Settling in · York
Landing in York? Start here.
The first fortnight in York, 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
88 places in York 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
York Community Church
Christian. Hours: Su 09:30-13:00
Mossdale Avenue, YO31 0HA
About 2 km away
Buddhist temples and centres
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Leeds
About 35 km away
Monk Bridge Road, Meanwood, Leeds West Yorkshire, England, LS6 4HH
Worship services: Thu 7:00pm · Sun 11:00am · Sun 1:00pm (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
Makkah International Foods
Convenience. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-20:00; Su 09:00-19:00
27-29 Hull Road, York, YO10 3JW
Food and takeaways
Mumbai Lounge
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Su-Th 12:00-14:00, 17:30-23:30; Fr 17:30-24:00; Sa 12:00-14:00, 17:30-24:00
47 Fossgate, York, YO1 9TF
Nando's
Chicken, portuguese. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-23:00; Su 11:00-22:00
12 High Ousegate, York, YO1 8RZ
Panda Mami
Asian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Sa 12:00-22:30
19 Bridge Street, York, YO1 6DA
Casa
Brazilian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Th 16:00-22:00; Fr-Su 12:00-22:00
Micklegate York, YO1 6JG
The Orchid
Chinese. restaurant. Hours: Mo,We-Su 06:00-21:30; Tu off
16 George Hudson Street, York, YO1 6LP
Bamboo Thai
Thai. takeaway. Hours: Tu-Th 17:00-21:30, Fr,Sa 17:00-22:00, Th-Sa 12:00-14:30
11 Hull Road, York, YO10 3JL
Chenab
Indian. takeaway. Hours: PH,Mo-Su 17:00-22:30
Hull Road, York, YO10 3JW
Kapadokya
Turkish. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Sa 12:00-23:00; Su 12:00-22:30
24 George Hudson Street, York, YO1 6LP
Sports and clubs
York Railway Institute Sports Centre
Badminton, sqaush, judo, table tennis. Sports centre
Queen Street, York, YO24 1AD
Hamilton Panthers FC Clubhouse
Soccer. Sports centre
Knavesmire Road, York, YO23 1FA
About 2 km away
Ovington Cricket Club Pavilion
Cricket. Sports centre
Albemarle Road, York, YO23 1ER
About 2 km away
Acorn ARL Sports And Social Club
Rugby league. Sports centre
Thanet Road, York, YO24 2NW
About 3 km away
PlayFootball
Soccer. Fitness centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 16:00-22:00; Sa 09:00-16:00; Su 13:00-21:00
About 4 km away
Sheriff Hutton Bridge Cricket Club
Cricket. Sports centre
Sheriff Hutton Bridge, West Lilling, YO32 5TT
About 13 km away
Point Zero Trampoline Park
Trampolining. Sports centre
3-7 Rose Avenue, York, YO26 6RU
About 4 km away
Fishing spots and tackle shops
Days out and things to do
Community and support groups
Moor Lane Youth Centre
Community centre
Wains Road, York, YO24 2TX
About 4 km away
Copmanthorpe Youth Club
Community centre. Hours: We 19:15-20:45
12 School Lane, Copmanthorpe, York, YO23 3SQ
About 6 km away
Hungate Reading Cafe
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-16:00; Sa 10:00-16:00
Palmer Street, York, YO1 7AF
Barbers and hair specialists
Hot towel and traditional shaves
Barbers and salons
Toni & Guy
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-We 09:45-18:45; Th-Fr 09:00-19:00; Sa 09:00-17:45; Su off
12 Blake Street, York, YO1 8QG
Revive Hair Design
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo 09:30-13:00; Tu-Fr 09:30-17:30; Sa 09:00-16:00
3a Heworth Village, YO31 1AE
About 2 km away
Cooper's Barbers
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu-Sa 09:00-17:00
Penley's Grove Street, York, YO31 7RF
Snip Barbershop
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-18:00; Su 10:00-18:00
84 Nunnery Lane, York, YO23 1AJ
Rascal to Gentleman
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-We 09:00-18:00; Th-Fr 11:00-19:00; Sa 08:00-13:30; Su off
152 Fulford Road, York, YO10 4BE
Cinemas and libraries
Vue York
Cinema. Hours: Mo-Su 10:00-03:00
Stirling Road, York, YO30 4XY
About 4 km away
Minster Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Th 09:30-12:30,13:30-16:30; PH off
Minster Yard, York, YO1 7JQ
York Student Cinema
Cinema. Hours: Mo,Th,Fr 19:00-22:00
Newton Way, York, YO10 5DE
About 2 km away
Haxby and Wigginton Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-17:00; Sa 10:00-16:00
About 7 km away
York Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Th 09:00-20:00; Fr 10:00-18:00; Sa 09:00-17:00; Su 11:00-16:00
Museum Street, York, YO1 7DS
Harry Fairhurst Building
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Su 08:00-24:00
Siwards Way, Heslington, YO10 5NH
About 2 km away
JB Morrell Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Su 08:00-24:00
Heslington YO10 5DD
About 2 km away
Raymond Burton Library for Humanities Research
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Su 08:00-24:00
Heslington YO10 5DD
About 2 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 York
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