Settling in · Poole
Landing in Poole? Start here.
The first fortnight in Poole, 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
68 places in Poole 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
Taunton Baptist Church
Christian, Baptist. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-12:00
Silver Street, Taunton, TA1 3DH
About 9 km away
Salvation Army
Christian, Salvation army
South Street, Taunton, TA1 3AA
About 9 km away
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Whitness
Christian, Jehovahs witness
3 White Hart Lane, Wellington, TA21 8HN
Wellington United Reformed Church
Christian, Presbyterian
Fore Street, Wellington, TA21 8AQ
About 2 km away
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Taunton
About 6 km away
Bishop's Hull Primary School, Bishop's Hull Hill, Bishop's Hull, Taunton, England, TA1 5EB
Worship services: Tue 7:00pm
Iglesia ni Cristo, Exeter
About 35 km away
ST. MARK'S CHURCH HALL-, Pinhoe road, EX4-7HU Exeter, Devon, England
Worship services: Wed 7:00pm · Sat 4:00pm · Sat 6:00pm (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
Ruay Thai Supermarket
Supermarket
122 East Reach, Taunton, TA1 3HL
About 9 km away
Food and takeaways
Kerala Kitchen
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo,We-Su 17:00-23:00
34 Station Road, Taunton, TA1 1NL
About 8 km away
South Dragon House
Chinese. restaurant. Hours: Mo,We-Su 17:30-23:00
13 Silver Street, Taunton, TA1 3DH
About 9 km away
Saat Rong Spice
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 16:30-23:00
25 Bridge Street, Taunton, TA1 1TQ
About 8 km away
Sports and clubs
Evolution Martials Arts
Taekwondo, kickboxing, brazilian jiu jitsu. Sports centre
Cornishway North, Taunton, TA1 5LY
About 6 km away
Taunton Pool
Swimming. Sports centre
Station Road, Taunton, TA1 1NN
About 8 km away
Wellington Sports Centre
Sports centre
Corams Lane, Wellington, TA21 8LL
About 2 km away
Hobby Horse Riding Centre
Equestrian. Sports centre
Pickney Lane, Kingston St. Mary, TA2 8AS
About 9 km away
Wellington Squash and Racketball Club
Racquet. Sports centre
Corams Lane, Wellington, TA21 8LL
About 2 km away
Wyvern Sports and Social Club
Multi. Sports centre
Mountfields Road, Taunton, TA1 3BJ
About 9 km away
Fishing spots and tackle shops
Community and support groups
Oake Village Hall
Community centre
Saxon Close, Taunton, TA4 1JA
About 4 km away
Greenway Farm Hall
Community centre
Greenway Road, Taunton, TA4 3DD
About 7 km away
Taunton Vale Sports Club
Community centre
Gipsy Lane, Staplegrove, TA2 6LL
About 8 km away
Cotford St Luke Community Centre
Community centre
Bethell Mead, Taunton, TA4 1HZ
About 6 km away
Centre for Outdoor Activity & Community Hub (COACH)
Community centre
French Weir Avenue, Taunton, TA1 1AW
About 8 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Hot towel and traditional shaves
Marmaris Turkish Barber
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 08:20-17:00
143 East Reach, Taunton, TA1 3HN
About 9 km away
Barbers and salons
Vital
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu-Th 09:00-17:30; Fr 09:00-20:00; Sa 08:00-17:00
5 Corporation Street, Taunton, TA1 4AJ
About 8 km away
Nichares
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu-Th 09:00-17:30; Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 08:30-16:00
5 North Street, Taunton, TA1 1LH
About 8 km away
CC Hair & Beauty Bar
Hairdresser
2 Wood Street, Taunton, TA1 1UN
About 8 km away
Altered Images
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Th 09:00-17:30, Fr 09:00-19:00; Sa 08:30-17:00; Su off
175 Staplegrove Road, Staplegrove, TA2 6AF
About 8 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Wellesley Cinema
Cinema
50 Mantle Street, Wellington, TA21 8AU
About 2 km away
Wiveliscombe Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu,Th,Fr,Sa 10:00-12:30; Tu,Th,Fr 14:30-17:00
The Square, Taunton, TA4 2JT
About 9 km away
Wellington Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-We,Fr 09:30-17:00; Th,Sa 09:30-13:00
16 Fore Street, Wellington, TA21 8AQ
About 2 km away
Taunton Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,Tu,Th,Fr 09:30-17:30; We 09:30-19:00; Sa 09:30-17:00
Paul Street, Taunton, TA1 3XZ
About 8 km away
Bishops Lydeard Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
3 Church Street, Taunton, TA4 3AT
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 Poole
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