Settling in · Machen
Landing in Machen? Start here.
The first fortnight in Machen, 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 Machen 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 Salvation Army - Risca
Christian, Salvation army
66a Commercial Street, Risca, NP11 6BA
About 3 km away
St Barrwg
Christian, Anglican
Church Street, Bedwas, CF83 8AX
About 4 km away
Bethel Baptist Church
Christian, Baptist
Church Street, Bedwas, CF83 8ED
About 4 km away
St Helen’s Roman Catholic Church
Christian, Catholic
Nantgarw Road, Caerphilly, CF83 3FB
About 6 km away
Newbridge Tabernacle Baptist Church
Christian, Baptist
High Street, Newbridge, Caerphilly, NP11 4AG
About 8 km away
Siloh Christian Community Centre
Christian, Protestant
Oakfield Street, Ystrad Mynach, CF82 7AF
About 8 km away
Blackwood Methodist
Christian, Methodist
2 Wesley Road, Blackwood, NP12 1AE
About 9 km away
Gaer Baptist Church
Christian, Baptist
4 Shakespeare Crescent, Newport, NP20 3LQ
About 9 km away
Stow Park Church
Christian
Brynhyfryd Road, Newport, NP20 4FX
About 10 km away
Christchurch
Christian, Evangelical
Malpas Road, Newport, NP20 5PP
About 10 km away
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Cardiff
About 7 km away
Pontprennau Primary School, Heol Pontprennau, Cardiff, CF23 BLL, Wales
Worship services: Tue 5:30pm · Sat 3:00pm · Sat 5:00pm (children)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Newport
About 9 km away
Llanthewy Road Newport Gwent, South Wales NP20-4LA
Worship services: Thu 6:00pm · Sat 11:00am · Sat 2:00pm (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
Total Asia Food
Supermarket. Hours: Mo-Su 10:00-17:00
Maesglas Newport, NP20 2NS
About 10 km away
Food and takeaways
Mayflower Chop Suey House
Chinese. restaurant. Hours: Mo 17:00-22:30; Tu off; We-Su 17:00-22:30
1 Newport Road, Trethomas, CF83 8BU
About 3 km away
Salma Tandoori
Indian. takeaway. Hours: Mo off; Tu-Th 16:30-23:00; Fr-Sa 16:00-24:00; Su 16:00-23:30
6 Newport Road, Trethomas, CF83 8BU
About 3 km away
Tamarind
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Th 17:00-23:00; Fr-Sa 17:00-23:45; Su 17:00-23:00
11 Commercial Street, Pontymister, NP11 6EE
About 4 km away
Marmaris Grill
Kebab, grill. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Fr 16:00-23:00; Sa 15:00-23:00; Su 16:00-23:00
9 High Street, Newbridge, Caerphilly, Newbridge, NP11 4ET
About 8 km away
Masala Indian Takeaway
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo 17:30-23:00; Tu Off; We-Th 17:30-23:00; Fr-Sa 17:30-23:30; Su 17:30-23:00
16 Victoria Terrace, Newbridge, Caerphilly, NP11 4ET
About 8 km away
Viceroy of India
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Th 17:30-22:30; Fr-Sa 17:30-23:00; Su 17:30-22:30
12-14 Penallta Road, Ystrad Mynach, CF82 7AP
About 8 km away
Wales Kebab
Kebab. takeaway. Hours: Mo-Sa 16:00-23:45; Su off
17 Thomas Street, Abertridwr, CF83 4AU
About 9 km away
Meow's Chinese
Chinese, seafood, duck, pork. restaurant. Hours: Mo 16:10-22:30; Tu 16:10-21:00; We-Th 16:10-22:30; Fr-Sa 16:10-23:00; Su 16:10-21:00
2 Pentwyn Road, Blackwood, NP12 1HN
About 9 km away
New Red Chilli
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo 17:30-22:30; Tu-Su 17:30-22:45
67 High Street, Blackwood, NP12 1BA
About 9 km away
Sam's Grill House
Kebab, grill. takeaway. Hours: Mo-Su 16:00-23:30
1-3 Thomas Street, Abertridwr, CF83 4AU
About 9 km away
Blackwood Kebab
Pizza, kebab. takeaway. Hours: Mo-Th 16:15-23:30; Fr-Sa 16:15-23:50; Su 16:15-23:30
5 Pentwyn Road, Blackwood, NP12 1HN
About 9 km away
Slow Boat Chinese Takeaway
Chinese. restaurant. Hours: Mo off; Tu 12:00-14:00,17:00-24:00; We-Th 12:00-14:00,17:00-23:00; Fr 12:00-14:00,17:00-24:00; Sa 00:00-00:30,12:00-14:00,17:00-24:00; Su 18:00-24:00
5 Risca Road, Newport, NP20 4JW
About 9 km away
Sports and clubs
Machen Rugby Club
Rugby, rugby union. Sport club. Hours: Mo-Tu 17:00-22:00; We 17:00-23:00; Th 17:00-22:00; Fr 16:00-23:00; Sa 12:00-00:00; Su 12:00-21:00
37 Chatham, Machen, CF83 8SB
Rogerstone Welfare Ground
Cricket, soccer, football, tennis, table tennis, chess. Park. Hours: Oct 24-29 08:00-18:30; Oct 30-Nov 06 08:00-17:30; Nov 07-Feb 19 08:00-17:00
Tregwilym Road, Newport, NP10 9EQ
About 5 km away
Sue Noake Leisure Centre
Hockey, football, fitness, badminton, basketball, netball, volleyball, dancing. Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 17:00-21:00; Sa 09:45-16:15; Su 10:00-15:00
Pengam Road, Ystrad Mynach, CF82 8AA
About 8 km away
Bedwas Leisure Centre
Swimming, football, rugby, hockey. Sports centre. Hours: Mo 08:30-21:30; Tu 07:15-21:30; We 08:30-21:30; Th 07:15-21:00; Fr 08:30-20:30; Sa 08:30-14:00; Su 08:30-15:30
Newport Road, Bedwas, CF83 8BJ
About 3 km away
Pontllanfraith RFC
Rugby union. Sport club
1 Llanarth Road, Pontllanfraith, Newport, NP12 2JF
About 7 km away
Penallta RFC
Rugby. Sport club
Caerphilly Road, Caerphilly, CF82 7EP
About 8 km away
Rivermead Centre
Fitness, yoga, taekwondo, pilates. Sports centre. Hours: Mo 10:00-11:00,18:00-19:45; Tu 19:00-21:00; We 09:30-10:30; Th 16:00-21:00; Fr 19:30-20:30
Fuscia Way, Newport, NP10 9LZ
About 5 km away
Caerphilly Social Club
Social club. Hours: Mo-Th 13:00-23:00; Fr 12:00-24:00; Sa 11:00-23:30; Su 10:30-22:30
44 Castle Street, Caerphilly, CF83 1NZ
About 6 km away
Pontllanfraith Ex Servicemans Club and Institute
Social club. Hours: Mo-Th 16:00-23:00; Fr 14:00-23:00; Sa-Su 12:00-23:00
3C Commercial Street, Blackwood, NP12 2JY
About 7 km away
Elite Fitness
Fitness. Fitness centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 05:00-22:00; Sa 07:00-19:00; Su 07:00-19:00
Pontllanfraith Newport, NP12 2DG
About 7 km away
Whitehead Sports and Social Club
Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 16:00-22:00; Sa 12:00-22:00; Su 12:00-22:00
Park View, Newport, NP10 8LA
About 7 km away
Fishing spots and tackle shops
Castle Tackle & Bait
Tackle shop, and the place to ask where to fish and about permits. Hours: Mo Off; Tu-Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 09:00-17:00; Su Off
Caerphilly CF83 1FN
About 6 km away
Tony's Tackle
Tackle shop, and the place to ask where to fish and about permits
14 Castle Street, Caerphilly, CF83 1NY
About 6 km away
Driving schools
Driving & Vehicle Standards Agency Driving Test Centre (Cardiff Llanishen)
Driving school
Parc Tŷ Glas, Cardiff, CF14 5GF
About 9 km away
Community and support groups
Machen Village Hall
Community centre. Hours: Mo 08:00-19:30; Tu 08:00-15:00; We 08:00-19:00; Th 08:00-19:00; Fr 08:00-15:00
The Crescent, Machen, CF83 8ND
Time Counselling and Wellbeing Centre
Community centre
66-67 Tredegar Street
About 3 km away
Risca Youth Centre
Community centre
Lyne Road, Newport, NP11 6AT
About 3 km away
Bedwas & Trethomas Community Hall
Community centre
Bryn Heol, Bedwas, CF83 8BJ
About 3 km away
Tydu Community Hall
Community centre
Tregwilym Road, Newport, NP10 9EQ
About 6 km away
Ty Du Community Hall
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-21:00; Sa-Su 09:00-22:00
Tregwilym Road, Newport, NP10 9EQ
About 6 km away
1223 (Caerphilly) Squadron
Community centre. Hours: Mo 18:45-21:30; Tu off; We off; Th 18:45-21:30; Fr off; Sa off; Su off
R/O Nantgarw Road, Caerphilly, CF83 1AP
About 6 km away
Graig Community Hall
Community centre
23 Caerphilly Road, Newport, NP10 8HZ
About 7 km away
Trecenydd Community Centre
Community centre
Second Avenue, Caerphilly, CF83 2SN
About 7 km away
Castleton Village Hall
Community centre
Marshfield Road, Castleton, CF3 2UW
About 8 km away
Bettws Community Centre
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Su 09:00-21:00; PH off
43 The Precinct, Bettws, Newport, NP20 7TN
About 8 km away
Libanus Lifestyle Centre
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-21:00; Sa Off; Su Off
High Street, Blackwood, NP12 1EQ
About 8 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Hot towel and traditional shaves
Kurd Barbers
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-18:00; Su 10:00-15:00
3 High Street, Newbridge, Caerphilly, NP11 4AG
About 8 km away
Barbers and salons
Bedazzled Hair & Beauty
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo off; Tu 09:00-17:00; We 09:00-15:00; Th 09:00-17:00; Fr 09:00-18:30; Sa 08:00-16:00; Su off
4 Newport Road, Trethomas, CF83 8BY
About 3 km away
Layad Barbers
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-19:00; Su 10:00-16:00
2 Newport Road, Trethomas, CF83 8BY
About 3 km away
Jule's Salon
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo 09:00-17:30,18:00-19:00; Tu off; We-Th 09:00-17:30,18:00-19:00; Fr 09:00-19:00; Sa 09:00-16:00,18:00-19:00; Su off
Glebe Road, Trethomas, CF83 8DT
About 3 km away
Royal Barbers
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 08:30-17:30; Su off
2 Newport Road, Trethomas, CF83 8BU
About 3 km away
Fenner's Barber's
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo Off; Tu 09:00-18:00; We 10:00-19:00; Th 09:00-19:00; Fr 08:00-19:00; Sa 08:00-17:00; Su Off
2 Tynewydd Terrace, Newbridge, Caerphilly, NP11 4LS
About 8 km away
Farinos Barbers
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Tu 09:00-17:30; We 09:00-13:00; Th-Fr 09:00-17:30; Sa 08:00-13:00; Su Off
2a Victoria Terrace, Newbridge, Caerphilly, NP11 4EW
About 8 km away
Bens Barbers
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo 09:00-16:30; Tu 09:00-17:00; We-Th 09:00-19:00; Fr 09:00-17:00; Sa 06:00-15:00; Su Off
19 Victoria Terrace, Newbridge, Caerphilly, NP11 4ET
About 8 km away
ICE Hair Team
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Tu 09:00-18:00; We 09:00-19:00; Th-Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 09:00-17:00; Su off
13 Station Road, Cardiff, CF14 5LS
About 8 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Machen Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo Off; Tu 09:30-13:00,14:00-18:00; We Off; Th 14:00-18:00; Fr Off; Sa 09:30-13:00; Su Off
The Crescent, Machen, CF83 8ND
Bedwas Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 09:30-13:00,14:00-17:00; Tu 14:00-18:00; We 09:30-13:00,14:00-18:00; Th off; Fr 09:30-13:00,14:00-17:00; Sa 09:30-13:00; Su off; PH off
Newport Road, Bedwas, CF83 8BJ
About 3 km away
Rogerstone Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Th 09:30-12:00,13:00-17:00; Fr off; Sa off; Su off; PH off
168 Tregwilym Road, Newport, NP10 9EL
About 6 km away
Bettws Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Tu 09:00-13:00,14:00-17:30; We 09:00-13:00; Th-Fr 09:00-13:00,14:00-17:30; Sa 09:00-13:00; Su off; PH off
Bettws Centre, Newport, NP20 7TN
About 8 km away
Ystrad Mynach Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 09:30-13:00,14:00-17:00; Tu 09:30-13:00,14:00-18:00; We 09:30-13:00,14:00-17:00; Th 09:30-13:00; Fr 09:30-13:00,14:00-18:00; Sa 09:30-13:00; Su off
High Street, Ystrad Mynach, CF82 7BB
About 8 km away
Maxime Cinema Blackwood
Cinema
196 High Street, Blackwood, NP12 1AA
About 9 km away
Abertridwr Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 09:30-13:00,14:00-18:00; Tu 09:30-13:00,14:00-17:00; We off; Th 14:00-18:00; Fr 09:30-13:00,14:00-17:00; Sa 09:30-13:00; Su off
Aberfawr Road, Abertridwr, CF83 4EJ
About 9 km away
Tredegar House Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo Off; Tu 09:00-13:00,14:00-16:30; We 13:30-16:30; Th Off; Fr 09:00-13:00,14:00-16:30; Sa 09:00-13:00; Su Off; PH Off
Pencarn Way, Newport, NP10 8YW
About 9 km away
Llanedeyrn Hub
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Tu 09:00-18:00; We 10:00-19:00; Th-Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 09:00-17:30; Su off
Round Wood, Cardiff, CF23 9PN
About 9 km away
Cwtsh Arts Centre
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
226 Stow Hill, Newport, NP20 4HA
About 9 km away
Malpas Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 09:30-13:00,14:00-19:00; Tu-We 09:30-13:00,14:00-17:30; Th off; Fr 09:30-13:00,14:00-17:30; Sa 09:30-13:00; Su off; PH off
Pillmawr Road, Newport, NP20 6WF
About 10 km away
Rhiwbina Hub
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Su "under renovation"
Pen y Dre, Cardiff, CF14 6EH
About 10 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 Machen
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