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Hot towel and traditional shaves
MAJ Scissor Turkish Barber ️
Hairdresser
160 Causeway Green Road, Sandwell, B68 8LF
About 8 km away
Pavel Turkish Barber
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-We,Sa 09:00-18:00; Th,Fr 09:00-18:30; Su 10:00-16:00
High Street, Sandwell, B65 0DT
About 9 km away
Barbers and salons
Benjamin Ryan Hair
Hairdresser. Hours: We 09:00-18:00; Th-Fr 09:00-20:00; Sa 09:00-17:15
117 Edmund Street
Jakes Barbers
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu-Fr 10:00-18:00; Sa 10:00-17:00
50-54 Saint Paul's Square, Birmingham, B3 1QS
Six One Six Hair & Beauty
Hairdresser
616 Bearwood Road, B66 4BW
About 5 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Library of Birmingham
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo, Tu 11:00-19:00; We-Sa 11:00-17:00
Broad Street, Birmingham, B1 2ND
Smethwick Libary
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
100 High Street
About 5 km away
Bleakhouse Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Bleakhouse Road
About 7 km away
Brandhall Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Tame Road, Sandwell, B68 0RT
About 7 km away
Langley Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Barrs Street, Sandwell, B68 8QU
About 7 km away
Sandwell Central Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 09:30-19:00; Tu-Fr 09:30-18:00; Sa 10:00-16:00; Su off
High Street, Sandwell, B70 8DZ
About 8 km away
Rounds Green Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 09:30-13:00,14:00-17:30; We 09:30-13:00,14:00-17:00; Fr 09:30-13:00,14:00-17:00; Sa 10:00-13:00
Martley Road, Oldbury, B69 1DZ
About 9 km away
Oakham Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 10:00-13:00,14:00-17:00; We 10:00-13:00,14:00-17:00; Fr 10:00-13:00,14:00-17:00; Sa 10:00-14:00
Poplar Rise, Sandwell, B69 1RD
About 10 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 Birmingham
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