Settling in · Abertawe
Landing in Abertawe? Start here.
The first fortnight in Abertawe, 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
73 places in Abertawe 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 - Skewen Temple
Christian, Salvation army
Bethlehem Road, Skewen, Neath, SA10 6AW
About 8 km away
Dunvant Christian Fellowship
Christian, Evangelical
Dunvant Road, Dunvant, SA2 7SJ
About 6 km away
Zion Waunarlwydd Baptist Chapel
Christian, Baptist
Swansea Road, Waunarlwydd, SA5 4SU
About 5 km away
St Joachim and St Anne Roman Catholic Church
Christian, Roman catholic
Llys Teg, Dunvant, SA2 7QQ
About 6 km away
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Swansea
About 5 km away
Llansamlet Community Centre Church Road Llansamlet, Swansea, Wales SA7-9RH
Worship services: Wed 6:30pm · Sun 10:00am
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
Food and takeaways
Cwtchitas
Mexican. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Sa 12:00-21:00; Su 09:00-18:00
24 Wind Street, Swansea, SA1 1DY
Sports and clubs
Joma High Performance Centre
Soccer. Sports centre
Beaufort Road, Swansea, SA6 8AX
About 3 km away
Fairwood Playing Fields
Soccer, rugby union, hockey. Sports centre
Fairwood Lane, Upper Killay, SA2 7JX
About 8 km away
Total Self Protection
Martial arts. Sports centre
Caer-Gynydd Road, Waunarlwydd, SA5 4RH
About 5 km away
Evans Bevan Playing Field
Seven-a-side, cricket. Sports centre
Pinewood Terrace, Baglan, SA12 8BG
About 9 km away
Tycoch Sports Centre
Squash, badminton, gymnastics, yoga, soccer. Sports centre
Tycoch Road, Swansea, SA2 9EB
About 3 km away
Flashpoint Swansea
Climbing, rock climbing. Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-22:00; Sa-Su 10:00-19:00
5A Parc Tawe Link Road, Swansea, SA1 2AL
Crazyclimb Swansea
Climbing, rock climbing gym. Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00 - 17:30; Sa-Su 10:00-19:00
Parc Tawe Link Road, Swansea, SA1 2AL
Par&Co. Golf Lounge
Gold, darts. Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Su 08:00-22:00
28 Craddock Street, Swansea, SA1 3EP
Days out and things to do
Community and support groups
Forge Fach Community Resource Centre
Community centre
Forge Fach, Clydach, SA6 5BX
About 9 km away
The Environment Centre Swansea
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-16:00
Pier Street, Swansea, SA1 1QT
Brynmill Community Centre
Community centre
St. Albans Road, Swansea, SA2 0BP
About 2 km away
Murton Methodist Church Hall
Community centre
Manselfield Road, Murton, SA3 3AP
About 8 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Barbers and salons
Murphy's
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 08:30-17:30; Sa 08:30-00:30
Walter Road, Swansea, SA1 5NW
Floyds Hairdressing
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu-Sa 09:00-17:00
164 Port Tennant Road, Swansea, SA1 8JT
Cinemas and libraries
South Wales Miner's Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu,Th,Fr 11:00-17:00; We 09:00-19:00, Sa 10:00-16:00
277-278 Oxford Street, Swansea, SA1 3AE
St Thomas Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
80 Grenfell Park Road, Swansea, SA1 8EZ
Swansea Central Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Oystermouth Road, Swansea, SA1 3SN
Law Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Mumbles Road, Swansea, SA2 0AX
About 3 km away
Library and Information Centre
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Mumbles Road, Swansea, SA2 8PP
About 3 km away
Sketty Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Th 10:00-17:30; Fr 10:00-19:00; Sa 10:00-17:00
Vivian Road, Swansea, SA2 0UN
About 3 km away
Penlan Community Centre and Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Heol Frank, Swansea, SA5 7AH
About 3 km away
Bay Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: 24/7
Llandarcy SA1 8DD
About 4 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 Abertawe
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