Settling in · Fishponds
Landing in Fishponds? Start here.
The first fortnight in Fishponds, 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
86 places in Fishponds 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
Christ Church Clifton
Christian, Anglican
Clifton Down Road, Bristol, BS8 3BN
About 7 km away
Horfield Quaker Meeting
Christian, Quaker
300 Gloucester Road, Bristol, BS7 8PD
About 4 km away
Keynsham Elim Church
Christian, Pentecostal
Balmoral Road, Bristol, BS31 1AL
About 8 km away
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Christian, Latter day saints
Downend Road, Bristol, BS16 5EF
Mosques and prayer rooms
Gurdwaras
Other places of worship
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Bristol
About 6 km away
Manor Hall, Henfield Road, Coalpit Heath, Bristol, BS36 2TG
Worship services: Wed 6:30pm
Iglesia ni Cristo, Newport
About 35 km away
Llanthewy Road Newport Gwent, South Wales NP20-4LA
Worship services: Thu 6:00pm · Sat 11:00am · Sat 2:00pm (children)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Cardiff
About 43 km away
Pontprennau Primary School, Heol Pontprennau, Cardiff, CF23 BLL, Wales
Worship services: Tue 5:30pm · Sat 3:00pm · Sat 5:00pm (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
Wah Yan Hong Oriental Food Specialist
Supermarket
13 Denmark Street, Bristol, BS1 5DY
About 6 km away
Food and takeaways
Suyuan Bistro
Asian. restaurant. Hours: Tu-Fr 09:00-16:00, 17:30-23:00; Sa 09:00-23:00; Su 09:00-20:00
131 Gloucester Road, Bristol, BS7 8AX
About 4 km away
MeyZe
Turkish, mediterranean. restaurant
16 Chandos Road, Bristol, BS6 6PL
About 6 km away
New Emperor Court
Chinese. restaurant
26 Portland Street, Bristol, BS8 4JB
About 7 km away
Yate Kebab & Pizza
Kebab. takeaway
34 Abbotswood, Yate, BS37 4NG
About 9 km away
Nando's
Chicken, portuguese. restaurant. Hours: Su-We 11:30-22:00; Th-Sa 11:30-22:30
5C Station Road, Bristol, BS34 7JL
About 4 km away
Per & Kor
Korean, persian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Sa 18:00-23:00
362 Gloucester Road, Bristol, BS7 8TP
About 4 km away
Xing Long
Chinese. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 17:00-23:00
287 Gloucester Road, Bristol, BS7 8NY
About 4 km away
Fusion Delights
Indian, mexican. restaurant. Hours: Tu-Su 07:00-23:00; Mo off
138 Gloucester Road North, Bristol, BS34 7BQ
About 4 km away
The Saigon Kitchen
Vietnamese. restaurant. Hours: Th-Sa 12:00-14:30, Mo-Sa 18:00-22:00; Su 12:00-22:00
25 Zetland Road, Bristol, BS6 7AH
About 5 km away
Mother India Tandoori Restaurant
Indian. restaurant
12 Abbotswood, Yate, BS37 4NG
About 9 km away
Sports and clubs
Bristol Harlequins R.F.C.
Rugby union. Sports centre
Broomhill Road, Bristol, BS4 5RG
About 5 km away
Portway Rugby Development Centre
Rugby union. Sports centre
Woodleaze Bristol, BS9 2HY
About 9 km away
Elm Park Leisure Centre
Swimming, fitness. Sports centre
Elm Park, Bristol, BS34 7PS
About 4 km away
Bristol Activity Centre
Shooting, karting, paintball, axe throwing. Sports centre
Hollywood Lane, Bristol, BS10 7TW
About 8 km away
Days out and things to do
Bloc Climbing
Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-22:00; Sa,Su 10:00-18:00; SH 10:00-22:00
New Gatton Road, Bristol, BS2 9SH
About 3 km away
Hengrove Park Leisure Centre Climbing Wall
Sports centre
Hengrove Promenade, Bristol, BS14 0FE
About 9 km away
Driving schools
Community and support groups
Brockeridge Centre
Community centre
Woodend Road, Nibley, BS36 2RG
About 7 km away
The Old Library
Community centre. Hours: We 10:00-16:00; Fr,Sa 10:00-14:00
613 Muller Road, Bristol, BS5 6XP
About 3 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Hot towel and traditional shaves
Barbers and salons
Bloggs Salons
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu 08:00-17:00; We 08:00-20:00; Th 09:00-20:00; Fr 08:00-18:00; Sa 08:00-17:00
288c Gloucester Road, Bristol, BS7 8PD
About 4 km away
Cinemas and libraries
20th Century Flicks Video Shop
Cinema
19 Christmas Steps, Bristol, BS1 5BS
About 6 km away
Arts & Social Sciences Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: 24/7
Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TJ
About 6 km away
Redland Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu,Th,Fr,Sa 11:00-17:00; We 11:00-19:00
Whiteladies Road, Bristol, BS8 2PY
About 6 km away
Bradley Stoke Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Tu, Th-Fr 10:00-17:00; Sa 09:30-12:30
1 Fiddlers Wood Lane, Bradley Stoke, BS32 9BS
About 6 km away
Clifton Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,Fr 10:00-14:00; Tu,Th,Sa 13:00-17:00
13 Princess Victoria Street, Bristol, BS8 4BX
About 7 km away
Junction 3 Library & Learning Centre
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo, We 13:00-19:00; Tu, Fr 11:00-17:00; Sa 10:00-17:00
Baptist Mills Court, Bristol, BS5 0FJ
About 4 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 Fishponds
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