Settling in · Hert
Landing in Hert? Start here.
The first fortnight in Hert, 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
82 places in Hert 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
St Matthew's Church
Christian, Anglican
Front Street, Sunderland, DH4 4EP
About 6 km away
Walker Parish Church
Christian, Anglican
Duncan Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 3BS
About 8 km away
Sunderland Minster
Christian, Anglican
High Street West, Sunderland, SR1 3ET
About 8 km away
Kings Castle
Christian
Brinkburn Street South, Newcastle Upon Tyne
About 8 km away
Bethany Christian Centre
Christian, Evangelical
Hetton Road, Sunderland, DH5 8PF
About 8 km away
City Church
Christian, New frontiers
Melbourne Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 2JQ
About 9 km away
St Oswald's Church
Christian, Anglican
Gladwyn Road, Sunderland, SR4 9QY
About 5 km away
St James & St Bede Church
Christian, Anglican
Wordsworth Street, Gateshead, NE8 3HE
About 8 km away
Synagogues
Other places of worship
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, North Shields
About 12 km away
1A Stormont Street, North Shields, Tyne and Wear, NE29 OEY
Worship services: Thu 7:00pm · Sun 10:00am · Sun 12:00pm (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
Afro Asian Food Market
Supermarket. Hours: Mo-Sa 08:00-18:00
Durham Road, Birtley, DH3 2PG
About 4 km away
Wing Hong Chinese Supermarket
Supermarket
45-51 Stowell Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4YB
About 10 km away
Taste the Orient
Supermarket. stocks Chinese goods
64-68 Clayton Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 5PF
About 10 km away
Heaton Halal Superstore
Convenience
236 - 238, Chillingham Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 5LP
About 10 km away
Food and takeaways
Monsun
Indian. restaurant
534 Durham Road, Gateshead, NE9 6HU
About 6 km away
Aneesa's Buffet Restaurant
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Th 16:00-22:00, Fr 16:00-23:00; Sa 12:00-23:00; Su 12:00-22:00
Forster Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 2NH
About 9 km away
Ury
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Su-Th 12:00-15:00,17:30-22:30; Fr 12:00-23:00; Sa 12:00-15:00,17:30-23:00
27 Queen Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 3UG
About 9 km away
Rani Restaurant
Indian, punjabi, authentic. restaurant. Hours: Mo - Su 17:30 - 23:30
2 Queen Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 3UG
About 9 km away
Bangrak Thai
Thai. restaurant
1-3 Side, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 3JE
About 9 km away
Purple Peacock
Asian. restaurant. Hours: Su-Th 12:00-22:00, Fr-Sa 12:00-01:00
Pilgrim Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 6BL
About 9 km away
Siam Supreme
Thai. restaurant. Hours: Th-Su 15:00-22:00
160 Heaton Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 5HP
About 9 km away
Las Iguanas
Mexican. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Th 11:00-22:30; Fr-Sa 11:00-23:00; Su 11:00-22:30
62-74 Grey Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 6AF
About 10 km away
Zapatista Burrito Bar
Mexican. restaurant. Hours: Mo-We 11:30-19:00; Th-Sa 11:30-20:00; Su 11:30-18:00
9 Grainger Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 5DQ
About 10 km away
City Take Away
Pizza, kebab. takeaway. Hours: Su-Th 10:00-04:00;Fr-Sa 10:00-05:00
44 Pilgrim Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 6SE
About 10 km away
Kato Pan Asian Cuisine
Asian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:30-19:00; Sa-Su 11:00-18:00
20 Saville Row, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8JE
About 10 km away
Palace Garden
Chinese. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 12:00-23:15
45-51 Stowell Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4YB
About 10 km away
Sports and clubs
Gateshead Rugby Football Club
Rugby football. Sports centre
Eastwood Gardens, Gateshead, NE9 5UB
About 6 km away
Powerleague 5/7 Aside football League
Sports centre
Ropery Road, Gateshead, NE8 2HP
About 9 km away
Washington Leisure Centre
Sports centre
Independence Square, Sunderland, NE38 7SS
About 2 km away
Birtley Leisure Centre
Sports centre
Durham Road, Birtley, DH3 2TB
About 5 km away
Pelaw Grange Stadium
Dog racing. Sports centre
Drum Road, Birtley, DH3 2AF
About 5 km away
Chester-Le-Street Leisure Centre
Swimming, fitness, squash. Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 06:30-21:30; Sa,Su 07:00-17:00; PH off
Roman Avenue, Chester-le-Street, DH3 3QH
About 7 km away
Gateshead Leisure Centre
Sports centre
Alexandra Road, Gateshead, NE8 4JA
About 7 km away
Climb Newcastle @ The Pool
Climbing. Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Th 16:00-22:00; Fr 14:00-21:00; Sa-Su 09:00-17:00
Shipley Place, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 2DQ
About 9 km away
East End Pool
Swimming. Sports centre
Hadrian Square, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 1AL
About 9 km away
Fishing spots and tackle shops
Tyneside Angling
Tackle shop, and the place to ask where to fish and about permits
Shields Road West, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 1JN
About 9 km away
Days out and things to do
The Valley
Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 07:00-22:00; Sa-Su 10:00-20:00
Quality Row, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 1LN
About 9 km away
Community and support groups
Lukes Lane Community Centre
Community centre
Marine Drive, South Tyneside, NE31 2BA
About 6 km away
Joseph Cowan Healthcare Centre
Community centre
8 Wilfred Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 1JQ
About 9 km away
Dunston Activity Centre
Community centre
Ellison Road, Gateshead, NE11 9SS
About 9 km away
Heaton Community Centre
Community centre
Trewhitt Road, Heaton, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 5DY
About 10 km away
Tyneside Irish Centre
Community centre
43-49 Gallowgate, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4SG
About 10 km away
Whitleas Community Centre
Community centre
Hogarth Road, South Tyneside, NE34 8HG
About 8 km away
St Martins Centre
Community centre
Roman Avenue, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 2RJ
About 8 km away
Tyneside Women's Health
Community centre
17 - 19, Wilfred Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 1JQ
About 9 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Barbers and salons
Hair & Beauty By Claire h
Hairdresser
Cromwell Terrace, Gateshead, NE8 1TL
About 8 km away
Rascals Barbershop
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu-We 10:00-19:00; Th 10:00-20:00; Fr 10:00-19:00; Sa 08:00-14:00
Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 2HL
About 8 km away
Compton's Barber Shop
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-We 09:00-17:30; Th 09:00-18:00; Fr 08:00-17:30; Sa 08:00-16:00
197 Shields Road, Byker, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 1DP
About 9 km away
City Crew
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu-Fr 09:00-18:00; Th 09:00-19:00; Sa 09:00-17:00; Su-Mo off
52 Dean Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1PG
About 9 km away
Skullduggeri
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Tu 10:00-17:00; We-Fr 10:00-18:00; Th 10:00-20:00; Sa 08:30-16:30; Su off
14-16 Grey Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 6AE
About 9 km away
Salon M Hair
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30; We 09:00-18:30; Th 10:00-20:00; Su off
14 Shakespeare Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 6AQ
About 10 km away
At Sisters
Hairdresser
47 Pink Lane, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 5DW
About 10 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Gateshead Central Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,Th 09:00-19:00; Tu,We,Fr 09:00-17:00; Sa 09:00-13:00; Su off
Prince Consort Road, Gateshead, NE8 4LN
About 7 km away
Lit & Phil
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo, We-Th 09:00-19:00; Tu 09:30-20:00; Fr 09:30-17:00; Sa 09:30-13:00
23 Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1SE
About 9 km away
Star And Shadow Cinema
Cinema
Warwick Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 1BB
About 10 km away
Tyneside Cinema
Cinema
10 Pilgrim Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 6QG
About 10 km away
Felling Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
High Street, Gateshead, NE10 9LT
About 6 km away
Pelton Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,Th 14:00-17:30; Tu,Fr,Su off; We 09:00-19:00; Sa 09:30-12:30
Ouston Lane, Perkinsville, DH2 1HS
About 7 km away
The Murray Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Chester Road, Sunderland, SR1 3SD
About 8 km away
Boldon Lane Community Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Boldon Lane, South Tyneside, NE34 0LG
About 8 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 Hert
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