Settling in · Belfast
Landing in Belfast? Start here.
The first fortnight in Belfast, 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
87 places in Belfast 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 Patrick's
Christian, Roman catholic
199 Donegall Street, Belfast, BT1 2FL
UTbelfast
Christian, Elim pentecostal
276 Ravenhill Road, Belfast, BT6 8GJ
About 2 km away
St Donards
Christian, Anglican
Beersbridge Road, Belfast, BT5 5DU
About 3 km away
Bloomfield Presbyterian Church
Christian, Presbyterian
447 Beersbridge Road, Belfast, BT5 5DW
About 3 km away
Kirkpatrick Memorial Presbyterian Church
Christian, Presbyterian
259 Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 3JF
About 4 km away
Forestside Christian Church
Christian
88 Belvoir Drive, Belfast, BT8 7FR
About 5 km away
Whitehouse Presbyterian Church
Christian, Presbyterian
143-145 Shore Road, Newtownabbey, BT37 9SY
About 6 km away
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses
Christian, Jehovahs witness
319 Whitewell Road, Newtownabbey, BT36 7PN
About 7 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Belfast Islamic Centre
Muslim
38 Wellington Park, Belfast, BT9 6DN
About 2 km away
Hindu temples
ISKCON Belfast
Hindu, Hare krishna
2a Brooklands Grange, Belfast, BT17 0SA
About 7 km away
Synagogues
Belfast Synagogue
Jewish, Orthodox
49 Somerton Road, Belfast, BT15 3LH
About 3 km away
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Belfast
In the area
2-4 University Avenue Belfast, BT7 1GY
Worship services: Thu 6:00pm · Sun 11:00am · Sun 1:00pm (children)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Ballymena
About 37 km away
28 Henry Street, Ballymena, Northern Ireland, BT42 3AH
Worship services: Fri 8:30pm · Sun 11:00am (Tagalog) · Sun 1:15pm (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
Decathlon
Sports. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-19:00; Su 13:00-18:00
Holywood Exchange Retail Park, Belfast, BT3 9EJ
About 6 km away
Eurospar
Supermarket. Hours: 24/7
290 Antrim Road, Newtownabbey, BT36 7QT
About 8 km away
Asia Supermarket
Supermarket. Hours: Mo-Su 09:00-18:30
40 Ormeau Embankment, Belfast, BT6 8LU
The Rangers Store
Sports
Liverpool FC
Sports
Food and takeaways
Bites of India
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Sa 11:00-23:00; Su 13:00-22:00
11 Botanic Avenue, Belfast, BT7 1JG
Emerald House
Chinese. takeaway. Hours: Mo-Fr 17:00-00:30, Sa 17:00-01:00, Su 17:00-12:00
489 Falls Road, Belfast, BT12 6DE
About 3 km away
Lee Lam House
Chinese. takeaway
5 Elesington Court, Belfast, BT6 9JY
About 3 km away
Wagamama
Asian. restaurant. Hours: Su-We 12:00-20:00; Th 12:00-20:30; Fr,Sa 12:00-21:00
1 Victoria Square, Belfast, BT1 4QG
Lee Garden Restaurant
Chinese. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 12:00-00:00
14-18 Botanic Avenue, Belfast City District, BT7 1JQ
Umi Falafel
Lebanese, palestinian. takeaway. Hours: Mo-Su 12:00-21:00
96 Botanic Avenue, Belfast, BT7 1JR
Together
Chinese. takeaway. Hours: 16:30-03:00
176 Ormeau Road, Belfast, BT7 2ED
About 2 km away
Camile
Thai. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 12:00-23:00
348 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 6GH
About 3 km away
Sports and clubs
Malone Rugby Football Club
Rugby union. Sports centre
Gibson Park Avenue, Belfast, BT6 9GL
About 3 km away
Dundela Social Club
Soccer. Sport club. Hours: Mo-Th 14:00-23:00, Fr 14:00-01:00, Sa 12:00-01:00, Su 12:00-01:00
48 Wilgar Street, Belfast
About 3 km away
Cardinal O'Donnell's Gaelic Athletics Club
Gaelic games. Sport club
43 Whiterock Road, Belfast, BT12 7PF
About 3 km away
Cregagh Sports Club
Cricket. Sports centre
The Village Green, Belfast City District, BT6 9FH
About 3 km away
Malone RFC Gibson Park
Rugby union. Sports centre
Loopland Gardens, Belfast City District, BT6 9GL
About 3 km away
Brook Leisure Centre
Multi, soccer, fitness. Sports centre
Summerhill Road, Belfast City District, BT17 0DB
About 8 km away
Lamh Dhearg GAC
Gaelic games. Sports centre
Upper Springfield Road, Belfast City District, BT17 0LT
About 7 km away
Tillysburn Park
Soccer. Sports centre
Sydenham Bypass, Belfast City District, BT3 9EJ
About 5 km away
Hydebank Playing Fields Pavilion
Soccer. Sports centre
Belvoir Road, Purdysburn, BT8 7EU
About 5 km away
Body Conscious Studio
Yoga. Fitness centre. Hours: Mo-Su 09:00-21:00
71 Botanic Avenue, Belfast, BT7 1JL
Queen's Physical Education Centre (PEC)
Multi, climbing. Sports centre
Botanic Park, Belfast, BT9 5EX
About 2 km away
Templemore Baths
Swimming, fitness. Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 06:00-22:00; Sa-Su 08:00-17:00
96 Templemore Avenue, Belfast City District, BT5 4FW
About 2 km away
Fishing spots and tackle shops
Community and support groups
Girdwood Community Hub
Community centre
10 Girdwood Avenue, Belfast City District, BT14 6EG
About 2 km away
Skainos Square
Community centre
239 Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 1AF
About 2 km away
Ledley Hall Boys And Girls Club
Community centre
1 Ledley Hall Close, Belfast, BT5 4SW
About 2 km away
Women’s Centre & Community Childcare
Community centre
19 Greenway
About 3 km away
Benview Community Centre
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Th 09:00-21:00; Tu 09:00-21:30; Fr 09:00-20:00; Sa 10:00-12:30
80 Ballysillan Park, Belfast City District, BT14 8HD
About 5 km away
Dunmurry Community Association
Community centre
248 Glenburn Road, Dunmurry, BT17 9BB
About 7 km away
Duncairn Centre for Culture and the Arts
Community centre
Duncairn Avenue, Belfast, BT14 6BP
About 2 km away
Matt Talbot Youth Club
Community centre
Moyard Parade, Belfast, BT12 7HG
About 4 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Hot towel and traditional shaves
Kurdish Barbers
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Th 09:00-18:00; Fr 09:00-19:00; Sa 09:00-17:30; Su 10:00-16:00
16 Ballygowan Road
About 4 km away
Art Turkish Barber Shop
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-18:30; Su 10:00-16:30
150 Cregagh Road
About 3 km away
Mo's Turkish Barbers
Hairdresser
Mount Eagles Square, Belfast City District, BT17 0GY
About 9 km away
Barbers and salons
Olympia Barbers
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:30-19:00; Sa 08:30-19:00; Su 09:00-17:00
332 Ormeau Road, Belfast, BT7 2GE
About 3 km away
Shankey Male Grooming
Hairdresser
358 Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 3EX
About 4 km away
Cinemas and libraries
The Linen Hall Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:30-17:30
17 Donegall Square North, Belfast City District, BT1 5GB
Suffolk LIbrary
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Stewartstown Road, Belfast, BT11 9JP
About 6 km away
Dundonald Omniplex
Cinema
Old Dundonald Road, Belfast City District, BT16 1YG
About 7 km away
Bar Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
91 Chichester Street, Belfast, BT1 3JQ
Falls Road Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
49 Falls Road, Belfast, BT12 4PD
Shankill Road Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Tu,Fr 09:30-17:30, We 13:00-17:30, Th 12:00-20:00, Sa 09:30-13:00
298-300 Shankill Road, Belfast, BT13 2BN
About 2 km away
Woodstock Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
358 Woodstock Road, Belfast City District, BT6 9DQ
About 2 km away
Holywood Arches Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu,Th,Fr 09:00-17:30; Mo 09:15-20:00; Sa 09:15-13:00
4-12 Holywood Road, Belfast, BT4 1NT
About 3 km away
Grove Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
120 York Road, Belfast, BT15 3HF
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 Belfast
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