Settling in · Leeds
Landing in Leeds? Start here.
The first fortnight in Leeds, 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
87 places in Leeds 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
The Parish Church of Saint Paul Drighlington
Christian, Anglican
Back Lane, Leeds, BD11 1LJ
About 9 km away
Holy Rosary Catholic Church
Christian, Roman catholic
Chapeltown Road, Leeds, LS7 3DU
About 2 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Hindu temples
Gurdwaras
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Leeds
About 3 km away
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 42 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
Food and takeaways
Bagaara
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Fr 12:00-15:00; Mo-Th 17:00-22:00; Fr 17:00-23:00; Sa 09:00-23:00; Su 09:00-22:00
1 Stocks Hill, Leeds, LS12 2AB
About 3 km away
Spice Lounge
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 17:30-22:00
77 Queen Street, Leeds, LS27 8EB
About 7 km away
Cracovia
Polish. restaurant. Hours: Fr 17:00-21:00; Sa 12:00-21:00; Su 12:00-17:30
Newton Hill Road, Leeds, LS7 4JE
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 7 km away
Ephesus
Turkish. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 11:00-23:00
4 Rodley Lane, Leeds, LS13 1HU
About 8 km away
Sports and clubs
Bad Company
Martial arts. Sports centre
1 Waterloo Way, Leeds, LS13 2EF
About 5 km away
University of Leeds Bodington Playing Fields
Soccer, rugby, lacrossee, ultimate frisbee, cycling. Sports centre
Weetwood Lane, Leeds, LS16 5NZ
About 5 km away
Yarnbury Rugby Club
Rugby union. Sports centre
Brownberrie Lane, Leeds, LS18 5HB
About 9 km away
West Riding County Football Association
Soccer. Sports centre
Fleet Lane, Leeds, LS26 8HT
About 9 km away
Last Sun Dance
Climbing, fitness. Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-22:00; Sa-Su 09:00-20:00
21 Felnex Close, Leeds, LS9 0TN
About 4 km away
Jigsaw Gyms
Indoor play. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-15:00
546 Broad Lane, Leeds, LS28 6PA
About 7 km away
W Fitness
Fitness. Fitness centre. Hours: Mo-Tu 09:00-14:00,16:00-19:30; We 09:00-14:00,16:00-20:00; Th-Fr 09:00-14:00,16:00-19:00; Sa-Su 09:00-12:00
Station Road, Leeds, LS18 5NX
About 7 km away
Days out and things to do
TeamSport Leeds
Sports centre
South Accommodation Road, Leeds, LS10 1JX
About 2 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 8 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
Phlebotomy Training Leeds - Lead Academy
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-17:00
145-149 Cardigan Road, Leeds, LS6 1LJ
About 2 km away
Stainbeck Community Centre
Community centre
Stainbeck Lane, Leeds, LS7 2EA
About 3 km away
Brackenwood Community Association
Community centre
Brackenwood Drive, Leeds, LS8 1RG
About 4 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Barbers and salons
Above Salons
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu-Fr 09:00-20:00; Sa 09:00-16:00
102 Harrogate Road, Leeds, LS7 4LZ
About 3 km away
Xerxes Barber Shop
Hairdresser
Upper Town Street, Leeds, LS13 2ER
About 6 km away
Sarah Louise Hair Salon
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu 09:30-19:00; We 09:30-18:30; Th 09:30-20:00; Sa 09:00-16:00
198 Low Lane, Leeds, LS18 5GT
About 7 km away
Rawdon Barber Shop
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo 10:00-18:00; Tu,Th 08:30-20:00; We 08:30-17:30; Fr 08:30-19:00; Sa,Su closed
11 Town Street, Leeds, LS19 6PU
About 10 km away
Scissorhands Barber
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-19:00; Su 10:00-18:00
33 Great George Street, Leeds, LS1 3AJ
Empire Barber Club
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 08:30-17:30; Sa 08:30-13:00; Su off
2 Tong Road, Leeds, LS12 1HX
About 2 km away
Cinemas and libraries
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
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
Leeds Conservatoire Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
St Peters Street, Leeds, LS9 8BT
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
About 2 km away
Halton Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
273 Selby Road, Leeds, LS15 7JR
About 5 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 10 km away
Compton Centre 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
Harehills Lane, Leeds, LS9 6AN
About 3 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 5 km away
Pudsey Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-17:00 open; Tu 10:00-17:00 open; We 09:00-19:00 open; Sa 10:00-16:00 open; Su closed
Church Lane, Leeds, LS28 7TY
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 Leeds
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