Settling in · Solihull
Landing in Solihull? Start here.
The first fortnight in Solihull, 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 Solihull 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
St Mary's
Christian, Anglican
31 St Mary's Row, Birmingham, B13 8HW
About 8 km away
Shirley Methodist Church
Christian, Methodist
Stratford Road, Metropolitan Borough of Solihull, B90 3AL
About 3 km away
Shirley Christadelphian Hall
Christian
Bills Lane, Metropolitan Borough of Solihull, B90 2NP
About 3 km away
St. Andrew's Methodist Church
Christian, Methodist. Hours: Mo-Su 08:00-17:00
Cartland Road, Birmingham, B30 2RD
About 10 km away
Church of the Holy Ghost and Mary Immaculate
Christian, Catholic
St Bernards Road, Metropolitan Borough of Solihull, B92 7BJ
About 3 km away
St James the Great
Christian, Anglican, methodist
Church Road, Metropolitan Borough of Solihull, B90 2AX
About 3 km away
Our Lady of the Wayside Catholic Church
Christian, Roman catholic
Stratford Road, Metropolitan Borough of Solihull, B90 4AY
About 3 km away
St Margaret's Parish Church
Christian, Anglican
Warwick Road, Metropolitan Borough of Solihull, B92 7AR
About 3 km away
Lyndon Methodist Church
Christian, Methodist
Melton Avenue, Metropolitan Borough of Solihull, B92 8HL
About 4 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Faizan e Medina
Muslim. Hours: Mo-Su 08:00-23:30
Richmond Road, Birmingham, B33 8TN
About 8 km away
Green Lane Masjid
Muslim, Sunni
20 Green Lane, Birmingham, B9 5DB
About 9 km away
Birmingham Central Mosque
Muslim
180 Belgrave Middleway, Birmingham, B12 0XS
About 10 km away
SIEA Highlands Mosque
Muslim
Cranmore Avenue, Metropolitan Borough of Solihull, B90 4LE
About 2 km away
Gurdwaras
Guru Nanak Gurduwara Bhat Singh Sabha Temple
Sikh
Highgate Place, Birmingham, B12 0DA
About 9 km away
Synagogues
Solihull & District Hebrew Congregation
Jewish
3 Monastery Drive, Metropolitan Borough of Solihull, B91 1DW
About 3 km away
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Birmingham
About 18 km away
2 Causeway Green Road Oldbury, West Midlands B68 8LD
Worship services: Wed 7:00pm · Sat 10:00am · Sat 12:30pm (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
Euro Express International Supermarket
Convenience. Hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-21:00; Su 10:00-19:00
1541 Pershore Road, Birmingham, B30 2JH
About 10 km away
Oriental Halal Store
Convenience
542-544 Coventry Road, South Yardley, Birmingham, B10 0UN
About 8 km away
Food and takeaways
Abdul's Cafe and Diner
Indian. cafe. Hours: Su 14:00-21:00; Tu-Th 13:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 14:00-22:00
1191 Stratford Road, Birmingham, B28 8BX
About 5 km away
Taste of Pakistan
Pakistani. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-23:00; Sa-Su 06:00-23:00
6 Highgate Road, Birmingham, B12 8DP
About 8 km away
Rainbow Garden
Cantonese, chinese. takeaway. Hours: Tu-Su 17:00-10:15
1225 Pershore Road, Birmingham, B30 2YT
About 10 km away
NURA Restaurant
Indian. restaurant
1 The Green, Metropolitan Borough of Solihull, CV7 7LN
About 9 km away
Oasis Tandoori Restaurant
Indian. restaurant
130 Stratford Road, Metropolitan Borough of Solihull, B90 3BB
About 3 km away
Sports and clubs
Fox Hollies Leisure Centre
Badminton, swimming, squash. Sports centre
Shirley Road, Birmingham, B27 7NS
About 5 km away
B-Active Health and Fitness Centre
Fitness centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 06:00-22:00; Sa 07:00-20:00; Su 08:00-20:00
42-44 East Meadway, Birmingham, B33 0AP
About 8 km away
Creation Climbing Centre & Skate Park
Climbing, skateboard, bmx. Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-22:00; Sa-Su 10:00-18:00
582 Moseley Road, Birmingham, B12 9AA
About 9 km away
Studio 88 Reformer Pilates
Pilates. Fitness centre. Hours: "by appointment"
1272 Pershore Road, Birmingham, B30 2XU
About 10 km away
Perfection Snooker Club
Snooker, pool. Sport club. Hours: Mo-Su 12:00-00:00
1239 Pershore Road, Birmingham, B30 2YT
About 10 km away
Air Ninja
Obstacle course. Sports centre
1623-1631 Coventry Road, Birmingham, B26 1DD
About 6 km away
Sparkhill Pool and Fitness Centre
Multi. Sports centre
Stratford Road, Birmingham, B11 4DY
About 7 km away
Cocks Moor Wood Leisure Centre
Multi. Sports centre
Alcester Road South, Birmingham, B14 6ER
About 8 km away
Fishing spots and tackle shops
K J Tackle & Baits
Tackle shop, and the place to ask where to fish and about permits
186 Maryland Avenue, Birmingham, B34 6EA
About 9 km away
Community and support groups
The Billesley Ark
Community centre
725 Yardley Wood Road, Birmingham, B13 0PT
About 7 km away
Meriden Village Hall
Community centre
Main Road, Metropolitan Borough of Solihull, CV7 7NG
About 10 km away
Catherine de Barnes Village Hall
Community centre
Hampton Lane, Metropolitan Borough of Solihull, B91 2TJ
About 3 km away
Knowle Village Hall
Community centre
St Johns Close, Metropolitan Borough of Solihull, B93 0NH
About 4 km away
Moseley Community Development Trust
Community centre
Alcester Road, Birmingham, B13 8LH
About 8 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Hot towel and traditional shaves
Barbers and salons
The Finery York Road
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Su 09:00-18:00
12 York Road, Birmingham, B14 7RZ
About 8 km away
D's International Barbers
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo 12:00-19:00; Tu-Sa 09:00-19:00
1616 Pershore Road, Birmingham, B30 3BL
About 10 km away
Harris Hair Studio
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-18:00; Su 11:00-15:00
1541 Pershore Road, Birmingham, B30 2NW
About 10 km away
Clay Hair Studio
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu-We 11:00-18:00; Th 11:00-20:00; Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 09:00-17:00
1555 Pershore Road, Birmingham, B30 2JH
About 10 km away
Hannah Swan Hair & Beauty
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu-We 09:00-18:00; Th 09:00-19:00; Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 08:30-15:00
1229 Pershore Road, Birmingham, B30 2YT
About 10 km away
Ninety Degree Barbershop
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Th 10:00-19:00; Fr 09:00-19:00; Sa 09:00-18:00
1503 Pershore Road, Birmingham, B30 2JL
About 10 km away
Joshuaa Shaun Hairdressing
Hairdresser. Hours: We 09:00-17:00; Th 09:00-19:00; Fr-Sa 09:00-17:00
1259 Pershore Road, Birmingham, B30 2YT
About 10 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Mockingbird Cinema & Kitchen
Cinema
Gibb Street, Birmingham, B9 4AA
About 10 km away
Olton Public Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,Tu,Th,Fr 10:00-13:00,14:00-17:00; Sa 10:00-13:00
Warwick Road, Metropolitan Borough of Solihull, B92 7AR
About 3 km away
Acocks Green Public Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 11:00-13:00,14:00-19:00; Tu-Th 09:00-13:00,14:00-17:00; Sa 09:00-13:00,14:00-17:00; Fr,Su off
Shirley Road, Birmingham, B27 7XU
About 5 km away
Hall Green Public Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Stratford Road, Birmingham, B28 9AD
About 5 km away
Sheldon Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Brays Road, Birmingham, B26 2RS
About 5 km away
Yardley Wood Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Highfield Road, Birmingham, B14 4DU
About 6 km away
South Yardley Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Yardley Road, Birmingham, B26 1BU
About 6 km away
Sparkhill Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Stratford Road, Birmingham, B11 4EA
About 7 km away
Druids Heath Community Library & Neighbourhood Centre
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Idmiston Croft, Birmingham, B14 5NL
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 Solihull
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