Settling in · Garston
Landing in Garston? Start here.
The first fortnight in Garston, 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
90 places in Garston 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
Our Lady of the Annunciation Bishop Eton Church
Christian, Roman catholic
Woolton Road, Liverpool, L16 8NQ
About 4 km away
Liverpool Valley Church & Community Centre
Christian, Salvation army
Mildenhall Road, Liverpool, L25 2SN
About 5 km away
St Margaret Mary's Catholic Church
Christian, Catholic. Hours: Tu, Th 08:30-10:30; Sa 09:00-11:00, 17:00-19:00; Su 10:00-12:00
Pilch Lane, L14 0JG
About 7 km away
Stoneycroft Salvation Army Community Church
Christian, Salvation army
Prescot Road, Old Swan, Liverpool, L13 3BT
About 7 km away
Page Moss Lane Baptist Church
Christian. Hours: We 10:00-14:00; Th 09:30-23:30; Su 10:00-11:30
Page Moss Lane, L14 0LX
About 7 km away
St Bartholomew's Church, Roby
Christian, Anglican. Hours: Su 09:00-12:00, 18:30-19:30
Church Road, L36 9TL
About 7 km away
St Michael's Huyton Parish Church
Christian, Anglican. Hours: Th 10:30-12:00; Su 10:00-12:30
Bluebell Lane, L36 7SA
About 8 km away
St Aloysius R C Church
Christian, Roman catholic. Hours: Mo-Su 07:00-22:58
51 Twig Lane, Roby, Liverpool, L36 2LF
About 8 km away
Trinity Church
Christian, Anglican, methodist
1 Huyton House Road, Liverpool, L36 2PE
About 8 km away
Salvation Army Community Church
Christian, Salvation army
179 Old Chester Road, Rock Ferry, Birkenhead, CH42 3TB
About 8 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Other places of worship
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Liverpool
About 10 km away
St Laurence's School, St. Laurence Drive Birkenhead, England CH41 3JD
Worship services: Wed 7:00pm · Sun 11:00am
Iglesia ni Cristo, Flintshire
About 21 km away
High Street Bagillt Flintshire, North Wales CH6 6HE
Worship services: Tue 6:15pm · Sat 12:00pm · Sat 3:00pm (children)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Manchester
About 41 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)
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
Huyton News & Convenience
Newsagent. Hours: Mo-Su 07:00-19:00
42 Derby Road, Knowsley, L36 9UJ
About 8 km away
World In One Superstore
Convenience. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:30-18:00
39 Cross Lane, L35 3QQ
About 9 km away
Food and takeaways
Los Amigos
Mexican. restaurant
552 Aigburth Road, Liverpool, L19 3QG
About 2 km away
Cafe Naz
Indian. restaurant
8 High Street, Liverpool, L15 8HE
About 5 km away
Good Shepherd Noodle Bar & Asia Takeaway
Chinese, noodles. takeaway
19 Broad Green Road, Liverpool, L13 5SD
About 7 km away
Sizzlaz 2
Pizza, burger, chicken, kebab. restaurant
648 Prescot Road, Liverpool, L13 5XE
About 7 km away
King Taco Dovecot
Burger, chicken, kebab, mexican, pizza. takeaway. Hours: Mo-Su 16:00-23:00
281 Pilch Lane, L14 0JF
About 7 km away
Gold Star Chippy
Chinese, fish and chips. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 16:00-22:00
13 Tarbock Road, Liverpool, L36 5XN
About 7 km away
34 Istanbul BBQ Turkish Restaurant
Turkish. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 14:00-21:30
9 Tarbock Road, Knowsley, L36 5XN
About 7 km away
The Charcoal Hob
Chicken, pizza, burger, kebab. takeaway. Hours: We-Mo 16:30-01:45
379 Prescot Road, Liverpool, L13 3BS
About 7 km away
Yuet Ben
Chinese. restaurant
1 Upper Duke Street, Liverpool, L1 9DU
About 7 km away
MAROW PIZZA
Burger, kebab, pizza. takeaway. Hours: Mo-Su 16:00-23:30
7 Page Moss Parade, Liverpool, L36 2PA
About 7 km away
My Little Kitchen
Burger, chinese, kebab, local, pizza. takeaway. Hours: Mo-Su 16:30-22:50
1 Page Moss Lane, Huyton, L36 2PA
About 7 km away
Mowgli Street Food
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Th 11:30-22:00; Fr,Sa 11:30-22:30; Su 11:30-21:30
69 Bold Street, Liverpool, L1 4EZ
About 8 km away
Sports and clubs
Terry McElhinneys Martial Arts & Fitness Classes
Fitness centre. Hours: Tu, Th 19:30-21:00
Longview Lane, Huyton, L36 7UN
About 9 km away
Salisbury Amateur Boxing Club
Boxing. Sports centre
11A Salisbury Street, Liverpool, L3 8DR
About 8 km away
Family Martial Arts Prescot
Fitness centre. Hours: Mo-Su 06:00-22:00
20 Sinclair Way, L34 1QL
About 10 km away
Sports Direct Fitness
Fitness centre
88 Rose Lane, Liverpool, L18 8AG
About 3 km away
Mersey Bowmen Lawn Tennis Club
Tennis. Sport club
Liverpool L17 1AP
About 4 km away
Whiston Taekwondo
Fitness centre. Hours: Mo, Th 18:00-20:00; Tu-We 18:00-19:00; Fr 18:00-19:30; Sa 10:00-12:00
Unit 15, Desilva Street, L36 6BD
About 8 km away
Dedicated SuperGym
Fitness centre. Hours: 24/7
Ellis Ashton Street, L36 6BP
About 8 km away
Volair Huyton - Knowsley Leisure & Culture
Multi. Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Th 06:30-22:00; Fr 06:30-21:00; Sa-Su 08:30-18:00
Longview Drive, Huyton, L36 6EG
About 8 km away
Fishing spots and tackle shops
Days out and things to do
Community and support groups
1982 (Huyton) Squadron RAF Air Cadets
Community centre. Hours: Tu, Th 19:00-21:30
The Park, L36 5SU
About 7 km away
The Old School House Community Project
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-17:00
St Johns Road, L36 0UX
About 7 km away
North Huyton Community Centre
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-19:30
Tudor Avenue, L14 9NQ
About 8 km away
Mahamevnawa Meditation Centre
Community centre. Hours: Su,Tu-Sa,Mo 06:00-21:00
10 Coronation Drive, Widnes, WA8 8AY
About 8 km away
Merseyside Youth Association - Our Place
Community centre
Longview Drive, Liverpool, L36 6EG
About 8 km away
Deysbrook Village Centre
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-17:00
Deysbrook Way, Liverpool, L12 4XF
About 9 km away
The Craigs Community Centre
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-20:00
Little Moss Hey, L28 5RL
About 9 km away
The Hive, Wirral Youth Zone
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Su 09:00-21:00
Bright Street, Birkenhead, CH41 4EA
About 10 km away
Roby Community Centre
Community centre. Hours: Mo, Th-Sa 09:00-17:00; Tu 21:00-00:00; We 00:00-17:00
Merton Crescent, L36 4LD
About 7 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Hot towel and traditional shaves
L1 Styles Barbershop (Traditional Barbers Huyton & Roby)
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Tu 09:00-17:30; We-Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 09:00-17:00; Su 10:00-15:00
22 Cavendish Walk, L36 9YG
About 8 km away
Barbers and salons
Rosser
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Tu Off; We 09:00-20:00; Th 09:30-15:00; Fr 09:00-20:00; Sa-Su 09:00-15:30
568 Aigburth Road, Liverpool, L19 3QG
About 2 km away
Jordana Lawton
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu 09:00-19:00; We 09:00-17:30; Th 10:00-19:30; Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 09:00-17:3
107 Holmefield Road, Liverpool, L19 3PF
About 2 km away
Barbers No1 Pilch Lane
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Th 09:00-18:00; Fr 09:00-19:00; Sa 09:00-17:00; Su 10:00-16:00
9 Childwall Lane, L14 6TT
About 7 km away
Thatchairs Hair and Body
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu 09:30-17:00; We, Sa 09:00-19:00; Th 09:00-20:00; Fr 09:00-18:00
271 Pilch Lane, L14 0JF
About 7 km away
First Wet
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu-Th 09:00-17:00; Fr 09:00-19:00; Sa 09:00-16:30
37 Blacklow Brow, L36 5XE
About 7 km away
HD Hairlines
Hairdresser
51A Rodney Street, Liverpool, L1 9ER
About 7 km away
Beyond Barbershop
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Sa 08:30-18:00; Su 09:00-15:30
35 Derby Road, L36 9UQ
About 8 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Huyton Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-17:00; Sa 10:00-13:00
Civic Way, L36 9DG
About 7 km away
Ellesmere Port Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo, Th, Fr 09:00-19:00; Tu, We 09:00-17:00; Sa 09:00-13:00
Civic Way, Ellesmere Port, CH65 0BG
About 9 km away
Stockbridge Village Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-17:00; Sa 10:00-13:00
The Withens, L28 1AB
About 9 km away
Childwall Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-We 10:00-18:00; Th-Fr 10:00-17:00
L15 6UT
About 5 km away
Old Swan Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Prescot Road, Liverpool, L13 5XG
About 7 km away
Aldham Robarts Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
29 Maryland Street, Liverpool, L1 9DE
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 Garston
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