Settling in · Flintshire
Landing in Flintshire? Start here.
The first fortnight in Flintshire, 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
81 places in Flintshire 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
Salvation Army Chester
Christian, Salvation army
St Anne Street, Chester, CH1 3HU
About 17 km away
Wesley Methodist Church
Christian, Methodist
St John Street, Chester, CH1 1DA
About 17 km away
Jireh Church
Christian, Evangelical
Teehey Gardens, Bebington, Wirral, CH63 2JH
About 19 km away
St Luke's Methodist Church
Christian, Methodist
19 Market Street, Hoylake, Wirral, CH47 2BF
About 21 km away
Salvation Army Community Church
Christian, Salvation army
179 Old Chester Road, Rock Ferry, Birkenhead, CH42 3TB
About 22 km away
Hoylake Evangelical Church
Christian, Evangelical
3 Birkenhead Road, Hoylake, Wirral, CH47 5AE
About 22 km away
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Flintshire
About 8 km away
High Street Bagillt Flintshire, North Wales CH6 6HE
Worship services: Tue 6:15pm · Sat 12:00pm · Sat 3:00pm (children)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Liverpool
About 23 km away
St Laurence's School, St. Laurence Drive Birkenhead, England CH41 3JD
Worship services: Wed 7:00pm · Sun 11:00am
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
Casper Stores - Polish Supermarket
Supermarket. Hours: Mo-Sa 08:30-20:30; Su 10:00-19:00
Market Street, Wrexham, LL13 8BY
About 20 km away
Food and takeaways
Hoylake Spice
Indian, bangladeshi. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Tu 16:30-22:00; Th-Su 16:30-22:00
75 Market Street, Hoylake, Wirral, CH47 2BH
About 22 km away
Mother India Kitchen
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo 17:00-21:00; We-Su 17:00-21:00
94 Market Street, Hoylake, Wirral, CH47 3BD
About 22 km away
Ocean Star
Chinese, seafood, curry, fish, thai. takeaway
525 Pensby Road, Thingwall, Wirral, CH61 7UQ
About 18 km away
Kowloon
Chinese, fish and chips, cantonese. takeaway
Market Street, Hoylake, Wirral, CH47 3BB
About 22 km away
Golden Tiger
Chinese. takeaway
88 Market Street, Hoylake, Wirral, CH47 3BD
About 22 km away
Ali's Kebab & Pizza House
Kebab, pizza. takeaway
67 Market Street, Hoylake, Wirral, CH47 2BH
About 22 km away
The Dolphin
Chinese, fish and chips. takeaway
17 Shaw Street, Hoylake, Wirral, CH47 2BW
About 22 km away
Sports and clubs
Connah's Quay Leisure Centre
Gymnasium, fitness, soccer. Sports centre
Golftyn Lane, Connah's Quay, CH5 4BH
About 5 km away
Northop Hall Cricket Club
Cricket. Sports centre
Village Road, Northop Hall, CH7 6AZ
About 3 km away
Sports Hall
Basketball, volleyball, table tennis, soccer. Sports centre
Mold Road, Ruthin, LL15 1EE
About 13 km away
Chester Rugby Union Football Club
Rugby union. Sports centre
Tarvin Road, Littleton, CH3 7DF
About 20 km away
Deeside Leisure Centre
Ice hockey, ice skating. Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 08:30-22:00; Sa 08:00-22:00; Su 08:00-21:30
Chester Road West, Queensferry, CH5 1SA
About 8 km away
Snap Fitness
Fitness centre. Hours: 24/7
139 Telegraph Road, Heswall, Wirral, Heswall, CH60 7SE
About 15 km away
David Lloyd Clubs
Tennis. Sports centre
Stanney Lane, Ellesmere Port, CH65 9JN
About 19 km away
Wrexham Tennis Centre
Sports centre
Plas Coch Road, Wrexham, LL11 2BW
About 19 km away
RPM Fitness
Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Th 07:00-21:00; Fr 07:00-20:00; Sa-Su 09:00-14:00
Plas Coch Road, Wrexham, LL11 2BW
About 19 km away
Cheshire County Sports Club
Sports centre
Plas Newton Lane, Chester, CH2 1PR
About 19 km away
RK Health & Fitness
Fitness centre. Hours: 24/7
77 Market Street, Hoylake, Wirral, CH47 2BH
About 22 km away
Fishing spots and tackle shops
Wirral Angling Centre
Tackle shop, and the place to ask where to fish and about permits
About 21 km away
Days out and things to do
Mold Library
Museum. Hours: Mo, Th 09:00-18:00; Tu-We, Fr 09:00-17:00; Sa 09:00-13:00
Earl Road, Mold, CH7 1AP
About 4 km away
Driving schools
Community and support groups
Eirianfa Community Centre
Community centre
Factory Place, Denbigh, LL16 3TS
About 18 km away
Acton Community Resource Centre
Community centre
Overton Way, Wrexham, LL12 7LB
About 19 km away
Llanbedr Village Hall
Community centre
B5429 Llanbedr Dyffryn Clwyd, LL15 1BQ
About 12 km away
Neuadd Eleanor
Community centre
Wrexham Road, Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd, LL15 2RU
About 16 km away
Llandegla Memorial Hall
Community centre
Allt Yr Efail, Llandegla, LL11 3AR
About 16 km away
1st Upton-By-Chester Scout Group
Community centre
Upton Grange, Chester, CH2 1BG
About 17 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Hot towel and traditional shaves
Wirral Turkish Barbers
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-19:00; Sa-Su 10:00-17:00
105 Market Street, Hoylake, Wirral, CH47 5AA
About 22 km away
Barbers and salons
DD Hair & Beauty
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu-Fr 09:00-20:00; Sa 09:00-17:30
57 Frodsham Street, Chester, CH1 3JJ
About 17 km away
Denton & Hyde
Hairdresser
26-28 Faulkner Street, Chester, CH2 3BD
About 18 km away
Oliver George Hairdressing
Hairdresser
63 Faulkner Street, Chester, CH2 3BE
About 18 km away
Foye Hair Salon
Hairdresser
97 Christleton Road, Chester, CH3 5UQ
About 19 km away
Number 47 Barbers
Hairdresser
123 Christleton Road, Chester, CH3 5UQ
About 19 km away
Majestic Hair and Beauty
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo,We 09:00-17:00; Tu,Th 09:00-20:00; Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 09:00-16:00
11 Bridge Road, West Kirby, Wirral, CH48 5EX
About 20 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Connah's Quay Library and Learning Centre
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Tu 09:00-18:00; We-Fr 09:00-17:00; Sa 09:00-13:00
Wepre Drive, Wepre, CH5 4HA
About 7 km away
Ellesmere Port Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo, Th, Fr 09:00-19:00; Tu, We 09:00-17:00; Sa 09:00-13:00
Civic Way, Ellesmere Port, CH65 0BG
About 19 km away
Wrexham Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:30-18:00; Sa 09:30-16:00
Rhosddu Road, Wrexham, LL11 1AU
About 20 km away
Neston Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,We,Th 09:00-17:00; Tu 09:00-19:00; Fr 09:00-19:00; Sa 09:30-13:00; Su,PH off
Parkgate Road, Neston, CH64 6QE
About 11 km away
Ruthin Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Record Street, Ruthin, LL15 1DS
About 14 km away
Halkyn Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Oche Y Bryn, Holywell, CH8 8ES
About 4 km away
Mynydd Isa
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Bryn Road, Mynydd Isa, CH7 6UR
About 4 km away
Flint Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Church Street, Flint, CH6 5AE
About 5 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 Flintshire
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