Settling in · Rotherham
Landing in Rotherham? Start here.
The first fortnight in Rotherham, 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
95 places in Rotherham 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 - Rotherham
Christian, Salvation army
158 High Street, Kimberworth, Rotherham, S61 2BE
About 3 km away
The Salvation Army - Parkgate
Christian, Salvation army
Quarry Street, Rawmarsh, Rotherham, S62 7DB
About 4 km away
St Josephs
Christian, Catholic
6 St Joseph's Road, Sheffield, S13 9AT
About 7 km away
The Salvation Army - Wath-upon-Dearne
Christian, Salvation army
West Street, Wath-upon-Dearne, Rotherham, S63 7QU
About 8 km away
The Salvation Army
Christian, Salvation army
Tannery Street, Woodhouse, Sheffield, S13 7JW
About 8 km away
The Salvation Army Sheffield Castle
Christian, Salvation army
Duke Street, Sheffield, S2 5QP
About 9 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Doncaster
About 18 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
Hua Mei Oriental Supermarket
Supermarket. Hours: Mo-Su 11:00-19:00
1 Edward Street, Netherthorpe, Sheffield, S3 7GE
About 10 km away
Yi-Mart Oriental Supermarket
Supermarket
8 Matilda Street, Sheffield, S1 4QD
About 10 km away
Food and takeaways
Karobar
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Su 10:30-21:00
Olive Lane, Rotherham, S60 8GA
About 5 km away
Engin’s Bar & Grill
Turkish. restaurant. Hours: Tu-Sa 11:00-22:00; Su 13:00-22:00
370 Handsworth Road, Sheffield, S13 9BY
About 7 km away
Happy House
Chinese, curry. takeaway. Hours: Mo,We-Su 17:00-23:30; Tu 17:00-24:00
914 City Road, Sheffield, S2 1GJ
About 9 km away
Grand Kerala
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Fr 17:00-22:00; Sa,Su 13:00-22:00
33 Carver Street, Sheffield, S1 4FS
About 10 km away
China Red
Chinese. restaurant. Hours: Su-Th 12:00-21:30; Fr-Sa 12:00-22:00
3 Rockingham Gate, Sheffield, S1 4JD
About 10 km away
Nando's
Chicken, portuguese. restaurant
Stadium Way, Parkgate, Rotherham, S60 1TG
About 2 km away
Golden Hill Chinese
Chinese. takeaway
7 Hangsman Lane, Laughton Common, Sheffield, S25 3PF
About 10 km away
Sports and clubs
Thomas Rotherham College Sports Centre
Fitness, basketball, soccer. Fitness centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 17:00-21:00
Goals (Indoor facilities)
Football. Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-23:00
95 Norfolk Park Road, Sheffield, S2 2RU
About 9 km away
Oasis Health Club
Fitness centre. Hours: Mo-Th 06:15-21:30, Fr 06:15-19:00, Sa 08:00-19:00, Su 08:00-17:00
Wortley Road, Rotherham, S61 1QN
About 3 km away
Handsworth Social Club
Social club. Hours: Mo-Fr 13:00-16:00,19:30-23:00; Sa 12:00-16:00,19:00-23:45; Su 12:00-16:00,19:00-23:30
13 Hall Road, Sheffield, S13 9AG
About 7 km away
Aston-cum-Aughton Leisure Centre
Swimming. Sports centre
Swallownest Sheffield, S26 4SF
About 7 km away
Depot Climbing
Climbing. Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-22:00, Sa-Su 09:00-21:00
232 Woodbourn Road, Sheffield, S9 3LQ
About 8 km away
The Climbing Hangar
Climbing. Sports centre. Hours: Tu,We 06:30-22:00; Mo,Th 10:00-22:00; Fr 06:30-21:00; Sa,Su 09:00-19:00
15 Sutherland Street, Sheffield, S4 7WG
About 8 km away
Hillsborough Leisure Centre
Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 05:30-22:00; Sa-Su 08:00-18:00
Beulah Road, Sheffield, S6 2AN
About 10 km away
Acces Techniques
Climbing, srt. Sports centre
Norfolk Barracks, Edmund Road, Sheffield, S2 4EE
About 10 km away
Fishing spots and tackle shops
Kerfoot's
Tackle shop, and the place to ask where to fish and about permits
6 Southey Green Road, Sheffield, S5 8GW
About 9 km away
Days out and things to do
Rock Up
Sports centre. Hours: Mo, We, Fr 10:30-18:30; Tu, Th 10:30-17:30; Sa 09:30-19:30; Su 09:30-18:30
The Arcade, Sheffield, S9 1EP
About 4 km away
Awesome Walls Sheffield
Sports centre
Garter Street, Sheffield, S4 7QX
About 7 km away
Parkwood Karting
Sports centre
Parkwood Road, Sheffield, S3 8AG
About 9 km away
Community and support groups
Longley Four Greens Community Centre
Community centre
41 Southey Avenue, Sheffield, S5 7NN
About 8 km away
Mexborough Children's Centre
Community centre
Wath Road, Doncaster, S64 9ED
About 8 km away
Silverwood Miners Welfare Resource Centre
Community centre
Doncaster Road, Rotherham, S65 4JZ
About 3 km away
Croft House Centre
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Th 10:00-21:30; Sa,Su 10:00-13:00
9 Garden Street, Sheffield, S1 4BJ
About 10 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Barbers and salons
Alan's Barber
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-19:00; Sa 09:00-18:00; Su 10:00-17:00
924 City Road, Sheffield, S2 1GQ
About 9 km away
Roger's Ye Olde Barber Shop
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Tu,Th-Fr,Sa 10:00-13:00
325A Handsworth Road, Sheffield, S13 9BP
About 7 km away
NJ Hair
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu 09:00-18:00; We 09:00-19:00; Th-Fr 09:00-17:00; Sa 08:00-16:00
337A Handsworth Road, Sheffield, S13 9BP
About 7 km away
Nutt Case
Hairdresser. Hours: 24/7
360 Handsworth Road, Sheffield, S13 9BY
About 7 km away
FX for Hair
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu,We 09:00-13:00; Fr 09:00-17:00
69B Richmond Park Road, Sheffield, S13 8HN
About 7 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Showroom Cinema
Cinema. Hours: Mo,Th 10:00-21:00; Tu,We,Fr,Su 11:30-21:00; Sa 10:30-21:00
S1 2BX
About 9 km away
Rawmarsh Community Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Barber's Avenue, Rawmarsh, Rotherham, S62 6AE
About 3 km away
Field Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Jenkin Avenue, Sheffield, S9 1AP
About 5 km away
Darnall Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Britannia Road, Sheffield, S9 5JG
About 6 km away
Firth Park Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Hucklow Road, Sheffield, S5 6TG
About 6 km away
Ecclesfield Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
High Street, Sheffield, S35 9UA
About 7 km away
Aston Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Worksop Road, Swallownest, Sheffield, S26 4WD
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 Rotherham
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