Settling in · Yorkshire
Landing in Yorkshire? Start here.
The first fortnight in Yorkshire, 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
92 places in Yorkshire 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 17 km away
St Mary's Church
Christian, Anglican
Wharfe Bank Terrace, Tadcaster, LS24 9BA
About 8 km away
Gracious Street Methodist Church
Christian, Methodist
Gracious Street, Knaresborough, HG5 8DS
About 13 km away
St Luke's Parish Church
Christian, Anglican
Burton Stone Lane, York, YO30 7BE
About 14 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Gurdwaras
Buddhist temples and centres
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Leeds
About 22 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
Regency Supermarket
Supermarket. stocks Asian goods. Hours: 10:00-21:00
YO1 6LP
About 14 km away
International Finest Foods
Convenience. Hours: Mo-Su 09:00-20:00
95 Walmgate, York, YO1 9UA
About 15 km away
Makkah International Foods
Convenience. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-20:00; Su 09:00-19:00
27-29 Hull Road, York, YO10 3JW
About 16 km away
Faizan Khan International Supermarket
Supermarket
68 Markham Avenue, Leeds, LS8 4JB
About 21 km away
Food and takeaways
Red Chilli
Chinese. restaurant
21 George Hudson Street, YO1 6JL
About 14 km away
The Orchid
Chinese. restaurant. Hours: Mo,We-Su 06:00-21:30; Tu off
16 George Hudson Street, York, YO1 6LP
About 14 km away
Casa
Brazilian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Th 16:00-22:00; Fr-Su 12:00-22:00
Micklegate York, YO1 6JG
About 14 km away
Panda Mami
Asian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Sa 12:00-22:30
19 Bridge Street, York, YO1 6DA
About 14 km away
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
About 14 km away
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
About 14 km away
Blue Barbakan
Polish. restaurant
34 Fossgate, York, YO1 9TA
About 15 km away
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
About 16 km away
Chenab
Indian. takeaway. Hours: PH,Mo-Su 17:00-22:30
Hull Road, York, YO10 3JW
About 16 km away
Regency Restaurant
Chinese. restaurant
George Hudson Street, York, YO1 6LP
About 14 km away
Sports and clubs
Knaresborough Rugby Union Football Club
Rugby union. Sports centre
Hay-a-Park Lane, Knaresborough, HG5 0FE
About 12 km away
Hamilton Panthers FC Clubhouse
Soccer. Sports centre
Knavesmire Road, York, YO23 1FA
About 13 km away
York Railway Institute Sports Centre
Badminton, sqaush, judo, table tennis. Sports centre
Queen Street, York, YO24 1AD
About 14 km away
Ovington Cricket Club Pavilion
Cricket. Sports centre
Albemarle Road, York, YO23 1ER
About 13 km away
Acorn ARL Sports And Social Club
Rugby league. Sports centre
Thanet Road, York, YO24 2NW
About 12 km away
PlayFootball
Soccer. Fitness centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 16:00-22:00; Sa 09:00-16:00; Su 13:00-21:00
About 14 km away
Wetherby Racecourse
Horse racing. Sports centre
York Road, Wetherby, LS22 5EJ
About 5 km away
York Gliding Centre
Gliding. Sports centre
Rufforth York, YO23 3NA
About 7 km away
Point Zero Trampoline Park
Trampolining. Sports centre
3-7 Rose Avenue, York, YO26 6RU
About 12 km away
FOSS FIT
Fitness centre. Hours: Mo-Su 06:00-00:00
Layerthorpe York, YO31 7UZ
About 15 km away
Crossfit Jorvik
Fitness centre
70 Hallfield Road, York, YO31 7XD
About 15 km away
Fishing spots and tackle shops
Days out and things to do
Driving schools
Corinne Dickson Driving Instructor
Driving school
Leadhall Crescent, Harrogate, HG2 9NG
About 16 km away
Community and support groups
Copmanthorpe Youth Club
Community centre. Hours: We 19:15-20:45
12 School Lane, Copmanthorpe, York, YO23 3SQ
About 11 km away
Moor Lane Youth Centre
Community centre
Wains Road, York, YO24 2TX
About 12 km away
The Poppleton Centre
Community centre. Hours: Mo 08:30-16:00; Tu-Fr 08:30-23:00; Sa 10:00-22:00
Main Street, York, YO26 6JT
About 10 km away
Sanderson Court Community House
Community centre
Bramham Road, York, YO26 5AR
About 10 km away
Poppleton Road Memorial Hall
Community centre
Poplar Street, York, YO26 4SE
About 12 km away
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
About 14 km away
Cut
Hairdresser. Hours: 09:00-19:00
64 Gillygate, York, YO31 7EQ
About 14 km away
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 16 km away
Above Salons
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu-Fr 09:00-20:00; Sa 09:00-16:00
102 Harrogate Road, Leeds, LS7 4LZ
About 21 km away
Peter Hart Hairdressers
Hairdresser
15 Beech Way, Upper Poppleton, YO26 6JD
About 10 km away
JC Barber Shop
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-We 09:15-17:00; Th 09:15-19:00; Fr 09:15-17:00; Sa 07:30-13:30; Su off; PH off
18 Allerton Drive, York, YO26 6HN
About 11 km away
Unique Barber
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-18:00
126 Boroughbridge Road, YO26 6AL
About 12 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Vue York
Cinema. Hours: Mo-Su 10:00-03:00
Stirling Road, York, YO30 4XY
About 14 km away
Boston Spa Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
High Street, Leeds, LS23 6BH
About 6 km away
Halton Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
273 Selby Road, Leeds, LS15 7JR
About 20 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
About 14 km away
The British Library Document Supply Centre
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Sa 08:00-16:30
Street 6, Leeds, LS23 7FQ
About 4 km away
York Student Cinema
Cinema. Hours: Mo,Th,Fr 19:00-22:00
Newton Way, York, YO10 5DE
About 16 km away
Search Engine
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Th-Sa 10:00-16:30
About 13 km away
Wetherby Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Market Place, Leeds, LS22 6LL
About 6 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 Yorkshire
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