Settling in · Holywell
Landing in Holywell? Start here.
The first fortnight in Holywell, 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
77 places in Holywell 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.
Nothing nearby matches that yet. Try a shorter word.
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 John's Methodist Church
Christian, Methodist
Ilfracombe Gardens, North Tyneside, NE26 3ND
About 4 km away
St Edwards Church
Christian, Catholic
Coquet Avenue, North Tyneside, NE26 1EE
About 4 km away
Whitley Bay Baptist Church
Christian
Park Avenue, North Tyneside, NE26 1DX
About 4 km away
Holy Saviour's Church
Christian, Anglican
The Broadway, North Tyneside, NE30 2LD
About 7 km away
Salvation Army
Christian, Salvation army
28 Howard Street, North Tyneside, NE30 1AR
About 7 km away
St Cuthbert's Church
Christian, Anglican
Darrell Street, Wideopen, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE13 7DS
About 9 km away
St. Mary's Church
Christian, Anglican
Claremont Gardens, North Tyneside, NE26 3SF
About 4 km away
Monkseaton Methodist Church
Christian, Methodist
Front Street, North Tyneside, NE25 8AQ
About 4 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Whitley Bay Islamic Cultural Centre and Masjid
Muslim, Sunni
Hillheads Road, North Tyneside, NE25 8HR
About 5 km away
Gosforth Prayer Hall
Muslim
Christon Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 1XD
About 9 km away
North Tyneside Bangladeshi Community Association & Mosque
Muslim
6 Esplanade Place, North Tyneside, NE26 2AR
About 5 km away
Baitul Ma'mur Jame-E- Masjid and Islamic Center
Muslim
Saint Aidan's Road, South Tyneside, NE33 2ET
About 9 km away
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, North Shields
About 7 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
Food and takeaways
Papa Ganoush
Indian. restaurant
240 Park View, North Tyneside, NE26 3QX
About 4 km away
Turknaz
Turkish. restaurant
57 North Parade, North Tyneside, NE26 1NX
About 5 km away
Shukran
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 17:30-23:30; Fr,Sa 17:30-24:00
43 Esplanade, North Tyneside, NE26 2AE
About 5 km away
Shikara
Indian. restaurant
181 Whitley Road, North Tyneside, NE26 2DN
About 5 km away
New New Bengal
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 17:00-23:30
232 High Street, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 1HH
About 10 km away
The Bake One
Lebanese. restaurant
215-217 High Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 1HQ
About 10 km away
Gosforth Palace
Chinese. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Sa 12:00-14:00,17:30-23:00; Tu off; Su 12:00-23:00
6A Salters Road, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 1DJ
About 10 km away
Elder and Wolf
Kebab. restaurant
169-171 Whitley Road, North Tyneside, NE26 2DN
About 5 km away
Café India
Indian. restaurant
200 Ocean Road, South Tyneside, NE33 2JQ
About 9 km away
The Days Of The Raj
Indian. restaurant
49 - 51, Great North Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 2HH
About 9 km away
Namaste
Indian. restaurant. Hours: 10:00-21:00; Mo off
195 Park View, North Tyneside, NE26 3RD
About 4 km away
Sports and clubs
South Northumberland Cricket Club
Cricket. Sport club
Roseworth Terrace, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 1LU
About 10 km away
Whitley Bay Cricket Club
Cricket. Sports centre
Hillheads Road, North Tyneside, NE25 8RP
About 5 km away
Newcastle United Academy
Soccer. Sports centre
Newcastle United Academy, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE7 7SF
About 8 km away
Newcastle City Cricket Club
Cricket. Sports centre
Kingston Park Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 2NA
About 10 km away
McCracken Park
Rugby union, squash. Sports centre
McCracken Close, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 2DW
About 9 km away
Bohemian Ground, Benson Park
Soccer, tennis. Sports centre
Fencer Hill Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 2EA
About 9 km away
Waves
Swimming. Sports centre
The Links, North Tyneside, NE26 1TQ
About 4 km away
Whitley Bay Ice Rink
Multi. Sports centre
Hillheads Road, North Tyneside, NE25 8HP
About 5 km away
Driving schools
Art Of Motorcycling
Driving school
4 Elm Road, North Tyneside, NE29 8SE
About 5 km away
Community and support groups
Whitley Bay Big Local
Community centre
158 Whitley Road, North Tyneside, NE26 2LY
About 5 km away
West Moor Community Centre
Community centre
Benton Lane, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE12 7NP
About 7 km away
Linskill Centre
Community centre
Linskill Terrace, North Tyneside, NE30 2AY
About 7 km away
The Briardale Community Centre
Community centre
Briardale Road, Blyth, NE24 5AN
About 7 km away
Apna Ghar Minority Ethnic Women's Centre
Community centre
124 Ocean Road, South Tyneside, NE33 2JF
About 9 km away
East Bedlington Community Centre
Community centre
16-17 Station Street, Bedlington, NE22 7JN
About 9 km away
Heaton Community Centre
Community centre
Trewhitt Road, Heaton, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 5DY
About 10 km away
St Mary's Hall
Community centre
Claremont Gardens, North Tyneside, NE26 3SF
About 4 km away
Cullercoats Community Centre
Community centre
Bellevue Street, North Tyneside, NE30 4QX
About 6 km away
Cullercoats Fishermans Lookout
Community centre
Front Street, North Tyneside, NE30 4QJ
About 6 km away
Blyth Community Enterprise Centre
Community centre
Ridley Street, Newsham, NE24 3AG
About 7 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Hot towel and traditional shaves
Best Turkish Barbers
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-18:00; Su 09:00-13:00
Canterbury Way, North Tyneside, NE13 6JJ
About 8 km away
Barbers and salons
James Fulton Hair
Hairdresser
1 Park Road, North Tyneside, NE26 1LT
About 4 km away
Calum Hall
Hairdresser
51 Saville Street, North Tyneside, NE29 6PB
About 7 km away
Alpha Femme
Hairdresser
1 Henry Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 1DQ
About 10 km away
Capello Hair Lounge
Hairdresser
2A Claremont Road, North Tyneside, NE26 3TW
About 4 km away
Hair By Sue Brown
Hairdresser
St. Ronan's Road, North Tyneside, NE25 8AX
About 4 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Monkseaton Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu,Fr 09:00-13:00,14:00-17:30; Sa 10:00-13:00
Woodleigh Road, North Tyneside, NE25 8ET
About 4 km away
Whitley Bay Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-17:30; Sa 09:00-13:00
York Road, North Tyneside, NE26 1AB
About 5 km away
North Shields Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-17:30; Sa 09:00-13:00
Northumberland Square, North Tyneside, NE30 1QU
About 7 km away
Seaton Sluice Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Collywell Court, Newsham, NE26 4QY
About 3 km away
Shiremoor Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Earsdon Road, North Tyneside, NE27 0GE
About 3 km away
Cullercoats Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
St George's Road, North Tyneside, NE30 3JZ
About 6 km away
John Wille Sams Centre
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Weetslade Road, North Tyneside, NE23 7FL
About 6 km away
Cramlington Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Forum Way, Cramlington, NE23 6YD
About 6 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 Holywell
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