Settling in · Middlesbrough
Landing in Middlesbrough? Start here.
The first fortnight in Middlesbrough, 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
82 places in Middlesbrough 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
Holy Trinity Church
Christian, Anglican
James Street, Middlesbrough, TS3 6LD
About 2 km away
Church of the Ascension
Christian, Anglican
Penrith Road, Middlesbrough, TS3 7JR
About 3 km away
South Bank Baptist Church
Christian, Baptist
Redcar Road East, Middlesbrough, TS6 6PY
About 4 km away
Salvation Army Acklam Community Church
Christian, Salvation army
82 Trimdon Avenue, Middlesbrough, TS5 8SB
About 4 km away
St. Gabriel's RC Church
Christian, Roman catholic
Allendale Road, Middlesbrough, TS7 9LD
About 5 km away
Destiny Centre
Christian, Neo-pentecostal
395 Norton Road, Stockton-on-Tees, TS20 2QQ
About 5 km away
Saint Margaret's Church
Christian, Anglican
1 The Oval, Middlesbrough, TS5 8ET
About 5 km away
Stockton Citadel Salvation Army
Christian, Salvation army
Palmerston Street, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 1NU
About 5 km away
Normanby Methodist Church
Christian, Methodist
Cleveland Street, Middlesbrough, TS6 0LW
About 6 km away
Eston Salvation Army
Christian, Salvation army
Bankfields Road, Middlesbrough, TS6 0TA
About 6 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Farooq-e-Azam Mosque & Islamic Centre
Muslim
Bowesfield Lane, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 3EB
About 6 km away
Jamia Masjid Usman-e-Ghani
Muslim
16 Northcote Street, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 3JQ
About 6 km away
Gurdwaras
The nearest Iglesia ni Cristo to Middlesbrough
Iglesia ni Cristo, North Shields
About 50 km away
1A Stormont Street, North Shields, Tyne and Wear, NE29 OEY
Worship services: Thu 7:00pm · Sun 10:00am · Sun 12:00pm (children)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Leeds
About 86 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, Hull
About 109 km away
QUAKER MEETING HOUSE, Bean street, Hull, HU3-2PR
Worship services: Wed 5:30pm · Sat 3:00pm
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
Nando's
Chicken, portuguese. restaurant
Sandown Way, Teesside Park, Stockton-on-Tees, TS17 7BW
About 3 km away
Momo Magic & More
Indian. takeaway
94 Church Road, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 1TW
About 5 km away
Glebe Tandoori
Indian. takeaway
Hanover Parade, Stockton-on-Tees, TS20 1RF
About 6 km away
Tommy Lee
Chinese. takeaway
2 Hanover Parade, Norton, Stockton-on-Tees, TS20 1RF
About 6 km away
Sports and clubs
BEDE Sports Centre
Badminton, rock climbing, multi, athletics, running, soccer, climbing, football, netball, rugby union, tennis, basketball. Sports centre
Marsh House Avenue, Billingham, TS23 3ES
About 5 km away
JD Sports Domes: Football Dome
Soccer. Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Th 09:00-22:00; Fr 09:00-21:00; Sa 09:00-17:00; Su 09:00-20:00
Tees Road, Seaton Carew, TS25 2DX
About 9 km away
Pavilion Leisure Centre
Bowls, badminton. Sports centre
St.Peters Square, Thornaby-on-Tees, TS17 9EP
About 5 km away
Thornaby Pool
Swimming. Sports centre
Thornaby Road, Thornaby-on-Tees, TS17 8AA
About 5 km away
Distinct Performance
Sports hall
6B Guiseley Way, Eaglescliffe, Stockton-on-Tees, TS16 0RF
About 9 km away
Ninja Warrior UK
Climbing adventure. Sports centre
Aintree Oval, Stockton-on-Tees, TS17 7BU
About 3 km away
TeamSport Stockton
Karting. Sports centre
1-3 Portrack Ln, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 2QX
About 4 km away
David Lloyd Leisure
Tennis, swimming, multi, running, table tennis. Sports centre
North Shore Road, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 2SX
About 4 km away
Fishing spots and tackle shops
Days out and things to do
Community and support groups
Middlesbrough District Scout Headquarters
Community centre
42-44 Tollesby Road, Middlesbrough, TS5 7PJ
About 3 km away
Cleveland Juniors Football Club
Community centre
Ambleside Grove, Middlesbrough, TS5 7DQ
About 3 km away
Riverbank Childrens Centre
Community centre
Gilmour Street, Stockton-on-Tees, TS17 6JX
About 5 km away
Billingham Library and Customer Service Centre
Community centre
Queensway Billingham, TS23 2LN
About 5 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Barbers and salons
The Rusty Razor
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Th 09:00-18:00, Fr 09:00-19:00, Sa 09:00-18:00, Su 10:00-16:00
Crossfell Road, Middlesbrough, TS3 7PB
About 3 km away
Inspirations Hair Salon / Barbers
Hairdresser
50 Darlington Road, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 5EH
About 7 km away
Headway Hair Salon
Hairdresser
10 Lyttleton Drive, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 5LE
About 8 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Stockton Central Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-19:00; Th 09:00-17:00; Sa 09:00-17:00
Church Road, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 1TU
About 5 km away
Ormesby Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Sunny Field, Middlesbrough, TS7 9BL
About 5 km away
Norton Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-19:00; Tu 10:00-12:30; Sa 10:00-16:00
87 High Street, Stockton-on-Tees, TS20 1AE
About 5 km away
Fairfield Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-17:00
2 Fairfield Road, Stockton-on-Tees, TS19 7AJ
About 7 km away
Middlesbrough Central Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Dunning Street, Middlesbrough, TS1 2AY
Grove Hill Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Eastbourne Road, Middlesbrough, TS5 6QW
About 2 km away
Acklam Branch Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Buttermere Avenue, Middlesbrough, TS5 7AY
About 3 km away
Billingham Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Queensway Billingham, TS23 2LN
About 5 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 Middlesbrough
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