Settling in · Cross Hills
Landing in Cross Hills? Start here.
The first fortnight in Cross Hills, 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
73 places in Cross Hills 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
Salvation Army
Christian, Salvation army
36 High Street, Keighley, BD21 2LJ
About 7 km away
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Silsden
Christian, Roman catholic
7 Wesley Place, Keighley, BD20 0PH
About 4 km away
Champions Church
Christian, Assemblies of God GB
Carleton Road, Skipton, BD23 2AU
About 6 km away
Trinity Methodist Church
Christian, Methodist
Westmoreland Street, Skipton, BD23 2EA
About 6 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
AlHikmah Project Keighley
Muslim, Muslim
Green Head Lane, Keighley, BD20 6ER
About 5 km away
Jame Masjid & Madrassa Salafia
Muslim, Sunni
23-25 Midland Street, Skipton, BD23 1SE
About 7 km away
Other places of worship
BVM
About 7 km away
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Leeds
About 29 km away
Monk Bridge Road, Meanwood, Leeds West Yorkshire, England, LS6 4HH
Worship services: Thu 7:00pm · Sun 11:00am · Sun 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
Lewiatan (Polish shop)
Convenience
Sackville Street, Skipton, BD23 2PB
About 7 km away
R&S Halal Meats
Butcher. Hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-17:00; Su
27 Victoria Road, Keighley, BD21 1HD
About 7 km away
Euro Mini Market
Convenience. Hours: Mo-Sa 08:30-19:00; Su 08:30-16:30
4 Campbell Street, Keighley, BD21 2SR
About 6 km away
Food and takeaways
Kongs Cantonese
Chinese. restaurant
38 Water Street, Skipton, BD23 1PB
About 7 km away
Langs Kitchen
Chinese. takeaway
45 Braithwaite Avenue, Keighley, BD22 6ET
About 6 km away
Chico's
Pizza, burger, kebab. takeaway
9 Sackville Street, Skipton, BD23 2PB
About 7 km away
Eastern Taste
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 18:00-03:00
4 Church Street, Keighley, BD21 5HS
About 7 km away
Mughals Tandoori
Indian. takeaway
38 Newmarket Street, Skipton, BD23 2JB
About 7 km away
Azeem's Restaurant
Indian. restaurant
89-91 South Street, Keighley, BD21 1AD
About 7 km away
Diamonds cafe
Indian. takeaway. Hours: Mo-Su 11:00-23:00
6-9 Cavendish Street, Keighley, BD21 3RG
About 7 km away
Sports and clubs
Escape Health Club
Sports centre
Carleton New Road, Skipton, BD23 2AA
About 7 km away
Ebru Evrim Skipton
Yoga. Fitness centre. Hours: 10am-5pm
15-17 Coach Street, Skipton, BD23 1LH
About 7 km away
Hi-Energy Health Club
Fitness centre. Hours: Mo-Tu,Th 06:00-21:30; We 06:50-21:30; Fr 06:00-20:00; Sa 07:00-14:00; Su 09:00-14:00
Worth Way, Keighley, BD21 5AJ
About 7 km away
NRGym
Fitness centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 06:00-21:00; Sa-Su 08:00-15:00
1 Greengate Road, Keighley, BD21 5LH
About 7 km away
Spirit Of Pilates
Sports centre
Chapel Hill, Skipton, BD23 1NL
About 7 km away
Fishing spots and tackle shops
K.K.Tackle
Tackle shop, and the place to ask where to fish and about permits. Hours: Tu-Sa 09:00-16:30; Su,Mo off
About 6 km away
Community and support groups
Keighley & District Volunteer Centre
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:30-16:30
23 Temple Row, Keighley, BD21 2AH
About 7 km away
The Parish of Keighley
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Th 09:00-13:00
8-10 North Street, Keighley, BD21 3SE
About 7 km away
Keighley Healthy Living
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Th 09:00-16:00; Fr 09:00-15:00; Sa,Su off
Spencer Street, Bradford, BD21 2DS
About 6 km away
Greatwood & Horseclose Community Centre
Community centre
North Parade, Skipton, BD23 2SR
About 6 km away
Sight Airedale
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Th 09:30-12:30; Fr-Su off
Highfield Lane, Bradford, BD21 2HA
About 6 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Barbers and salons
The World Of Hair And Beauty
Hairdresser
3 Cavendish Street, Skipton, BD23 2AB
About 7 km away
Hairavanti
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu-We 09:30-18:30; Th 09:30-20:00; Fr 09:30-18:00; Sa 08:00-16:00
68 North Street, Keighley, BD21 3RY
About 7 km away
Bardot
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo 09:00-17:00; Tu-We 09:00-20:00; Th-Fr 09:00-21:00
24 High Street, Keighley, BD21 2AA
About 7 km away
TLC Hair & Beauty
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu-Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 10:00-15:00
1 North Street, Keighley, BD21 3SL
About 7 km away
Cinemas and libraries
The Picture House
Cinema. Hours: "Opens depending on screening time of the film"
North Street, Bradford, BD21 3AF
About 6 km away
Keighley Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,We 09:00-19:00; Tu,Th 09:00-17:00; Fr 09:00-12:00; Sa 09:00-16:00; Su off
BD21 2BN
About 6 km away
Skipton Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,We,Th 09:30-19:00; Fr 09:30-17:00; Sa 09:30-13:30
High Street, Skipton, BD23 1JX
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 Cross Hills
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