Settling in · Whitecross
Landing in Whitecross? Start here.
The first fortnight in Whitecross, 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
73 places in Whitecross 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 - Bo'ness
Christian, Salvation army
Corbiehall Bo'ness, EH51 0AP
About 5 km away
Salvation Army
Christian, Salvation army
1 Woodside Court, Falkirk, FK1 5AN
About 8 km away
St Michael's Roman Catholic Church
Christian, Catholic
53 Blackness Road, Linlithgow, EH49 7JA
About 4 km away
St Mary of the Assumption Church
Christian, Roman catholic
Linlithgow Road, Bo'ness, EH51 0DP
About 5 km away
Christ The King Roman Catholic Church
Christian, Roman catholic
Bowhouse Square, Grangemouth, FK3 0HB
About 5 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Edinburgh
About 27 km away
RCCG-Edinburgh Tabernacle Hall 41-42 Inverleith Gardens Ferry Road Edinburgh, Scotland EH3 5PR
Worship services: Wed 6:00pm · Sat 11:00am
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
Food and takeaways
Erawan
Thai. restaurant. Hours: Tu-Fr 12:00-14:00,17:00-23:00; Sa 12:00-23:00; Su 17:00-23:00; Mo off
11-13 East Bridge Street, Falkirk, FK1 1YD
About 8 km away
Happy Munchy Box
Chinese. restaurant
72 High Station Road, Falkirk, FK1 5QX
About 9 km away
The Ashmaan
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Su-Th 17:00-21:30; Fr-Sa 17:00-22:30
25 Mill Road, Linlithgow Bridge, EH49 7QJ
About 2 km away
Taiyuan
Chinese, thai. restaurant. Hours: Tu-Su 16:00-23:00; Mo off
4 Weir Street, Falkirk, FK1 1RA
About 9 km away
Desi Twist
Pizza, burger, kebab, tacos, curry. takeaway
5 Thistle Street, Falkirk, FK2 7ED
About 9 km away
Sports and clubs
Polmont Sports Centre
Badminton, table tennis, squash, basketball, football, mini gyms. Sports centre. Hours: 09:00-22:00
Salmon Inn Road, Polmont, FK2 0XF
About 4 km away
Kettilstoun Mains Football Pavilion
Sports centre
McGinley Way, Linlithgow, EH49 6SQ
About 2 km away
Grangemouth Sports Complex
Swimming, fitness, cycling, soft play, badminton, mini tennis, basketball, darts. Sports centre
Abbots Road, Grangemouth, FK3 8JB
About 6 km away
Xcite Linlithgow
Swimming. Sports centre
McGinley Way, Linlithgow, EH49 6SQ
About 2 km away
Falkirk School of Gymnastics
Gymnastics. Sports centre
Cow Wynd, Falkirk, FK1 1PU
About 8 km away
Driving schools
Community and support groups
Maddiston Community Education Centre
Community centre. Hours: The building opening times are varied, please contact the Centre for more information.
Parkhall Drive, Maddiston, FK2 0LQ
About 3 km away
Kersiebank Community Project
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Th 09:00-15:30,18:00-21:00; Fr 09:00-12:00,18:00-21:00
Oxgang Road, Grangemouth, FK3 9EF
About 5 km away
Bo'ness Community Learning & Development Base
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Th 10:00-15:00; Fr 10:00-13:00
Gauze Road, Bo'ness, EH51 9AS
About 5 km away
Westquarter Community Project
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-13:00
Westquarter Avenue, Westquarter, FK2 9RN
About 6 km away
Westfield Park Community Centre
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:30-15:30; We,Th 09:30-15:30,18:00-20:00
Westfield Street, Falkirk, FK2 9DX
About 7 km away
Park Street Community Education Centre
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-17:00
Park Street, Falkirk, FK1 1RE
About 9 km away
Dawson Community Centre
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:30-16:30
David's Loan, Falkirk, FK2 7RG
About 9 km away
The Sub (Excellence in Childcare Centre)
Community centre
David's Loan, Falkirk, FK2 7RG
About 9 km away
Keep Inspiring Change
Community centre
David's Loan, Falkirk, FK2 7RG
About 9 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Barbers and salons
Belle Hair And Beauty
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Tu,Su off; We-Fr 10:00-20:00; Sa 09:00-17:00
15 Bank Street, Falkirk, FK1 1NB
About 8 km away
Principals Hair Salon
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Sa 08:00-19:00
Shieldhill Road, Reddingmuirhead, FK2 0EG
About 5 km away
Bathgate Barbers
Hairdresser
8a North Bridge Street, Bathgate, EH48 4PS
About 8 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Meadowbank Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,Fr 10:00-17:00; Tu,Th 10:00-20:00; We 10:00-16:00; Sa 10:00-15:00
6a Stevenson Avenue, Polmont, FK2 0GU
About 4 km away
Bo'ness Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,Th 10:00-20:00; Tu,Fr 10:00-17:00; We 10:00-16:00; Sa 10:00-15:00
Scotland's Close, Bo'ness, EH51 0AH
About 6 km away
Grangemouth Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,Fr 10:00-17:00; Tu,Th 10:00-20:00; We 10:00-16:00; Sa 10:00-15:00
Bo'ness Road, Grangemouth, FK3 8AG
About 7 km away
Falkirk Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 10:00-20:00; Tu,Th-Fr 10:00-17:00; We,Su,PH off; Sa 10:00-15:00
Hope Street, Falkirk, FK1 5AU
About 9 km away
Linlithgow Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
The Vennel, Linlithgow, EH49 7AX
About 3 km away
West Lothian Local History Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Court Square, Linlithgow, EH49 7EZ
About 3 km away
Bathgate Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
South Bridge Street, Bathgate, EH48 1TL
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 Whitecross
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