Settling in · Cheshire
Landing in Cheshire? Start here.
The first fortnight in Cheshire, 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 Cheshire 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
Chester Road Methodist Church
Christian, Methodist
Chester Road, Winsford, CW7 2NG
Church of Saint John the Evangelist
Christian, Anglican
Delamere Street, Winsford, CW7 2LY
Salvation Army Hall
Christian, Salvation army
Weaver Street, Winsford, CW7 4AA
About 2 km away
Saint Mary's, Whitegate
Christian, Anglican
Whitegate Lane, Northwich, CW8 2AY
About 2 km away
Over, St Chad's Church
Christian, Anglican
Swanlow Lane, Winsford, CW7 4DA
About 3 km away
Christ Church Wharton
Christian, Anglican
Crook Lane, Winsford, CW7 3DR
About 3 km away
St. Michael and All Angels Church
Christian, Anglican
Hightown Middlewich, CW10 9AN
About 7 km away
Saint Marks Methodist Church
Christian, Methodist
Bramhall Road, CW2 8PZ
About 13 km away
The Salvation Army Worship Centre
Christian, Salvation army
Prince Albert Street, Crewe, CW1 2DF
About 14 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Buddhist temples and centres
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Manchester
About 32 km away
101 Edge Lane, Stretford, Manchester, M32 8PU
Worship services: Tue 7:00pm · Sat 8:00am (Tagalog) · Sat 11:00am · Sat 1:00pm (children)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Liverpool
About 38 km away
St Laurence's School, St. Laurence Drive Birkenhead, England CH41 3JD
Worship services: Wed 7:00pm · Sun 11:00am
Iglesia ni Cristo, Flintshire
About 42 km away
High Street Bagillt Flintshire, North Wales CH6 6HE
Worship services: Tue 6:15pm · Sat 12:00pm · Sat 3:00pm (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
Kraków Polski Sklep
Supermarket
101 Buttermarket Street, Warrington, WA1 2NL
About 21 km away
Bigwin Asian Mart
Supermarket. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-17:00; Su off
40 High Street, Sandbach, CW11 1AN
About 14 km away
Food and takeaways
Bombay Lounge
Indian. restaurant
183 Wharton Road, Winsford, CW7 3AU
About 3 km away
Fantastic Pizza
Kebab, burger, pizza. takeaway
39 Wheelock Street, Middlewich, CW10 9AB
About 7 km away
Balti Spice
Indian. restaurant
8 - 10, Hightown, Middlewich, CW10 9AN
About 7 km away
Tiger Bite Middlewich
Burger, pizza, chicken, kebab. takeaway
18 Hightown, Middlewich, CW10 9AN
About 7 km away
Elephant Bistro
Thai. restaurant
95-97 Victoria Street, Crewe, CW1 2JN
About 13 km away
Phanthong Thai
Thai. restaurant. Hours: Tu-Sa 17:30-23:00, We-Sa 12:00-15:00, Su 12:00-21:00; Mo off
2-4 Crewe Road, Sandbach, CW11 4NE
About 14 km away
Curry Magic
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 11:00-23:00
Nantwich Road, Crewe, CW2 6GX
About 14 km away
Chopstix
Chinese. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 17:00-22:00
33 Beam Street, Nantwich, CW5 5NA
About 15 km away
McDoner's
Kebab, pizza, burger, chicken. takeaway
80 Wheelock Street, Middlewich, CW10 9AE
About 7 km away
Satay Pan Asian Restaurant
Chinese. restaurant. Hours: Mo off; Tu-Su,PH 17:00-23:00
22 London Road, Warrington, WA4 6HN
About 19 km away
Sports and clubs
Sandbach Cricket Club
Cricket. Sports centre
Hind Heath Road, Sandbach, CW11 3SZ
About 13 km away
Sandbach Rugby Union Football Club
Rugby union. Sports centre
Bradwall Road, Sandbach, CW11 1SP
About 13 km away
Legends Sports Centre
Cricket, soccer, tennis, badminton, bowls. Sports centre
About 12 km away
Moore Rugby Union Club
Rugby union. Sport club
Moss Lane, Moore, Warrington, WA4 6UU
About 18 km away
Fishing spots and tackle shops
Warrington Anglers Association
Tackle shop, and the place to ask where to fish and about permits
52 Parker Street, Warrington, WA1 1LT
About 21 km away
Daves of Middlewich Angling Supercentre
Tackle shop, and the place to ask where to fish and about permits
About 7 km away
Rippa Tackle
Tackle shop, and the place to ask where to fish and about permits
121 Nantwich Road, Crewe, CW2 6BA
About 14 km away
Driving schools
911 Driver Training
Driving school
Wheelock Street, Middlewich, CW10 9AB
About 7 km away
Community and support groups
Worleston Village Hall
Community centre
Main Road, Crewe, CW5 6DN
About 11 km away
Appleton Thorn Village Hall
Community centre. Hours: Th-Su 18:00-22:30; Mo-We off, Su 13:00-16:00
Stretton Road, Appleton Thorn, Warrington, WA4 4RT
About 17 km away
St Wilfrid's Parish Centre
Community centre
Warrington WA4 3ES
About 19 km away
Sankey Bridges Community Centre
Community centre
339 Old Liverpool Road, Sankey Bridges, Warrington, WA5 1EB
About 21 km away
Contact Warrington
Community centre
30 Horsemarket Street, Warrington, WA1 1XL
About 21 km away
Warrington Youth Zone
Community centre
Dallam Lane, Warrington, WA2 7NG
About 22 km away
Whitecross Community Centre
Community centre
Lexden Street, Bewsey, Warrington, WA5 1PT
About 22 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Hot towel and traditional shaves
Vedat Turkish Barber
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-We,Fr 09:00-18:00; Th 09:00-19:00; Sa 09:00-17:00; Su off
Penda Way, Sandbach, CW11 1GS
About 14 km away
Barbers and salons
Colorz Unisex Salon
Hairdresser
12 Hightown, Middlewich, CW10 9AN
About 7 km away
Weaver Hair & Beauty Care
Hairdresser
239 Weaver Street, Winsford, CW7 4AJ
About 2 km away
Winsford Hair Centre
Hairdresser
1 West Dudley Street, Winsford, CW7 3AG
About 3 km away
Number 47 Barbers
Hairdresser
123 Christleton Road, Chester, CH3 5UQ
About 21 km away
Paul Kemp Hairdressing
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu 09:00-17:00; We-Th 11:00-20:00; Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 08:30-16:30
83 Sankey Street, Warrington, WA1 1SL
About 21 km away
Foye Hair Salon
Hairdresser
97 Christleton Road, Chester, CH3 5UQ
About 21 km away
Kemp & Collins Hair & Beauty
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-20:00; Sa 08:30-17:00
60 Sankey Street, Warrington, WA1 1SB
About 21 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Winsford Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
High Street, Winsford, CW7 2AS
About 2 km away
Wharton Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Willow Square, Winsford, CW7 3HP
About 3 km away
Sandiway Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo, Th 09:30-13:00,14:00-17:00; Tu,Fr 09:30-13:00,14:00-19:00; Sa 09:30-13:00
Mere Lane, Sandiway, CW8 2NS
About 5 km away
Middlewich Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:30-17:00; We off; Th 09:30-19:00; Sa 09:30-13:00
Lewin Street, Middlewich, CW10 9AS
About 7 km away
Northwich Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
89 Witton Street, Northwich, CW9 5DR
About 7 km away
Holmes Chapel Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Tu,Fr 09:30-17:00; We,Sa 09:30-13:00; Th 09:30-19:00
London Road, Holmes Chapel, CW4 7AH
About 13 km away
Crewe Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:30-18:00; Sa 09:00-13:00
Moss Square, CW1 2BB
About 14 km away
Tattenhall Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,Th,Sa 10:00-13:00; Tu,Fr 14:00-17:00
Chester Road, Chester, CH3 9AH
About 17 km away
Widnes Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,We,Fr 10:00-17:00; Tu,Th 09:00-19:00; Sa 10:00-14:30
Victoria Square, Widnes, WA8 7QY
About 22 km away
Penketh Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-We 10:00-13:00, 14:00-17:00; Th 10:00-13:00, 14:00-18:00; Sa 09:30-13:00
Honiton Way, WA5 2EY
About 22 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 Cheshire
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