Settling in · Birchwood
Landing in Birchwood? Start here.
The first fortnight in Birchwood, 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
85 places in Birchwood 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.
Nothing nearby matches that yet. Try a shorter word.
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
Emmaus Church
Christian
27 Capesthorne Road, Warrington, WA2 9AP
About 3 km away
Latchford Methodist Church
Christian, Methodist
2 Thelwall Lane, Warrington, WA4 1LH
About 5 km away
Saint John Henry Newman Catholic Church
Christian, Catholic
Knutsford Road, Warrington, WA4 1JE
About 5 km away
The Salvation Army
Christian, Salvation army
Academy Street, Warrington, WA1 2BQ
About 5 km away
Quakers
Christian, Quaker
1 Academy Place, Warrington, WA1 2NR
About 5 km away
Holy Trinity
Christian, Anglican
Market Gate, Warrington, WA1 2QN
About 5 km away
Cairo Street Unitarian Chapel
Christian, Unitarian
Cairo Street, Warrington, WA1 1EE
About 5 km away
St John's United Reformed Church
Christian, Reformed
201 Wilderspool Causeway, Warrington, WA4 6QE
About 6 km away
Bethany Church
Christian
301 Old Liverpool Road, Warrington, WA5 1DZ
About 7 km away
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Manchester
About 16 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 33 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
Wisla Polish Store
Supermarket. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-20:00; Sa 09:00-21:00; Su 10:00-20:00
145 Orford Lane, Warrington, WA2 7AZ
About 4 km away
Kraków Polski Sklep
Supermarket
101 Buttermarket Street, Warrington, WA1 2NL
About 5 km away
Pak World Supermarket
Supermarket. Hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-20:30; Su 10:00-20:00
111 Bewsey Road, Warrington, WA5 0JT
About 6 km away
Supreme Osagie Afro Caribbean Supermarket
Supermarket
100A Lord Street, Wigan, WN7 1AG
About 9 km away
Food and takeaways
Poplars Kebab & Pizza House
Kebab, pizza. takeaway. Hours: Mo-Su 15:00-22:30
129 Poplars Avenue, Orford, Warrington, WA2 9LW
About 3 km away
China Garden
Chinese. restaurant. Hours: We-Mo 16:30-21:30
6 Central Avenue, Warrington, WA2 8BD
About 4 km away
Aleef
Indian. restaurant
20D Gough Avenue, Warrington, WA2 9QP
About 4 km away
Golden Bowl
Chinese. restaurant. Hours: Tu-Su 16:30-22:30
107 Orford Lane, Warrington, WA2 7AR
About 5 km away
Nando's
Chicken, portuguese. restaurant. Hours: Su-Th 11:30-22:00; Fr-Sa 11:30-23:00
Unit 10, Winwick Road, Warrington, WA2 8TW
About 5 km away
The Charcoal Kebab House
Kebab, pizza. takeaway. Hours: 17:00-22:50
47 Winwick Street, Warrington, WA2 7TT
About 5 km away
Rio Brazilian Steakhouse
Steak house, brazilian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Th 12:00-15:00, 16:45-21:00 Fr-Sa 12:00-15:00, 16:45-22:00 Su 12:00-15:00, 16:45-20:30
Unit 21, Golden Square, Warrington, WA1 1QB
About 5 km away
Satay Pan Asian Restaurant
Chinese. restaurant. Hours: Mo off; Tu-Su,PH 17:00-23:00
22 London Road, Warrington, WA4 6HN
About 6 km away
Bombay8
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Th 16:30-22:30; Fr-Sa 12:00-23:00; Su 12:00-22:30
Charon Way, Warrington, WA5 7YA
About 7 km away
New Summer Palace
Chinese. restaurant. Hours: Tu-Su 16:15-22:00
308 Old Liverpool Road, Warrington, WA5 1DP
About 7 km away
Jade Garden
Chinese, fish and chips. takeaway. Hours: Th-Tu 16:30-22:30
8 Station Road, Great Sankey, Warrington, WA5 1RQ
About 9 km away
Sports and clubs
The Cage Play Area
Basketball. Pitch
Moore Rugby Union Club
Rugby union. Sport club
Moss Lane, Moore, Warrington, WA4 6UU
About 10 km away
Basketball court
Basketball. Pitch
David Lloyd Clubs
Tennis, swimming, running, badminton, yoga, soccer, basketball. Sports centre
Cromwell Avenue South, WA5 1HH
About 7 km away
Tru Ninja
Climbing. Sports centre
Unit 3, Chetham Court, Warrington, WA2 8RF
About 5 km away
énergie Fitness
Fitness centre
Unit 3, Maybrook Place, Warrington, WA4 1JR
About 5 km away
The Junction
Fitness centre
3 Buttermarket Street, Warrington, WA1 2LY
About 5 km away
Anytime Fitness
Fitness centre. Hours: 24/7
Grappenhall Road, Stockton Heath, Warrington, WA4 2AG
About 6 km away
Alder Root Golf Club
Golf. Sport club
Alder Root Lane, Winwick, Warrington, WA2 8RZ
About 6 km away
Irlam and Cadishead College
Multi. Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 18:00-22:00;Sa 10:00-12:00
Station Road, Salford, M44 5ZR
About 7 km away
Fishing spots and tackle shops
Warrington Anglers Association
Tackle shop, and the place to ask where to fish and about permits
52 Parker Street, Warrington, WA1 1LT
About 6 km away
Fishing spot
Fishing spot
Days out and things to do
Driving schools
Community and support groups
Capesthorne Community Centre
Community centre
79 Avery Close, Warrington, WA2 0BJ
About 3 km away
Greenwood Centre
Community centre
Meteor Crescent, Warrington, WA2 0DU
About 3 km away
Radley Common Community Centre
Community centre
Grasmere Avenue, Orford, Warrington, WA2 0NA
About 3 km away
Orford Community Hub
Community centre
Festival Avenue, Orford, Warrington, WA2 9EP
About 3 km away
Warrington Youth Zone
Community centre
Dallam Lane, Warrington, WA2 7NG
About 5 km away
St Wilfrid's Parish Centre
Community centre
Warrington WA4 3ES
About 5 km away
Contact Warrington
Community centre
30 Horsemarket Street, Warrington, WA1 1XL
About 5 km away
Whitecross Community Centre
Community centre
Lexden Street, Bewsey, Warrington, WA5 1PT
About 6 km away
Sankey Bridges Community Centre
Community centre
339 Old Liverpool Road, Sankey Bridges, Warrington, WA5 1EB
About 7 km away
Appleton Thorn Village Hall
Community centre. Hours: Th-Su 18:00-22:30; Mo-We off, Su 13:00-16:00
Stretton Road, Appleton Thorn, Warrington, WA4 4RT
About 8 km away
Higher Folds Community Centre and Nursery
Community centre
Stirling Close, Wigan, WN7 2UB
About 10 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Barbers and salons
Cloco Salon & Academy
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo 12:00-20:00; Tu-Fr 09:00-20:00; Sa 09:00-15:00
1 Orford Road, Warrington, WA1 3TD
About 3 km away
Sassi Hair
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-We 09:00-18:00; Th-Fr 09:00-20:00; Sa 09:00-17:00
144 Padgate Lane, Warrington, WA1 3SP
About 3 km away
Bobbits
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu,We,Fr 10:00-18:00; Th 10:00-21:00; Sa 09:00-16:00
21 Padgate Lane, Warrington, WA1 3RS
About 4 km away
Kathryn Elizabeth Hair & Beauty
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu,Th,Fr 09:30-17:30; We 12:00-20:30; Sa 09:00-17:00
15 Padgate Lane, Warrington, WA1 3RS
About 4 km away
Icon Hair & Beauty Room
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-17:00; Su 10:00-16:00
43 Cotswold Road, Warrington, WA2 9SF
About 4 km away
Bibo Barbers
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-19:00; Su 10:00-17:00
82 Orford Lane, Warrington, WA2 7AF
About 5 km away
Alan's Barbers
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-19:00, Su 11:00-17:00
110 Longshaw Street, Warrington, WA5 0DG
About 5 km away
Kemp & Collins Hair & Beauty
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-20:00; Sa 08:30-17:00
60 Sankey Street, Warrington, WA1 1SB
About 6 km away
Cinemas and libraries
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 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 8 km away
Burtonwood Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Chapel Lane, Burtonwood, Warrington, WA5 4PS
About 9 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 9 km away
Penketh Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-We 10:00-13:00, 14:00-17:00; Th 10:00-13:00, 14:00-18:00; Sa 09:30-13:00
Honiton Way, WA5 2EY
About 9 km away
Newton-le-Willows Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Crow Lane East, St Helens, WA12 9TU
About 8 km away
Woolston Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Hall Road, Woolston, Warrington, WA1 4PN
About 2 km away
Birchwood Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Warrington Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Museum Street, Warrington, WA1 1JA
About 6 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 Birchwood
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