Settling in · headingley
Landing in headingley? Start here.
The first fortnight in headingley, 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 headingley 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
Leeds Cathedral
Christian, Roman catholic
Great George Street, Leeds, LS2 8BE
About 3 km away
The Salvation Army
Christian, Salvation army
Nile Street, Leeds, LS2 7QY
About 3 km away
St John's Church, Moor Allerton
Christian, Anglican
Fir Tree Lane, Leeds, LS17 7BY
About 5 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Gurdwaras
Synagogues
Other places of worship
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Leeds
In the area
Monk Bridge Road, Meanwood, Leeds West Yorkshire, England, LS6 4HH
Worship services: Thu 7:00pm · Sun 11:00am · Sun 1:00pm (children)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Doncaster
About 44 km away
Flat 2, No. 9 Lawn Road Doncaster, South Yorkshire DN1 2JF, United Kingodm
Worship services: Wed 7:30pm · Sat 10:00am
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
Woodhouse Convenience
Alcohol. Hours: Mo-Sa 08:00-22:00, Su 10:00-22:00
55-57 Pennington Street, Leeds, LS6 2JP
About 2 km away
Burley Off Licence And Convenience Store
Convenience, alcohol
5 Burley Street, Leeds, LS3 1LD
About 2 km away
Nong Fern Thai Supermarket
Supermarket. Hours: Mo-Su 10:00-19:00
97-99 Vicar Lane, Leeds, LS1 6PJ
About 3 km away
Food and takeaways
Nando's
Chicken, portuguese. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 11:30-22:00
1 Shire Oak Street, Leeds, LS6 2AF
Sukhothai
Asian, thai. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Th 17:00-22:00; Fr 17:00-23:00; Sa 12:00-23:00; Su 17:00-21:00
15 South Parade, Leeds, LS1 5PQ
About 3 km away
Pho
Vietnamese. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Th 11:00-20:30; Fr-Sa 11:00-21:00; Su 11:00-18:00
First Floor, Albion Street, Leeds, LS1 5AY
About 3 km away
Gallio
Turkish. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 11:00-23:00
Benson Street, Leeds, LS7 1BL
About 3 km away
Thai Sun
Thai. restaurant. Hours: Mo-We 17:00-22:00; Th 12:00-22:00; Fr,Sa 12:00-22:30; Su 12:00-22:00
33 Town Street, Leeds, LS18 5LJ
About 5 km away
Konak Meze Turkish Restaurant
Turkish. restaurant. Hours: Tu-Sa 12:00-21:30; Su 12:00-21:00
9-11 Town Street, Leeds, LS18 5LJ
About 5 km away
Sabroso Street
Mexican. restaurant. Hours: Fr 15:00-21:00; Sa 12:00-21:00; Su 12:00-20:00
Brownberrie Lane, Leeds, LS18 5SB
About 5 km away
Ameen's
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Th 17:00-22:00, Fr-Sa 17:00-23:00, Su 15:00-22:00
Hall Lane, Leeds, LS18 5JY
About 5 km away
Alishaan Resturant Stanningley
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Th 17:30-22:30; Fr,Sa 17:30-23:00; Su 17:00-22:00
146-148 Town Street, Leeds, LS28 6ER
About 6 km away
Shalamar Cash And Curry
Burger, chicken, indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo closed; Tu 17:00-22:00; We,Th 17:00-00:00; Fr,Sa 16:30-01:00; Su 16:30-00:00
139 Town Street, Leeds, LS28 6ES
About 6 km away
Bengal Brasserie
Indian. restaurant
633a Roundhay Road, Leeds, LS8 4BA
About 5 km away
Sports and clubs
Bad Company
Martial arts. Sports centre
1 Waterloo Way, Leeds, LS13 2EF
About 3 km away
University of Leeds Bodington Playing Fields
Soccer, rugby, lacrossee, ultimate frisbee, cycling. Sports centre
Bodington Avenue, Leeds, LS16 8FS
About 3 km away
Throstle Nest
Soccer. Sports centre
Definitive Footpath PUDSEY 29, Leeds, LS28 5UR
About 6 km away
Yarnbury Rugby Club
Rugby union. Sports centre
Brownberrie Lane, Leeds, LS18 5HD
About 6 km away
Armley Sports & Leisure Centre
Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Th 07:15-22:00; Fr 07:15-21:30; Sa 08:00-18:00; Su 08:15-19:05
Carr Crofts, Leeds, LS12 3HB
About 3 km away
Bramley Baths
Swimming. Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 06:30-21:00; Sa,Su 07:00-16:00
Broad Lane, Leeds, LS13 3DF
About 4 km away
Jigsaw Gyms
Indoor play. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-15:00
546 Broad Lane, Leeds, LS28 6PA
About 5 km away
Days out and things to do
TeamSport Leeds
Sports centre
South Accommodation Road, Leeds, LS10 1JX
About 5 km away
The Climbing Depot
Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 12:00-22:00; Sa-Su 10:00-20:00
173 Richardshaw Lane, Leeds, LS28 6AA
About 6 km away
Depot Climbing Armley
Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 06:00-22:00; Sa-Su 09:00-21:00
Castleton Road, Leeds, LS12 2EE
About 2 km away
Driving schools
Community and support groups
One Community Centre
Community centre
1 Cromwell Street, Leeds, LS9 7SG
About 4 km away
The Compton Centre Community Hub
Community centre. Hours: Mo,Th-Fr 09:00-17:00; Tu 10:00-17:00; We 09:00-19:00; Sa 10:00-16:00; Su off
Harehills Lane, Leeds, LS9 7BG
About 5 km away
St Mary's Church Whitkirk Community Centre
Community centre
390 Selby Road, Leeds, LS15 0AA
About 9 km away
Leeds Caribbean & African Centre
Community centre
10 Laycock Place, Leeds, LS7 3JA
About 3 km away
Holbeck Community Centre
Community centre
Elland Road, Leeds, LS11 0AF
About 4 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Afro hair specialists
Barbers and salons
Quiff Salon
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo 09:30-17:00; We 09:30-19:00; Th 09:30-18:00; Fr 09:30-16:00; Sa 09:00-16:00; Tu, Su off
19 North Lane, Leeds, LS6 3HW
Deuces
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu-Fr 10:00-18:00; Sa 11:00-17:00
18a Otley Road, Leeds, LS6 2AD
Just Men Barbers
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-20:00; Sa 09:00-19:00; Su 10:00-17:00
43 Wade Lane, Leeds, LS2 8NJ
About 3 km away
Epiphany Hair Lounge
Hairdresser. Hours: We 09:30-17:30; Th 09:30-19:15; Fr 09:30-18:00; Sa 08:30-16:30
81 New Road Side, Leeds, LS18 4QD
About 4 km away
Squire
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo 08:00-17:00; Tu 08:15-17:00; We 08:15-17:00; Th 08:15-18:00; Fr 08:15-18:00; Sa 07:00-15:00
91 Town Street, Leeds, LS18 5BP
About 5 km away
Auriole Hair Salon
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu-Fr 09:30-18:00; Sa 08:00-16:00; Su-Mo closed
85D Town Street, Leeds, LS18 5BP
About 5 km away
Scissorhands Barber
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-19:00; Su 10:00-18:00
33 Great George Street, Leeds, LS1 3AJ
About 3 km away
JRs Barbershop
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-19:00, Sa 09:00-18:00, Su Closed
Merrion Way, Leeds, LS2 8PD
About 3 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Hyde Park Picture House
Cinema. Hours: Mo-Tu 16:00-22:00; We,Fr-Su 10:30-22:00; Th 14:00-22:00
73 Brudenell Road, Leeds, LS6 1JD
Leeds Central Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Th 09:00-20:00; Fr 09:00-17:00; Sa 10:00-16:00; Su off
Calverley Street, Leeds, LS1 3AB
About 3 km away
The Leeds Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-We 10:00-18:00; Th 10:00-19:00; Fr 10:00-17:00; Sa 10:00-16:00
18 Commercial Street, Leeds, LS1 6AL
About 3 km away
Bramley Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 09:00-19:00; Tu 09:00-18:00; We,Fr 09:00-17:00; Th 10:00-17:00; Sa 10:00-15:00; Su 11:00-14:00
Hough Lane, Leeds, LS13 3ND
About 3 km away
Leeds Conservatoire Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
St Peters Street, Leeds, LS9 8BT
About 4 km away
Calverley Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 14:00-17:00; Tu,Fr 09:00-13:00; We closed; Th 14:00-18:00; Sa-Su 10:00-13:00
Thornhill Street, Leeds, LS28 5PD
About 7 km away
Halton Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
273 Selby Road, Leeds, LS15 7JR
About 8 km away
Armley One Stop Centre
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,Th-Sa 09:00-17:00, Tu 10:00-17:00, We 09:00-19:00, Sa 10:00-16:00
2 Stocks Hill, Leeds, LS12 1UQ
About 2 km away
Moor Allerton Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,Th-Fr 09:00-17:00; Tu 10:00-17:00; We 09:00-19:00; Sa 10:00-16:00; Su off
King Lane, Leeds, LS17 5NY
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 headingley
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