Settling in · Ilkley
Landing in Ilkley? Start here.
The first fortnight in Ilkley, 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
75 places in Ilkley 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
Salvation Army
Christian, Salvation army
36 High Street, Keighley, BD21 2LJ
About 9 km away
SS John Fisher & Thomas Moore
Christian, Roman catholic
Bradford Road, Bradford, LS29 7PX
About 6 km away
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Silsden
Christian, Roman catholic
7 Wesley Place, Keighley, BD20 0PH
About 8 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
AlHikmah Project Keighley
Muslim, Muslim
Green Head Lane, Keighley, BD20 6ER
About 8 km away
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Leeds
About 20 km away
Monk Bridge Road, Meanwood, Leeds West Yorkshire, England, LS6 4HH
Worship services: Thu 7:00pm · Sun 11:00am · Sun 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
R&S Halal Meats
Butcher. Hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-17:00; Su
27 Victoria Road, Keighley, BD21 1HD
About 9 km away
Euro Mini Market
Convenience. Hours: Mo-Sa 08:30-19:00; Su 08:30-16:30
4 Campbell Street, Keighley, BD21 2SR
About 8 km away
Food and takeaways
Blue Mango
Indian. takeaway. Hours: Mo,We-Su 16:30-23:00; Tu off
89 Bradford Road, Keighley, BD20 5JH
About 7 km away
Diamonds cafe
Indian. takeaway. Hours: Mo-Su 11:00-23:00
6-9 Cavendish Street, Keighley, BD21 3RG
About 8 km away
Eastern Taste
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 18:00-03:00
4 Church Street, Keighley, BD21 5HS
About 9 km away
Azeem's Restaurant
Indian. restaurant
89-91 South Street, Keighley, BD21 1AD
About 9 km away
Langs Kitchen
Chinese. takeaway
45 Braithwaite Avenue, Keighley, BD22 6ET
About 9 km away
Saimah's
Indian. restaurant
La Casa
Turkish, mediterranean. restaurant
Sports and clubs
Basketball court
Basketball. Pitch
Ilkley Football Club-
Sport club
Ilkley Cricket Club
Cricket
Aireborough Leisure Centre
Swimming, squash, climbing, fitness, gymnastics, badminton, basketball, soccer. Sports centre
Cartwright Avenue, Leeds, LS20 9FJ
About 9 km away
Fishing spots and tackle shops
K.K.Tackle
Tackle shop, and the place to ask where to fish and about permits. Hours: Tu-Sa 09:00-16:30; Su,Mo off
About 8 km away
Community and support groups
The Clarke Foley Centre
Community centre. Hours: Mo 09:30-16:00; Tu-Sa 10:00-16:00
Cunliffe Road, Ilkley, LS29 9DZ
The Parish of Keighley
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Th 09:00-13:00
8-10 North Street, Keighley, BD21 3SE
About 9 km away
Keighley & District Volunteer Centre
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:30-16:30
23 Temple Row, Keighley, BD21 2AH
About 9 km away
Keighley Healthy Living
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Th 09:00-16:00; Fr 09:00-15:00; Sa,Su off
Spencer Street, Bradford, BD21 2DS
About 8 km away
Baildon Community Link
Community centre
35 Cliffe Avenue, Bradford, BD17 6NX
About 9 km away
Ilkley Amateur Operatic Society
Community centre
Ilkley Youth Club & Children's Centre
Community centre
Central Hall
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-16:30; Sa,Su off
Alice Street, Bradford, BD21 3DL
About 8 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Barbers and salons
Unique Hair Studio
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu-Sa 08:30-17:30
141 Bolling Road, Ben Rhydding, Ilkley, LS29 8PN
About 2 km away
Hair Company
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30
10 Cavendish Street, Keighley, BD21 3RG
About 8 km away
Hairavanti
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu-We 09:30-18:30; Th 09:30-20:00; Fr 09:30-18:00; Sa 08:00-16:00
68 North Street, Keighley, BD21 3RY
About 8 km away
Westrow
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu,Fr 09:00-18:00; We 09:00-19:00; Th 09:00-20:00; Sa 08:30-16:30; Su,Mo off
121 Main Street, Bradford, BD16 2HT
About 9 km away
Dexters Otley
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-17:00; Sa,Su off
11 Westgate Arcade, Leeds, LS21 3AT
About 9 km away
TLC Hair & Beauty
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu-Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 10:00-15:00
1 North Street, Keighley, BD21 3SL
About 9 km away
Cinemas and libraries
The Picture House
Cinema. Hours: "Opens depending on screening time of the film"
North Street, Bradford, BD21 3AF
About 8 km away
Keighley Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,We 09:00-19:00; Tu,Th 09:00-17:00; Fr 09:00-12:00; Sa 09:00-16:00; Su off
BD21 2BN
About 8 km away
Baildon Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Tu 09:30-17:00; We-Sa 09:30-14:00; PH off
2-4 Northgate, Bradford, BD17 6JX
About 9 km away
Ilkley Public Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 09:00-19:00, Tu 09:00-17:00, We 09:00-17:00, Th 09:00-19:00, Fr 09:00-12:00, Sa 09:00-16:00
Station Road, Ilkley, LS29 8HA
Otley Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Nelson Street, Leeds, LS21 1EZ
About 9 km away
Menston Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,We,Th 10:00-13:00,14:00-17:00; Sa 10:00-13:00
Main Street, Bradford, LS29 6HT
About 7 km away
Bingley Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu,Th 09:00-19:00; Sa 09:00-16:00; Mo,We 09:00-17:00; Su off
Five Rise, Bradford, BD16 1GL
About 9 km away
Guiseley Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,Tu,Th 06:30-21:30; We 06:30-21:45; Fr 06:30-21:00; Sa 08:00-17:30; Su 07:45-20:00
The Green, Leeds, LS20 9BT
About 9 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 Ilkley
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