Settling in · Walsall
Landing in Walsall? Start here.
The first fortnight in Walsall, 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
108 places in Walsall 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 - Darlaston
Christian, Salvation army
The Leys, Wednesbury, WS10 8DP
About 4 km away
The Salvation Army - Willenhall
Christian, Salvation army
Field Street, Willenhall, WV13 2NY
About 5 km away
Pan Jezus czeka na Ciebie
Christian, Roman catholic
260 High Street
About 8 km away
Holy Trinity Parish Church
Christian, Anglican
Burlington Road, West Bromwich, B70 6LQ
About 8 km away
Oldbury New Testament Church of God
Christian, Pentecostal
31A Church Street, B69 3AG
About 9 km away
Smethwick Seventh Day Adventist Church
Christian, Seventh day adventist
St Pauls Road
About 10 km away
Oldbury Ecclesial Hall
Christian, Unitarianism
8 Brades Road, Sandwell, B69 2ET
About 10 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Shah Jalal Jami Masjid & Madrasah
Muslim, Sunni
48 Hart Street, Walsall, WS1 3PE
Zia-E-Medina
Muslim, Sunni
153 Walsall Road, Sandwell, WS10 9SW
About 4 km away
Masjid Ghausia Qasmia & Community Hub
Muslim, Sunni
34-38 Mount Street, Walsall, WS1 3PJ
Hindu temples
Gurdwaras
Other places of worship
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Birmingham
About 11 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
Masala Bazaar Metro
Supermarket. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-20:00; Su 09:00-17:00
Walsall Road, Birmingham, B42 1AA
About 9 km away
Lichfield Convenience
Alcohol. Hours: Mo-Sa 10:30-22:00; Su 12:00-21:00
149 Lichfield Road, Walsall, WS4 1HB
About 3 km away
Pleck Auto Body Repairs
Car repair
Hamstead Convenience
Convenience. Hours: Mo-Sa 08:00-22:00; Su 09:00-21:00
Old Walsall Road, Birmingham, B42 1NN
About 7 km away
Food and takeaways
Oodles
Chinese. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 11:00-23:00
44 High Street, Walsall, WS1 1QR
Yaadgaar
Indian, dessert, asian, pizza. takeaway. Hours: Mo-Su 09:00-22:45
250 Wednesbury Road, Walsall, WS2 9QN
About 2 km away
Pleck Balti
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 18:00-22:30
301-303 Wednesbury Road, Walsall, WS2 9QJ
About 2 km away
Polonia Restaurant
Polish. restaurant
15a Market Place, Tipton, DY4 7AR
About 7 km away
Unique Cuisine
Caribbean. takeaway. Hours: Mo-Sa 12:00-20:00
100 Hawthorn Road, Birmingham, B44 8QP
About 9 km away
Alishaan
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 17:00-23:00
90 Hawthorn Road, Birmingham, B44 8QP
About 9 km away
Hong Kong
Chinese. restaurant. Hours: Tu closed, Fr-Sa 17:00-23:30, Mo,We-Th,Su 17:00-23:00
17 Anchor Road, Aldridge, Walsall, Aldridge, WS9 8PT
About 5 km away
Sports and clubs
Veseyans Rugby & Sports Club
Rugby
Little Hardwick Road, WS9 0SQ
About 5 km away
Fearless Boxing Academy
Boxing, muay thai. Fitness centre
Units 1-3, Wharf Street, Walsall, WS2 9ES
Stick and Wicket
Cricket, running, football, hockey, squash. Sport club
The Green, Aldridge, Walsall, WS9 8NH
About 5 km away
Willenhall Rugby Club
Rugby union. Sports centre
Bognop Road, South Staffordshire, WV11 2AZ
About 8 km away
Tipton Sports Academy
Squash, padel, fitness, weightlifting, dance, badminton, soccer, athletics, tennis, netball, five-a-side. Sports centre
Wake Green Road, Sandwell, DY4 0AN
About 7 km away
Goals Soccer Center Darlaston
Sports centre
Black Country Route, Willenhall, WV14 7BL
About 5 km away
The Beeches- Tividale Football Club
Sports centre
New Birmingham Road, Sandwell, B69 1UL
About 10 km away
Hawkins Sports & Social Club Sporting Grounds
Soccer. Sports centre
Hayes View Drive, South Staffordshire, WS6 7EX
About 10 km away
Fishing spots and tackle shops
Days out and things to do
Driving schools
Community and support groups
Heart of Oldbury Community Centre
Community centre
31 Church Street, Sandwell, B69 3AF
About 9 km away
Wood Lane Community Centre
Community centre
157 Wood Lane, Sandwell, B70 9PY
About 8 km away
Palfrey & Caldmore Senior Citizens Club
Community centre
98 Dale Street, Darlaston, WS1 4AN
About 2 km away
Gujarati Hindu Social and Cultural Centre
Community centre
Ford Street, Darlaston, WS2 9BW
About 2 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Hot towel and traditional shaves
Barbers and salons
Velvet Touch Hair & Beauty Salon by Vaida
Hairdresser
54 Birmingham Street, Sandwell, B69 4DZ
About 10 km away
M.W. Coleman Gentlemen's Hairdressers
Hairdresser
80 Birmingham Street
About 10 km away
Trim Barbershops
Hairdresser
Bushbury Lane, Wolverhampton, WV10 9UL
About 10 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Sandwell Central Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 09:30-19:00; Tu-Fr 09:30-18:00; Sa 10:00-16:00; Su off
High Street, Sandwell, B70 8DZ
About 7 km away
Oakham Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 10:00-13:00,14:00-17:00; We 10:00-13:00,14:00-17:00; Fr 10:00-13:00,14:00-17:00; Sa 10:00-14:00
Poplar Rise, Sandwell, B69 1RD
About 10 km away
Smethwick Libary
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
100 High Street
About 10 km away
Oldbury Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Th 09:00-17:30; Fr 09:00-17:00; Sa 22:00-14:00
Freeth Street, Oldbury, B69 3DE
About 9 km away
Norton Canes Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Burntwood Road, Cannock Chase, WS11 9RF
About 10 km away
Wednesbury Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Hollies Drive, Sandwell, WS10 9EH
About 4 km away
Willenhall Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Bath Street, Willenhall, WV13 2EY
About 5 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 Walsall
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