Settling in · Crawcrook
Landing in Crawcrook? Start here.
The first fortnight in Crawcrook, 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
65 places in Crawcrook 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
St Andrew's Church
Christian, Anglican
Newcastle upon Tyne, NE15 0DT
About 3 km away
St Patricks Church High Spen
Christian, Anglican
Lintzford Lane, Gateshead, NE39 2AA
About 5 km away
Lemington Methodist Church
Christian, Methodist
2 Loraine Terrace, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE15 8EA
About 5 km away
Westerhope Methodist Church
Christian, Methodist
Stamfordham Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE5 5HA
About 7 km away
St Mark's RC Church
Christian, Roman catholic
Trevelyan Drive, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE5 4BT
About 7 km away
The Salvation Army - Newcastle City Temple
Christian, Salvation army
29-31 Stamfordham Road, Cowgate, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE5 3JQ
About 9 km away
Church of St John the Evangelist
Christian, Anglican
Kingston Park Avenue, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 2HB
About 9 km away
St Cuthbert's Catholic Church
Christian, Roman catholic
Hexham Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE15 9DZ
About 4 km away
St Margaret's Church and Parish Centre
Christian, Anglican
14 Heighley Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE15 6AR
About 6 km away
St Mary and St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church
Christian, Catholic
Stella Lane, Gateshead, NE21 4NS
About 4 km away
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, North Shields
About 22 km away
1A Stormont Street, North Shields, Tyne and Wear, NE29 OEY
Worship services: Thu 7:00pm · Sun 10:00am · Sun 12:00pm (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
Georgia's Filipino & Oriental Food Supply
Convenience
482 Elswick Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 8ED
About 9 km away
Polo Market - European Food Store
Convenience
79 Adelaide Terrace, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 8BB
About 8 km away
Sami Swoi - Polish Convenience & Butcher
Convenience
369 Elswick Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 8DY
About 9 km away
M A Brothers Asian Supermarket
Supermarket
177 Elswick Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 6SR
About 9 km away
Food and takeaways
Chutneys Indian Restaurant
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 17:00-21:00
Back Row, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE16 4AB
About 7 km away
Nando's
Chicken, portuguese. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 11:30-22:00
Brunton Lane, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 2BF
About 10 km away
Kamal Restaurant
Indian. restaurant
277 Stanhope Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 5JU
About 10 km away
Princess Garden Restaurant
Chinese. restaurant
Brewery Lane, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE20 9NZ
About 10 km away
Sports and clubs
Swalwell Cricket Club
Cricket. Sports centre
Derwent Walk, Gateshead, NE21 6JA
About 6 km away
Soccerworld
Fitness centre
West Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 9LG
About 9 km away
Tyneside Badminton Centre
Badminton. Sports centre
Bowness Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE5 2TA
About 7 km away
Vertu Motors Arena
Basketball, boxing. Sports centre
Scotswood Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 7AF
About 10 km away
Stamfordham Cricket Club
Cricket. Sports centre
B6309 Newcastle upon Tyne, NE18 0NA
About 10 km away
Winlaton Vulcans R.F.C.
Sports centre
Axwell View, Gateshead, NE21 4BW
About 5 km away
Blaydon Tennis Club
Tennis. Sports centre
Derwent Walk, Gateshead, NE21 6JA
About 6 km away
Whickham Glebe Sports Club
Sports centre
Rose Avenue, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE16 4NA
About 8 km away
Fenham Pool
Swimming. Sports centre
Fenham Hall Drive, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 9XD
About 9 km away
Whickham Thorns Outdoor Activity Centre
Sports centre
Market Lane, Gateshead, NE11 9NX
About 9 km away
Dunston Leisure Centre
Sports centre
North Eastern Court, Gateshead, NE11 9PY
About 9 km away
Northern Kings
Fitness centre
26 Invincible Drive, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 7HX
About 10 km away
Community and support groups
FAR - Fenham Assocation Of Residents
Community centre
Acanthus Avenue, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 9YD
About 8 km away
The Angelou Centre
Community centre
17 Brighton Grove, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 5NS
About 10 km away
Whickham Community Centre
Community centre
Front Street, Gateshead, NE16 4LT
About 7 km away
U.W.A.I.S. Foundation Islamic Information & Resource Centre
Community centre
Fenham Hall Drive, Newcastle Upon Tyne
About 9 km away
Kingston Park Community Centre
Community centre
102 Brunton Lane, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 2SW
About 10 km away
Stargate & Crookhill community Centre
Community centre
Stargate Lane, Gateshead, NE40 3EA
About 3 km away
Throckley Community Hall
Community centre
Back Victoria Terrace, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE15 9AA
About 4 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Barbers and salons
Church Street Barbers
Hairdresser
Church Street, Gateshead, NE21 6AW
About 4 km away
Lucy Hair And Tan
Hairdresser
Newbiggin Lane, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE5 4LZ
About 7 km away
Jamm's Hairdressing Unisex
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 09:00-17:00; Su 10:00-16:00; PH 10:00-16:00
Brunton Lane, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 2FP
About 10 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Denton Burn Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 10:00-13:00,13:30-17:00;Th 10:00-13:00,13:30-17:00;Sa 10:00-14:00
West Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE15 7QQ
About 7 km away
Ryton Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Hexham Old Road, Gateshead, NE40 3JH
About 2 km away
Newburn Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,Sa 10:00-14:00; Tu 10:00-12:30,13:00-17:00; Fr 13:00-17:00
High Street, Newburn, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE15 8LN
About 4 km away
Blaydon Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Blaydon Highway, Gateshead, NE16 9AZ
About 5 km away
Chopwell Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Derwent Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE17 7HZ
About 6 km away
Fenham Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Fenham Hall Drive, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 9XW
About 9 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 Crawcrook
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