Settling in · Newcastle upon Tyne
Landing in Newcastle upon Tyne? Start here.
The first fortnight in Newcastle upon Tyne, 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
95 places in Newcastle upon Tyne 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
Saint Luke's Church
Christian, Anglican
Claremont Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4AH
Church of Saint Thomas the Martyr
Christian, Anglican
Saint Mary's Place, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7PF
City Church
Christian, New frontiers
Melbourne Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 2JQ
Kings Castle
Christian
Brinkburn Street South, Newcastle Upon Tyne
About 3 km away
The Salvation Army - Newcastle City Temple
Christian, Salvation army
29-31 Stamfordham Road, Cowgate, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE5 3JQ
About 3 km away
Regent Chapel
Christian
Regent Farm Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 3HD
About 3 km away
Walker Parish Church
Christian, Anglican
Duncan Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 3BS
About 5 km away
Church of St John the Evangelist
Christian, Anglican
Kingston Park Avenue, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 2HB
About 5 km away
Westerhope Methodist Church
Christian, Methodist
Stamfordham Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE5 5HA
About 5 km away
St Mark's RC Church
Christian, Roman catholic
Trevelyan Drive, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE5 4BT
About 5 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Gosforth Prayer Hall
Muslim
Christon Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 1XD
About 3 km away
North Tyneside Bangladeshi Community Association & Mosque
Muslim
6 Esplanade Place, North Tyneside, NE26 2AR
About 13 km away
Gurdwaras
Gurdwara Shaheed Baba Deep Singh Ji
Sikh
Edgefield Avenue, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 3AB
About 4 km away
Synagogues
Other places of worship
Chester-le-Street Spiritualist Centre
Spiritualist
2 Ashley Terrace, Chester-le-Street, DH3 3EY
About 14 km away
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, North Shields
About 11 km away
1A Stormont Street, North Shields, Tyne and Wear, NE29 OEY
Worship services: Thu 7:00pm · Sun 10:00am · Sun 12:00pm (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
Wing Hong Chinese Supermarket
Supermarket
45-51 Stowell Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4YB
Georgia's Filipino & Oriental Food Supply
Convenience
482 Elswick Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 8ED
About 2 km away
Afro Asian Food Market
Supermarket. Hours: Mo-Sa 08:00-18:00
Durham Road, Birtley, DH3 2PG
About 10 km away
Taste the Orient
Supermarket. stocks Chinese goods
64-68 Clayton Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 5PF
M A Brothers Asian Supermarket
Supermarket
177 Elswick Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 6SR
About 2 km away
Sami Swoi - Polish Convenience & Butcher
Convenience
369 Elswick Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 8DY
About 2 km away
Food and takeaways
Kato Pan Asian Cuisine
Asian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:30-19:00; Sa-Su 11:00-18:00
20 Saville Row, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8JE
Palace Garden
Chinese. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 12:00-23:15
45-51 Stowell Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4YB
City Take Away
Pizza, kebab. takeaway. Hours: Su-Th 10:00-04:00;Fr-Sa 10:00-05:00
44 Pilgrim Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 6SE
Las Iguanas
Mexican. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Th 11:00-22:30; Fr-Sa 11:00-23:00; Su 11:00-22:30
62-74 Grey Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 6AF
Zapatista Burrito Bar
Mexican. restaurant. Hours: Mo-We 11:30-19:00; Th-Sa 11:30-20:00; Su 11:30-18:00
9 Grainger Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 5DQ
Purple Peacock
Asian. restaurant. Hours: Su-Th 12:00-22:00, Fr-Sa 12:00-01:00
Pilgrim Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 6BL
Rani Restaurant
Indian, punjabi, authentic. restaurant. Hours: Mo - Su 17:30 - 23:30
2 Queen Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 3UG
Ury
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Su-Th 12:00-15:00,17:30-22:30; Fr 12:00-23:00; Sa 12:00-15:00,17:30-23:00
27 Queen Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 3UG
Aneesa's Buffet Restaurant
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Th 16:00-22:00, Fr 16:00-23:00; Sa 12:00-23:00; Su 12:00-22:00
Forster Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 2NH
About 2 km away
House of Aroma
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Tu-Su 12:00-23:00
Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 9BN
About 2 km away
Siam Supreme
Thai. restaurant. Hours: Th-Su 15:00-22:00
160 Heaton Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 5HP
About 2 km away
Sports and clubs
South Northumberland Cricket Club
Cricket. Sport club
Roseworth Terrace, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 1LU
About 3 km away
Blaydon RFC
Rugby. Sports centre
Hexham Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE16 3BN
About 6 km away
The Northumberland Club
Tennis, squash, badminton, fitness. Sports centre
North Jesmond Avenue, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 3JU
About 2 km away
Soccerworld
Fitness centre
West Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 9LG
About 3 km away
Swalwell Cricket Club
Cricket. Sports centre
Derwent Walk, Gateshead, NE21 6JA
About 6 km away
Gateshead Rugby Football Club
Rugby football. Sports centre
Eastwood Gardens, Gateshead, NE9 5UB
About 5 km away
Tyneside Badminton Centre
Badminton. Sports centre
Bowness Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE5 2TA
About 4 km away
Durham Community Boxing Club
Boxing. Sports centre
Cathedral Park, Carrville, DH1 1TF
About 22 km away
Swalwell Juniors Football Club
Soccer. Sports centre
A694 Gateshead, NE21 6JA
About 6 km away
Newcastle City Cricket Club
Cricket. Sports centre
Kingston Park Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 2NA
About 4 km away
Fishing spots and tackle shops
Tyneside Angling
Tackle shop, and the place to ask where to fish and about permits
Shields Road West, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 1JN
About 2 km away
Days out and things to do
The Valley
Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 07:00-22:00; Sa-Su 10:00-20:00
Quality Row, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 1LN
About 2 km away
Eden Rock Newcastle
Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-22:00; Sa-Su 09:00-20:00
4-6 Greenhead Drive, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 4NQ
About 4 km away
Clip And Climb
Sports centre. Hours: 10:00-21:00; Fr,Sa 10:00-22:00
Scotswood View, Gateshead, NE11 9YQ
About 4 km away
Driving schools
Art Of Motorcycling
Driving school
4 Elm Road, North Tyneside, NE29 8SE
About 9 km away
Community and support groups
Tyneside Irish Centre
Community centre
43-49 Gallowgate, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4SG
ISKCON Newcastle
Community centre
304 Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 6AR
The Angelou Centre
Community centre
17 Brighton Grove, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 5NS
Joseph Cowan Healthcare Centre
Community centre
8 Wilfred Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 1JQ
About 2 km away
FAR - Fenham Assocation Of Residents
Community centre
Acanthus Avenue, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 9YD
About 3 km away
Heaton Community Centre
Community centre
Trewhitt Road, Heaton, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 5DY
About 3 km away
Dunston Activity Centre
Community centre
Ellison Road, Gateshead, NE11 9SS
About 4 km away
Lukes Lane Community Centre
Community centre
Marine Drive, South Tyneside, NE31 2BA
About 8 km away
The Cedarwood Trust
Community centre
43 Avon Avenue, North Tyneside, NE29 7QT
About 10 km away
Linskill Centre
Community centre
Linskill Terrace, North Tyneside, NE30 2AY
About 12 km away
Apna Ghar Minority Ethnic Women's Centre
Community centre
124 Ocean Road, South Tyneside, NE33 2JF
About 12 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Hot towel and traditional shaves
Best Turkish Barbers
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-18:00; Su 09:00-13:00
Canterbury Way, North Tyneside, NE13 6JJ
About 7 km away
Barbers and salons
Salon M Hair
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30; We 09:00-18:30; Th 10:00-20:00; Su off
14 Shakespeare Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 6AQ
Skullduggeri
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Tu 10:00-17:00; We-Fr 10:00-18:00; Th 10:00-20:00; Sa 08:30-16:30; Su off
14-16 Grey Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 6AE
City Crew
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu-Fr 09:00-18:00; Th 09:00-19:00; Sa 09:00-17:00; Su-Mo off
52 Dean Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1PG
Compton's Barber Shop
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-We 09:00-17:30; Th 09:00-18:00; Fr 08:00-17:30; Sa 08:00-16:00
197 Shields Road, Byker, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 1DP
About 3 km away
Rascals Barbershop
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu-We 10:00-19:00; Th 10:00-20:00; Fr 10:00-19:00; Sa 08:00-14:00
Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 2HL
About 3 km away
Hair & Beauty By Claire h
Hairdresser
Cromwell Terrace, Gateshead, NE8 1TL
About 3 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Philip Robinson Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Jesmond Road West, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HQ
Lit & Phil
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo, We-Th 09:00-19:00; Tu 09:30-20:00; Fr 09:30-17:00; Sa 09:30-13:00
23 Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1SE
Star And Shadow Cinema
Cinema
Warwick Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 1BB
About 2 km away
Gateshead Central Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,Th 09:00-19:00; Tu,We,Fr 09:00-17:00; Sa 09:00-13:00; Su off
Prince Consort Road, Gateshead, NE8 4LN
About 3 km away
North Shields Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-17:30; Sa 09:00-13:00
Northumberland Square, North Tyneside, NE30 1QU
About 12 km away
Monkseaton Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu,Fr 09:00-13:00,14:00-17:30; Sa 10:00-13:00
Woodleigh Road, North Tyneside, NE25 8ET
About 12 km away
City Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
New Bridge Street West, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8AX
Whitley Bay Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-17:30; Sa 09:00-13:00
York Road, North Tyneside, NE26 1AB
About 13 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 Newcastle upon Tyne
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