Settling in · Noctorum
Landing in Noctorum? Start here.
The first fortnight in Noctorum, 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
86 places in Noctorum 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 - Birkenhead
Christian, Salvation army
Vincent Street, Birkenhead, CH41 2RH
About 3 km away
Salvation Army Community Church
Christian, Salvation army
179 Old Chester Road, Rock Ferry, Birkenhead, CH42 3TB
About 4 km away
Jireh Church
Christian, Evangelical
Teehey Gardens, Bebington, Wirral, CH63 2JH
About 5 km away
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses
Christian, Jehovahs witness
8-12 Field Road, Wallasey, CH45 5BQ
About 6 km away
Hoylake Evangelical Church
Christian, Evangelical
3 Birkenhead Road, Hoylake, Wirral, CH47 5AE
About 7 km away
St Luke's Methodist Church
Christian, Methodist
19 Market Street, Hoylake, Wirral, CH47 2BF
About 7 km away
Higher Bebington Methodist Church
Christian, Methodist
Wirral CH63 2LW
About 4 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Other places of worship
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Liverpool
About 3 km away
St Laurence's School, St. Laurence Drive Birkenhead, England CH41 3JD
Worship services: Wed 7:00pm · Sun 11:00am
Iglesia ni Cristo, Flintshire
About 14 km away
High Street Bagillt Flintshire, North Wales CH6 6HE
Worship services: Tue 6:15pm · Sat 12:00pm · Sat 3:00pm (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
Rosa's Thai Cafe
Thai. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Sa 12:00-22:00; Su 12:00-21:00
7 Britannia Pavilion, L3 4AD
About 6 km away
Magic Spices
Indian. restaurant
224 - 225, Seabank Road, New Brighton, Wallasey, CH45 1HE
About 6 km away
Fogo dev chao
Brazilian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Fr 17:00-22:00; Sa 12:00-15:00,17:00-22:00; Su 17:00-21:00
Exchange Flags, Liverpool, L2 3YL
About 6 km away
Barton Rouge
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 16:00-23:00
26 Exchange Street East, Liverpool, L2 3PH
About 6 km away
Nando's
Chicken, portuguese. restaurant
Queen Square, Liverpool, L1 1RH
About 7 km away
Yuet Ben
Chinese. restaurant
1 Upper Duke Street, Liverpool, L1 9DU
About 7 km away
Mowgli Street Food
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Th 11:30-22:00; Fr,Sa 11:30-22:30; Su 11:30-21:30
69 Bold Street, Liverpool, L1 4EZ
About 7 km away
Mother India Kitchen
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo 17:00-21:00; We-Su 17:00-21:00
94 Market Street, Hoylake, Wirral, CH47 3BD
About 7 km away
Hoylake Spice
Indian, bangladeshi. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Tu 16:30-22:00; Th-Su 16:30-22:00
75 Market Street, Hoylake, Wirral, CH47 2BH
About 7 km away
LiangJi Wraps
Chinese. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-21:00; Sa-Su 10:30-21:00
5 Prescot Street, L7 8UE
About 8 km away
Ocean Star
Chinese, seafood, curry, fish, thai. takeaway
525 Pensby Road, Thingwall, Wirral, CH61 7UQ
About 3 km away
Lucky Garden
Chinese, fish and chips. takeaway
269 Wallasey Village, Wallasey, CH45 3LR
About 5 km away
Sports and clubs
Salisbury Amateur Boxing Club
Boxing. Sports centre
11A Salisbury Street, Liverpool, L3 8DR
About 8 km away
Snap Fitness
Fitness centre. Hours: 24/7
139 Telegraph Road, Heswall, Wirral, Heswall, CH60 7SE
About 6 km away
Awesome Walls Liverpool
Climbing. Sports centre
Athol Street, Liverpool, L5 9TN
About 7 km away
RK Health & Fitness
Fitness centre. Hours: 24/7
77 Market Street, Hoylake, Wirral, CH47 2BH
About 7 km away
Mersey Bowmen Lawn Tennis Club
Tennis. Sport club
Liverpool L17 1AP
About 9 km away
Fishing spots and tackle shops
Community and support groups
The Hive, Wirral Youth Zone
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Su 09:00-21:00
Bright Street, Birkenhead, CH41 4EA
About 3 km away
The Heart of Egremont
Community centre
Guildford Street, Wallasey, CH44 0BP
About 5 km away
Gautby Road Play, Youth & Community Centre
Community centre
Gautby Road, Birkenhead, CH41 7DS
About 3 km away
St Luke's Hoylake
Community centre
19 Market Street, Hoylake, Wirral, CH47 2BF
About 7 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Hot towel and traditional shaves
Wirral Turkish Barbers
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-19:00; Sa-Su 10:00-17:00
105 Market Street, Hoylake, Wirral, CH47 5AA
About 7 km away
Barbers and salons
The Little Hairmaid
Hairdresser
249 Rake Lane, Wallasey, CH45 5DJ
About 6 km away
Hart & Co. Barbershop
Hairdresser
38 Vauxhall Road, Liverpool, L3 2BB
About 6 km away
HD Hairlines
Hairdresser
51A Rodney Street, Liverpool, L1 9ER
About 7 km away
Chris Cain Hairdressing
Hairdresser
104 Market Street, Hoylake, Wirral, CH47 3BE
About 7 km away
Christopher Millea Hairdressing
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-18:00
37-39 Market Street, Hoylake, Wirral, CH47 2BG
About 7 km away
Majestic Hair and Beauty
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo,We 09:00-17:00; Tu,Th 09:00-20:00; Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 09:00-16:00
11 Bridge Road, West Kirby, Wirral, CH48 5EX
About 7 km away
Cinemas and libraries
St James Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-16:00; Sa-Su off; PH off
Laird Street, Birkenhead, CH41 7AL
About 2 km away
Aldham Robarts Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
29 Maryland Street, Liverpool, L1 9DE
About 7 km away
West Kirby Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,We,Fr,Sa 14:00-17:00, Mo-Sa 09:00-13:00, Tu,Th 14:00-19:00
About 7 km away
Avril Robarts Library - LJMU
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
79-81 Tithebarn Street, Liverpool, L2 2ER
About 6 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 Noctorum
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