Settling in · Arclid
Landing in Arclid? Start here.
The first fortnight in Arclid, 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
69 places in Arclid 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
St. Michael and All Angels Church
Christian, Anglican
Hightown Middlewich, CW10 9AN
About 9 km away
St Stephen's Church
Christian, Anglican
Brook Street, Congleton, CW12 1RL
About 8 km away
Middlewich Community Church
Christian, Pentecostal
34-36 Brooks Lane, Middlewich, CW10 0JG
About 9 km away
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)
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
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 4 km away
Q & J Chinese
Chinese. restaurant. Hours: Su 17:00-22:00; Mo 17:00-22:30; Tu off; We-Sa 17:00-22:30
58 West Street, CW12 1JY
About 7 km away
Beartown Spices
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 17:00-23:00
24 West Street, CW12 1JR
About 7 km away
Kingfishr Indian
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Su-Th 17:00-23:00; Fr,Sa 17:00-23:30
1 Antrobus Street, Congleton, CW12 1HG
About 7 km away
Valleys Fast Food
Pizza, burger, kebab, fried chicken. takeaway. Hours: Mo-Su 16:30-00:00
32 High Street, CW12 1BD
About 7 km away
The Hotspot
Indian. restaurant
26 High Street, Congleton, CW12 1BD
About 7 km away
East 360
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 17:00-22:00
14 Lawton Street, CW12 1RP
About 7 km away
Tandoori 22
Indian. restaurant. Hours: We-Mo 16:30-23:00; Tu off
22 Lawton Street, CW12 1RP
About 7 km away
Chopstix Chinese Takeaway
Chinese. takeaway. Hours: Mo off; Tu-Sa 17:00-23:00; PH,Su 17:00-22:30
58 Lawton Street, CW12 1RS
About 7 km away
Go East
Chinese. restaurant. Hours: Mo off; Tu-Su 17:00-22:30
20 Biddulph Road, CW12 3LG
About 8 km away
Tiger Bite Middlewich
Burger, pizza, chicken, kebab. takeaway
18 Hightown, Middlewich, CW10 9AN
About 9 km away
Sports and clubs
Sandbach Cricket Club
Cricket. Sports centre
Hind Heath Road, Sandbach, CW11 3SZ
About 5 km away
Kidsgrove Sports Centre
Fitness, swimming, football, badminton, netball, cricket nets, cricket, gym, gymnastics, hockey, futsal, basketball. Sports centre
Fourth Avenue, Stoke-on-Trent, ST7 1DR
About 9 km away
Sandbach Rugby Union Football Club
Rugby union. Sports centre
Bradwall Road, Sandbach, CW11 1SP
About 3 km away
Sandbach Community Football Centre
Soccer. Sports centre
Wheelock Rail Trail, Sandbach, CW11 3WA
About 5 km away
The Victoria Club
Bowls, cricket, tennis. Sports centre
Victoria Avenue, Holmes Chapel, CW4 7HG
About 5 km away
Congleton Cricket and Bowling Club
Cricket, bowls. Sports centre
West Street, Congleton, CW12 1AB
About 6 km away
Congleton Snooker Club
Snooker. Sport club. Hours: Mo off; Tu-Fr 17:00-22:00; Sa off; Su 12:00-18:00
Royle Street, Congleton, CW12 1HR
About 7 km away
Aptitude Personal Training
Fitness centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 06:00-21:00; Sa,Su 07:00-16:00
Moody Street, CW12 4AP
About 7 km away
Fishing spots and tackle shops
Smith's Bait & Tackle
Tackle shop, and the place to ask where to fish and about permits
Brook Street, Congleton, CW12 1RH
About 8 km away
Daves of Middlewich Angling Supercentre
Tackle shop, and the place to ask where to fish and about permits
About 9 km away
Driving schools
911 Driver Training
Driving school
Wheelock Street, Middlewich, CW10 9AB
About 9 km away
Community and support groups
1st Buglawton Scout Group
Community centre
St. Johns Road, Congleton, CW12 2BH
About 8 km away
Holmes Chapel Community Centre
Community centre
Station Road, Holmes Chapel, CW4 8AA
About 5 km away
Mow Cop Communnity Hall
Community centre
Congleton Road, Staffordshire Moorlands, ST7 3PN
About 9 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 3 km away
Barbers and salons
Birdhouse Hair Room
Hairdresser. Hours: We-Th 08:00-09:00; Fr 09:00-17:00; Sa-Su 08:00-16:00
Antrobus Street, Congleton
About 7 km away
Mario's Barber Shop
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 09:00-17:00; Su 10:00-16:00
10 Rood Hill, Congleton, CW12 1LG
About 7 km away
Roger’s Barber Shops
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 08:30-16:45; Su off
30 High Street, CW12 1BD
About 7 km away
Barbertini
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Tu 09:00-18:00; We-Th 09:00-19:00; Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 08:30-17:00; Su 09:00-17:00
3/5 Park Lane, Congleton, CW12 3DN
About 7 km away
Alter Ego Barber Shop
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-We,Fr 09:00-18:00; Th 09:00-19:00; Sa 08:30-17:00; Su 10:00-14:00
24 Biddulph Road, CW12 3LG
About 8 km away
Cinemas and libraries
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 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 9 km away
Sandbach Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,Tu,Fr 10:00-17:00; We 10:00-18:00; Sa 09:00-13:00
The Commons, Sandbach, CW11 1FJ
About 3 km away
Alsager Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Sandbach Road North, Stoke-on-Trent, ST7 2QH
About 7 km away
Kidsgrove Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Meadows Road, Stoke-on-Trent, ST7 1BS
About 9 km away
Congleton Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 10:00-19:00; Tu-Th 10:00-17:00; Fr 10:00-13:00; Sa 09:00-13:00
About 7 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 Arclid
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