Settling in · Alvechurch
Landing in Alvechurch? Start here.
The first fortnight in Alvechurch, 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
66 places in Alvechurch 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 - Bromsgrove
Christian, Salvation army
Carlyle Road, Bromsgrove, B60 2PN
About 7 km away
New Song Community Church
Christian, Evangelical
Broad Street, Bromsgrove, B61 8LW
About 7 km away
St. Andrew's Methodist Church
Christian, Methodist. Hours: Mo-Su 08:00-17:00
Cartland Road, Birmingham, B30 2RD
About 9 km away
Barnt Green Baptist Church
Christian, Baptist
6 Margesson Drive, Bromsgrove, B45 8LR
About 2 km away
Catholic Church of St John Fisher
Christian, Catholic
Cofton Road, Birmingham, B31 3QT
About 5 km away
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witness
Christian, Jehovahs witness
Oswald Street, Redditch, B98 7DN
About 6 km away
Catholic Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour
Christian, Catholic
Quarry Walk, Birmingham, B45 9BQ
About 6 km away
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Birmingham
About 15 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
Euro Express International Supermarket
Convenience. Hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-21:00; Su 10:00-19:00
1541 Pershore Road, Birmingham, B30 2JH
About 8 km away
Food and takeaways
Rainbow Garden
Cantonese, chinese. takeaway. Hours: Tu-Su 17:00-10:15
1225 Pershore Road, Birmingham, B30 2YT
About 9 km away
Taste of Chennai
Indian, south indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-21:00; Sa-Su 09:00-21:00
12 Oak Tree Lane, Birmingham, B29 6HX
About 10 km away
New Orient Cantonese Takeaway
Chinese. restaurant
60 Worcester Road, Bromsgrove, B61 7AE
About 7 km away
Sports and clubs
HL Therapy
Yoga, pilates. Fitness centre
1401 Bristol Road South, Birmingham, B31 2SU
About 5 km away
Linden Road Instruction Pool
Swimming. Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-21:00; Sa 08:15-18:30; Su 08:15-16:15
Linden Road, Birmingham, B30 1JR
About 9 km away
Studio 88 Reformer Pilates
Pilates. Fitness centre. Hours: "by appointment"
1272 Pershore Road, Birmingham, B30 2XU
About 9 km away
Perfection Snooker Club
Snooker, pool. Sport club. Hours: Mo-Su 12:00-00:00
1239 Pershore Road, Birmingham, B30 2YT
About 9 km away
Laser Conflict Ltd (The Golf Centre)
Laser tag. Sports centre
Brickyard Lane, Redditch, B80 7EE
About 9 km away
Abbey Stadium Sports Centre
Swimming, fitness. Sports centre
Bordesley Lane, Redditch, B97 6EJ
About 4 km away
Fishing spots and tackle shops
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 5 km away
Community and support groups
The Factory
Community centre
5 Devon Way, Birmingham, B31 2TS
About 5 km away
Batchley Community Centre
Community centre
38 Cherry Tree Walk, Redditch, B97 6PD
About 5 km away
Rowheath Pavilion
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-17:00; Su 10:00-16:00
Heath Road, Birmingham, B30 1HH
About 8 km away
The Shed
Community centre. Hours: "Run by volunteers. No set opening, but aligns to scheduled events, and weather dependent."
Franklin Road, Birmingham, B30 2HF
About 8 km away
1st Bournville Scout Group (100th Birmingham)
Community centre
Laurel Grove, Birmingham, B30 1LE
About 8 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Barbers and salons
D's International Barbers
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo 12:00-19:00; Tu-Sa 09:00-19:00
1616 Pershore Road, Birmingham, B30 3BL
About 8 km away
Clay Hair Studio
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu-We 11:00-18:00; Th 11:00-20:00; Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 09:00-17:00
1555 Pershore Road, Birmingham, B30 2JH
About 8 km away
Harris Hair Studio
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-18:00; Su 11:00-15:00
1541 Pershore Road, Birmingham, B30 2NW
About 8 km away
Ninety Degree Barbershop
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Th 10:00-19:00; Fr 09:00-19:00; Sa 09:00-18:00
1503 Pershore Road, Birmingham, B30 2JL
About 9 km away
Joshuaa Shaun Hairdressing
Hairdresser. Hours: We 09:00-17:00; Th 09:00-19:00; Fr-Sa 09:00-17:00
1259 Pershore Road, Birmingham, B30 2YT
About 9 km away
Hannah Swan Hair & Beauty
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu-We 09:00-18:00; Th 09:00-19:00; Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 08:30-15:00
1229 Pershore Road, Birmingham, B30 2YT
About 9 km away
The Finery Barbers
Hairdresser
31 Raddlebarn Road, Birmingham, B29 6HH
About 10 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Bromsgrove Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 09:00-19:00; Tu-Fr 09:00-17:00; Sa 10:00-16:00
Market Street, Bromsgrove, B61 8DA
About 7 km away
Rubery Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,Tu,Fr 09:30-17:00; Th 09:30-18:00; Sa 10:00-14:00
7 Library Way, Birmingham, B45 9JS
About 6 km away
Catshill Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Barley Mow Lane, Bromsgrove, B61 0LP
About 7 km away
Kings Norton Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Pershore Road South, Birmingham, B30 3EU
About 7 km away
Frankley Community Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,We,Fr 09:00-13:00, 14:00-17:00
Birmingham B45 0EU
About 7 km away
Northfield Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,Tu,Sa 09:00-13:00,14:00-17:00; Th 10:00-13:00,14:00-18:00
Church Road, Birmingham, B31 2JW
About 7 km away
Druids Heath Community Library & Neighbourhood Centre
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Idmiston Croft, Birmingham, B14 5NL
About 8 km away
Stirchley Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu 09:00-17:00; We 10:00-13:00,14:00-17:00; Sa 09:00-13:00,14:00-17:00
Bournville Lane, Birmingham, B30 2JY
About 9 km away
Weoley Castle Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Beckbury Road, Birmingham, B29 5HT
About 10 km away
Bartley Green Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu, We 09:00-13:00, 14:00-17:00
Adams Hill, Birmingham, B32 3QG
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 Alvechurch
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