Settling in · Bedford
Landing in Bedford? Start here.
The first fortnight in Bedford, 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
72 places in Bedford 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
Astley Christian Fellowship
Christian, Evangelical
530 Manchester Road, Wigan, M29 7BP
About 3 km away
Heath Street Methodist Church
Christian, Methodist
Heath Street, Golborne, WA3 3AD
About 7 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Other places of worship
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Manchester
About 14 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)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Liverpool
About 37 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
Food and takeaways
Cottage Tandoori
Indian. restaurant
Manchester Road, Salford, M28 3JX
About 7 km away
D'Grand Haveli
Indian. restaurant
Liverpool Road, Salford, M44 6FF
About 7 km away
Nando's
Chicken, portuguese. restaurant
New Ellesmere Approach, Salford, M28 3UD
About 7 km away
Shun Hing Supper Bar
Chinese. takeaway
1 Admirals Road, Birchwood, Warrington, WA3 6QG
About 9 km away
Sports and clubs
Golborne Sports & Social Club
Bowls, cricket, field hockey, soccer, tennis. Sports centre
Manor Avenue, Wigan, WA3 3JX
About 6 km away
CorpAcq Stadium - Community Pitches
Soccer, rugby league. Sports centre
Salford Western Gateway, Salford, M30 7NG
About 8 km away
Bolton Cricket Club
Bowls, cricket, tennis. Sports centre
Doe Hey Road, Bolton, BL3 2LW
About 9 km away
Bolton Indian Sports Club
Soccer, cricket. Sports centre
Hacken Lane, Bolton, BL3 1SD
About 10 km away
Worsley Leisure Centre
Multi. Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Th 06:00-22:00;Fr 06:00-21:00;Sa-Su 08:00-16:00
Bridgewater Road, Salford, M28 3AB
About 7 km away
Fishing spots and tackle shops
Days out and things to do
Community and support groups
Stubshaw Cross Community and Sports Club
Community centre
Walter Street, Wigan, WN4 8TP
About 9 km away
Wargrave Big Local
Community centre
143 Alder Street, St Helens, WA12 8HR
About 10 km away
Hilton Street Childcare and Community Centre
Community centre
Hilton Street, Wigan, WN4 8PD
About 9 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Hot towel and traditional shaves
Barbers and salons
Cinemas and libraries
Boothstown Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 13:30-19:00; Tu 09:00-12:30,13:30-17:00; We 09:30-12:30; Th-Fr 09:00-12:30,13:30-17:00; Sa 09:30-12:30
Standfield Drive, Manchester, M28 1NB
About 5 km away
Little Hulton Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 08:30-12:30,13:30-18:00; Tu 08:30-12:30; We-Fr 08:30-12:30,13:30-17:30; Sa 09:00-13:00
Longshaw Drive, Manchester, M28 0AZ
About 6 km away
Golborne Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-We 09:00-14:00; Th-Fr 12:00-17:00; Sa 09:00-14:00
Tanners Lane, Golborne, WA3 3AW
About 7 km away
Walkden Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Th 08:00-22:00;Fr 08:00-19:30;Sa 09:00-13:00
2 Smith Street, Manchester, M28 3EZ
About 7 km away
Irlam Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 09:00-18:30; Tu 09:00-17:30; We 09:00-13:00; Th-Fr 09:00-17:30; Sa 09:00-13:00
Liverpool Road, Manchester, M44 6FD
About 7 km away
Worsley Village Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Tu 10:00-13:00,14:00-17:00; Th 14:00-17:00; Fr 10:00-13:00; Sa 11:00-13:00
Worsley Road, Manchester, M28 2PB
About 8 km away
Winton Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 09:30-13:00,14:00-19:00; Tu 09:30-13:00,14:00-17:30; Th-Fr 09:30-13:00,14:00-17:30; Sa 09:00-13:00
Old Parrin Lane, Manchester, M30 8BY
About 8 km away
Cadishead Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 08:30-19:00; Sa 08:30-13:00
126 Liverpool Road, Manchester, M44 5AN
About 9 km away
Tyldesley Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Meanley Street, Wigan, M29 8AJ
About 3 km away
Leigh Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
St Mary's Way, Wigan, WN7 1EB
About 2 km away
Atherton Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
York Street, Wigan, M46 9JH
About 3 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 Bedford
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