Settling in · Lancs
Landing in Lancs? Start here.
The first fortnight in Lancs, 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
74 places in Lancs 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
Inglewhite Congregational Church
Christian
Silk Mill Lane, Preston, PR3 2LE
About 8 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Blackpool
About 29 km away
Spencer Court Community Centre, Spencer Court, Blackpool, FY1 3TW, England
Worship services: Thu 6:00pm · Sun 11:00am
Iglesia ni Cristo, Manchester
About 44 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
Food and takeaways
Tugra-Et
Turkish. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Fr 12:00-22:00; Sa 09:00-23:00; Su 09:00-22:00
5-13 Market Street, Preston, PR1 2EL
About 8 km away
Itsy's Steet Food
Thai. restaurant. Hours: Tu-Th 16:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 16:00-23:00; Su 16:00-22:00
139 Friargate, Preston, PR1 2EE
About 8 km away
Himalayan Monal
Indian, nepalese. restaurant. Hours: Tu 13:00-21:45; We-Su 13:00-22:45
138 Friargate, Preston, PR1 2EE
About 8 km away
Uni Momo
Nepalese. restaurant. Hours: 11:00-23:00
130 Friargate, Preston, PR1 2EE
About 8 km away
RK Dining
Indian. restaurant
75-77 Plungington Road, Preston, PR1 7EN
About 8 km away
Zaynora
Chinese, indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 17:00-24:00
Hill Street, Preston, PR1 2BB
About 8 km away
Sports and clubs
Preston Grasshoppers R.F.C.
Rugby union. Sports centre
Lightfoot Green Lane, Preston, PR4 0AP
About 9 km away
East Lancashire Club
Cricket, bowls. Sports centre
Park Crescent, Blackburn, BB2 6DJ
About 8 km away
West View Leisure Centre
Fitness, swimming, climbing, multi. Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 06:30-22:00; Sa-Su 08:00-20:00
Ribbleton Lane, Preston, PR1 5EP
About 6 km away
Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre
Fitness, multi. Sports centre
Marsh Lane, Preston, PR1 2YF
About 8 km away
Stonyhurst Sports Centre
Swimming. Sports centre
Knowles Brow, Ribble Valley, BB7 9PU
About 10 km away
Community and support groups
Longridge Men's Shed
Community centre
Warwick Street, Ribble Valley, PR3 3EB
About 4 km away
Millennium Hall Community Centre
Community centre
Neapsands Close, Preston, PR2 9AQ
About 5 km away
New Meadow Street Labour and Social Club
Community centre
193-195 North Road, Preston, PR1 1YQ
About 8 km away
1st Broughton Scouts
Community centre. Hours: "Pre arranged meetings"
Garstang Road, Preston, PR2 5JB
About 8 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Barbers and salons
Jasmine Youles Hair
Hairdresser
861 Whittingham Lane, Preston, PR3 2AU
About 5 km away
Broadway Hair Stylists
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo,Su off; Tu-Sa 09:00-17:00
3a Broadway, Preston, PR2 9TH
About 8 km away
The Terrace
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo off; Tu 09:00-15:00; We-Fr 08:00-20:00; Sa 09:00-17:00
490 Garstang Road, Preston, PR3 5EX
About 8 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Longridge Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Tu,Fr 09:00-17:00; We,Sa 09:00-13:00; Th 09:00-19:00; Su off
Berry Lane, Ribble Valley, PR3 3JA
About 3 km away
Harris Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-17:00; Su 11:00-16:00
Harris Street, Preston, PR1 2PP
About 8 km away
Ribbleton Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Field Maple Drive, Preston, PR2 6EZ
About 5 km away
Sharoe Green Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Sharoe Green Lane, Preston, PR2 8ED
About 7 km away
The Gosall Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Vicarage Lane, Preston, PR2 8DW
About 7 km away
Fulwood Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Garstang Road, Preston, PR2 9RX
About 7 km away
Library and Learning Information Services
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Adelphi Street, Preston, PR1 7BX
About 8 km away
Cherry Tree Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 14:00-16:30; We 10:00-12:30,14:00-17:00; Fr 14:00-17:00; Sa 10:00-12:30
Cherry Tree Lane, Blackburn, BB2 5NX
About 9 km away
Blackburn Central Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Town Hall Street, Blackburn, BB2 1AH
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 Lancs
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