Settling in · Rothwell
Landing in Rothwell? Start here.
The first fortnight in Rothwell, 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
89 places in Rothwell 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
Christian, Salvation army
Nile Street, Leeds, LS2 7QY
About 7 km away
Leeds Cathedral
Christian, Roman catholic
Great George Street, Leeds, LS2 8BE
About 7 km away
The Salvation Army Citadel
Christian, Salvation army
Booth Street, Wakefield, WF10 1SA
About 8 km away
The Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin
Christian, Anglican
Town Street, Leeds, LS10 3TL
About 4 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Gurdwaras
Other places of worship
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Leeds
About 11 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, Doncaster
About 34 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
Freshco Halal Superstore
Supermarket. Hours: Mo-Su 08:00-20:00
Upper Warrengate, Wakefield, WF1 4JZ
About 7 km away
Woodhouse Convenience
Alcohol. Hours: Mo-Sa 08:00-22:00, Su 10:00-22:00
55-57 Pennington Street, Leeds, LS6 2JP
About 9 km away
Nong Fern Thai Supermarket
Supermarket. Hours: Mo-Su 10:00-19:00
97-99 Vicar Lane, Leeds, LS1 6PJ
About 7 km away
Burley Off Licence And Convenience Store
Convenience, alcohol
5 Burley Street, Leeds, LS3 1LD
About 8 km away
Food and takeaways
Pho
Vietnamese. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Th 11:00-20:30; Fr-Sa 11:00-21:00; Su 11:00-18:00
First Floor, Albion Street, Leeds, LS1 5AY
About 7 km away
Sukhothai
Asian, thai. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Th 17:00-22:00; Fr 17:00-23:00; Sa 12:00-23:00; Su 17:00-21:00
15 South Parade, Leeds, LS1 5PQ
About 7 km away
Gallio
Turkish. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 11:00-23:00
Benson Street, Leeds, LS7 1BL
About 7 km away
Bengal Brasserie
Indian. restaurant
633a Roundhay Road, Leeds, LS8 4BA
About 9 km away
The Pizza Man
Pizza, pasta, burger, kebab, chicken. takeaway
1a Talbot Street, Normanton, WF6 2BL
About 6 km away
Sports and clubs
West Riding County Football Association
Soccer. Sports centre
Fleet Lane, Leeds, LS26 8HT
About 2 km away
Lock Lane Rugby League and Sports Centre
Sports centre
Mill Lane, Wakefield, WF10 2SF
About 9 km away
The Glasshoughton Centre
Soccer, cricket, bowls. Sports centre
Leeds Road, Wakefield, WF10 4PA
About 9 km away
Lightwaves Lesiure & Community Centre
Sports centre
Lower York Street, Wakefield, WF1 3LJ
About 7 km away
Armley Sports & Leisure Centre
Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Th 07:15-22:00; Fr 07:15-21:30; Sa 08:00-18:00; Su 08:15-19:05
Carr Crofts, Leeds, LS12 3HB
About 9 km away
Ramgarhia Sports Centre
Sports centre
8-10 Chapeltown Road, Leeds, LS7 3AP
About 8 km away
Otterflow Pilates & Yoga
Sports centre. Hours: Mo 07:00-12:00, 18:00-20:30; Tu 06:30-10:30; Th 07:00-12:00, 18:30-20:30; Fr 07:00-12:30; Sa 08:30-13:00; Su 09:00-13:00
Junction Lane, Wakefield, WF5 0HA
About 10 km away
Days out and things to do
TeamSport Leeds
Sports centre
South Accommodation Road, Leeds, LS10 1JX
About 6 km away
Depot Climbing Armley
Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 06:00-22:00; Sa-Su 09:00-21:00
Castleton Road, Leeds, LS12 2EE
About 8 km away
Driving schools
Community and support groups
St Mary's Church Whitkirk Community Centre
Community centre
390 Selby Road, Leeds, LS15 0AA
About 6 km away
One Community Centre
Community centre
1 Cromwell Street, Leeds, LS9 7SG
About 7 km away
The Compton Centre Community Hub
Community centre. Hours: Mo,Th-Fr 09:00-17:00; Tu 10:00-17:00; We 09:00-19:00; Sa 10:00-16:00; Su off
Harehills Lane, Leeds, LS9 7BG
About 7 km away
Holbeck Community Centre
Community centre
Elland Road, Leeds, LS11 0AF
About 7 km away
Leeds Caribbean & African Centre
Community centre
10 Laycock Place, Leeds, LS7 3JA
About 8 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Afro hair specialists
Hot towel and traditional shaves
Barbers and salons
Room 97
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo 09:00-17:00,Tu-We 09:00-18:00,Th 09:00-20:00,Fr 09:00-18:00,Sa 08:00-17:00
Lower Trinity Walk, Wakefield, WF1 3NT
About 7 km away
Just Men Barbers
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-20:00; Sa 09:00-19:00; Su 10:00-17:00
43 Wade Lane, Leeds, LS2 8NJ
About 7 km away
Mister Gee
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 08:30-17:00; Sa 08:30-16:00; Su 10:00-15:00
14a Westmorland Street, Wakefield, WF1 1PJ
About 7 km away
Infinity Studio
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo, Tu, Th, Fr 10:00-19:00; Sa 09:00-16:00
2 The Springs, Wakefield, WF1 1PU
About 7 km away
Ambassador Barbering
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-18:00, Su Closed
Merrion Street, Leeds, LS2 8NG
About 7 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Halton Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
273 Selby Road, Leeds, LS15 7JR
About 5 km away
Leeds Conservatoire Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
St Peters Street, Leeds, LS9 8BT
About 7 km away
The Leeds Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-We 10:00-18:00; Th 10:00-19:00; Fr 10:00-17:00; Sa 10:00-16:00
18 Commercial Street, Leeds, LS1 6AL
About 7 km away
Leeds Central Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Th 09:00-20:00; Fr 09:00-17:00; Sa 10:00-16:00; Su off
Calverley Street, Leeds, LS1 3AB
About 7 km away
Hyde Park Picture House
Cinema. Hours: Mo-Tu 16:00-22:00; We,Fr-Su 10:30-22:00; Th 14:00-22:00
73 Brudenell Road, Leeds, LS6 1JD
About 9 km away
Compton Centre Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,Th-Fr 09:00-17:00; Tu 10:00-17:00; We 09:00-19:00; Sa 10:00-16:00; Su off
Harehills Lane, Leeds, LS9 6AN
About 7 km away
Armley One Stop Centre
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,Th-Sa 09:00-17:00, Tu 10:00-17:00, We 09:00-19:00, Sa 10:00-16:00
2 Stocks Hill, Leeds, LS12 1UQ
About 9 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 Rothwell
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