Settling in · Eckington
Landing in Eckington? Start here.
The first fortnight in Eckington, 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
88 places in Eckington 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
The Salvation Army - Staveley
Christian, Salvation army
Wharf Lane, Staveley, Chesterfield, S43 3TZ
About 4 km away
The Salvation Army
Christian, Salvation army
Tannery Street, Woodhouse, Sheffield, S13 7JW
About 6 km away
St Josephs
Christian, Catholic
6 St Joseph's Road, Sheffield, S13 9AT
About 7 km away
The Salvation Army - Clowne
Christian, Salvation army
Church Street, Clowne, Chesterfield, S43 4JS
About 7 km away
Greenhill Methodist Church
Christian, Methodist
School Lane, Sheffield, S8 7RL
About 9 km away
Holy Cross, Gleadless Valley Church
Christian, Anglican
Spotswood Mount, Sheffield, S14 1LG
About 8 km away
The Church of St. James the Great, Norton
Christian, Anglican
Norton Church Road, Norton, Sheffield, S8 8JQ
About 8 km away
The Salvation Army - Chesterfield
Christian, Salvation army
Foljambe Road, Chesterfield, S40 1NJ
About 10 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Doncaster
About 28 km away
Flat 2, No. 9 Lawn Road Doncaster, South Yorkshire DN1 2JF, United Kingodm
Worship services: Wed 7:30pm · Sat 10:00am
Iglesia ni Cristo, Nottingham
About 44 km away
Leyton Crescent Beeston, Nottingham NG9 1PR
Worship services: Tue 7:00pm · Fri 7:00pm
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
Happy House
Chinese, curry. takeaway. Hours: Mo,We-Su 17:00-23:30; Tu 17:00-24:00
914 City Road, Sheffield, S2 1GJ
About 8 km away
Karobar
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Su 10:30-21:00
Olive Lane, Rotherham, S60 8GA
About 9 km away
Viraaj
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Su-Th 18:00-23:30; Fr-Sa 18:00-24:00
743 Chesterfield Road, Sheffield, S8 0SL
About 9 km away
The Star of Sall
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo,We,Th,Su 17:30-23:00; Fr,Sa 17:30-24:00
411 Sheffield Road, Chesterfield, S41 8LS
About 7 km away
Chinatown
Chinese. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 17:00-23:30
3 Cross Street, Sheffield, S13 7JQ
About 6 km away
Sports and clubs
SMH Group Stadium
Soccer. Stadium
1866 Sheffield Road, Chesterfield, S41 8NZ
About 8 km away
Yard Ball
Soccer. Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Th 10:00-20:00; Fr 10:00-21:30; Sa-Su 09:30-21:30
Little London Road, Sheffield, S8 0UH
About 10 km away
Healthy Living Centre
Swimming, climbing, fitness. Fitness centre
Barlow Road, Chesterfield, S43 3XR
About 5 km away
Aston-cum-Aughton Leisure Centre
Swimming. Sports centre
Swallownest Sheffield, S26 4SF
About 7 km away
Handsworth Social Club
Social club. Hours: Mo-Fr 13:00-16:00,19:30-23:00; Sa 12:00-16:00,19:00-23:45; Su 12:00-16:00,19:00-23:30
13 Hall Road, Sheffield, S13 9AG
About 7 km away
Lennon's Pool and Snooker
Snooker. Sports hall. Hours: Mo-Th 13:00-23:00; Fr 12:00-22:00; Sa 10:00-22:00; Su 12:00-21:00
16a Stephenson Place, Chesterfield, S40 1XL
About 9 km away
Snap Fitness
Fitness. Fitness centre. Hours: 24/7
Unit 1/2, Sykes Field Retail Park, Bolsover, S44 6DJ
About 10 km away
Virgin Active
Fitness centre
300 Broadfield Road, Sheffield, S8 0XQ
About 10 km away
Sheffield Cable Water Ski
Sports centre
Rother Valley Country Park, Sheffield, S26 5PQ
About 4 km away
Nuffield Health Fitness & Wellbeing
Fitness centre
Derby Road, Chesterfield, S40 2EZ
About 10 km away
Fishing spots and tackle shops
Woodseats Angling
Tackle shop, and the place to ask where to fish and about permits
About 9 km away
Days out and things to do
Mini Works
Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-20:00; Sa-Su 09:30-18:00
Little London Road, Sheffield, S8 0PA
About 10 km away
Driving schools
Blue Car School of Motoring
Driving school. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-18:00
14 Cavill Road, Sheffield, S8 8RJ
About 9 km away
Community and support groups
Waverley Community Hub
Community centre. Hours: Mo 09:00-12:00; Tu-We 09:00-16:00; We-Th 09:00-20:00; Sa 11:00-15:00
Olive Lane, Rotherham, S60 8GA
About 9 km away
Monkey Park
Community centre. Hours: We-Sa 10:30-14:30
128A Chester Street, Chesterfield, S40 1DN
About 10 km away
Loundsley Green Community Centre
Community centre
Cuttholme Road, Chesterfield, S40 4QU
About 10 km away
Kiveton Park & Wales Village Hall
Community centre
Walesmoor Avenue, Rotherham, S26 5PT
About 6 km away
Stradbroke Community Centre
Community centre. Hours: 08:00-02:00
Richmond Road, Sheffield, S13 8LT
About 7 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Curly and wavy hair
Barbers and salons
Alan's Barber
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-19:00; Sa 09:00-18:00; Su 10:00-17:00
924 City Road, Sheffield, S2 1GQ
About 8 km away
Chaps & Chicks
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu-Sa 09:00-19:00
12 Chapel Street, Sheffield
About 6 km away
Nutt Case
Hairdresser. Hours: 24/7
360 Handsworth Road, Sheffield, S13 9BY
About 7 km away
NJ Hair
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu 09:00-18:00; We 09:00-19:00; Th-Fr 09:00-17:00; Sa 08:00-16:00
337A Handsworth Road, Sheffield, S13 9BP
About 7 km away
Roger's Ye Olde Barber Shop
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Tu,Th-Fr,Sa 10:00-13:00
325A Handsworth Road, Sheffield, S13 9BP
About 7 km away
FX for Hair
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu,We 09:00-13:00; Fr 09:00-17:00
69B Richmond Park Road, Sheffield, S13 8HN
About 7 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Frecheville Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Smalldale Road, Sheffield, S12 4YD
About 5 km away
Aston Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Worksop Road, Swallownest, Sheffield, S26 4WD
About 7 km away
Jordanthorpe Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Dyche Lane, Sheffield, S8 8DQ
About 7 km away
Manor Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Hurlfield Road, Sheffield, S12 2SD
About 7 km away
Newfield Green Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,Fr 10:00-14:00; Tu 12:30-17:00; Th 10:00-13:00
577 Gleadless Road, Sheffield, S2 2BT
About 8 km away
Woodseats Library, Doctor's Surgery and Lloyds Pharmacy
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-We,Fr 10:00-17:00; Sa 10:00-16:00
Osmaston Road, Sheffield, S8 0GT
About 9 km away
Darnall Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Britannia Road, Sheffield, S9 5JG
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 Eckington
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