Settling in · Cambridge
Landing in Cambridge? Start here.
The first fortnight in Cambridge, 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
94 places in Cambridge 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
Jesus Lane Friends Meeting House (Quaker Meeting House)
Christian, Quaker
12 Jesus Lane, Cambridge, CB5 8BA
Great Saint Mary, The University Church
Christian, Anglican
Senate House Hill, Cambridge, CB2 3PQ
Cambridge Salvation Army
Christian, Salvation army
3 Tenison Road, Cambridge, CB1 2DG
Saint Giles
Christian, Anglican, romanian orthodox
Castle Street, Cambridge, CB3 0AQ
Resurrection Lutheran Church
Christian, Lutheran
25 Westfield Lane, Cambridge, CB4 3QS
About 2 km away
Barnwell Baptist Church
Christian, Baptist
Howard Road, Cambridge, CB5 8QS
About 2 km away
Saint Andrew's
Christian, Anglican. Hours: We 14:00-16:00; Su 10:00-11:00
Coldhams Lane, Cambridge, CB1 3JS
About 4 km away
Waterbeach Salvation Army
Christian, Salvation army
7 Station Road, Waterbeach, CB25 9HT
About 8 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Masjid Al Ikhlas & Cambridge Islamic Centre
Muslim, Sunni
4 Devonshire Road, Cambridge, CB1 2BH
Synagogues
Beth Shalom Reform Synagogue
Jewish, Reform
Auckland Road, Cambridge, CB5 8DW
Other places of worship
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Cambridge
About 8 km away
Water Beach Barracks Sports Hall and Sudio, Cambridge, England, CB25 9PA
Worship services: Wed 7:00pm · Sun 11:00am · Sun 1:00pm (children)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Hertfordshire
About 45 km away
Datchworth Village Hall, 52 Datchworth Green, Datchworth, Knebworth, SG3 6TL
Worship services: Wed 8:00pm · Sat 10:00am · Sat 12:00pm (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
Jiamart
Supermarket. stocks Asian goods. Hours: Mo-Su 11:00-20:00
31 Burleigh Street, Cambridge, CB1 1DG
Spice Gate
Convenience. Hours: Sa-Th 10:00-19:00; Fr 10:00-12:00,14:00-19:00
14 Mill Road, Cambridge, CB1 2AD
Ocean Supermarket
Supermarket. stocks Chinese goods. Hours: Mo-Su 10:15-19:00
58 Mill Road, Cambridge, CB1 2AS
J&M Oriental Supermarket
Convenience. Hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-19:00; Su 10:00-17:00
185-187 Histon Road, Cambridge, CB4 3HL
About 2 km away
JSG's Asian Dukan
Convenience. stocks Indian goods. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-17:30; Sa 09:00-13:00
6 Kings Hedges Road, Cambridge, CB4 2PA
About 3 km away
Polish Market Jess
Convenience. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-19:00; Su 11:00-18:00
72 Newmarket Road, Cambridge, CB5 8DZ
Cho Mee
Convenience. stocks Chinese, malaysian goods. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-18:00; Sa 09:30-19:00; Su 10:00-18:00
108-110 Mill Road, Cambridge, CB1 2BD
Cambridge Indian Supermarket
Convenience. stocks Indian, philippines goods. Hours: Mo-Sa 08:00-22:00; Su 08:00-20:00
11 High Street, Cambridge, CB1 9HY
About 4 km away
Food and takeaways
Efes
Turkish. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Fr 12:00-14:30,18:00-23:00; Sa,Su 12:00-23:00
78-80 King Street, Cambridge, CB1 1LN
EKO Kitchen
African. restaurant. Hours: Mo,Tu,Th-Sa 13:00-20:30
8 Norfolk Street, Cambridge, CB1 2LF
Baan Thai Street Food Restaurant
Thai. restaurant. Hours: 12:00-21:00
Park Terrace, Cambridge, CB1 1JH
Giggling Squid
Thai. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Sa 12:00-22:00; Su 12:00-21:30
2 Wheeler Street, Cambridge, CB2 3QB
The House
Thai. restaurant. Hours: Tu-Th,Su 11:30-15:00,17:30-21:30; Fr-Sa 11:30-15:00,17:30-22:00; Mo off
106 Regent Street, Cambridge, CB2 1DP
Thaikhun
Thai. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Th 12:00-22:00; Fr,Sa 12:00-22:30; Su 12:00-21:30
3-5 Quayside, Cambridge, CB5 8AB
Renu's
Indian. takeaway. Hours: Su-Th 16:30-22:30; Fr-Sa 16:30-23:00
26 Milton Road, Cambridge, CB4 1JY
Thanh Binh
Vietnamese. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Sa 12:00-02:00,18:00-22:00
17 Magdalene Street, Cambridge, CB3 0AF
Grill Brothers
Burger, kebab, chicken. takeaway. Hours: 16:00-02:00
529b Newmarket Road, Cambridge, CB5 8LG
About 2 km away
Anchor Fish Bar
Fish and chips, kebab, burger. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Sa 12:00-21:00
42 Arbury Road, Cambridge, CB4 2JQ
About 2 km away
Golden Crown
Chinese. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Fr 16:00-21:40; Sa 16:00-21:00
2 Arbury Court, Cambridge, CB4 2JQ
About 2 km away
Golden Wok
Chinese. takeaway. Hours: Mo-Sa 12:00-14:00,16:30-22:30; Su,PH 16:30-22:30; Tu off
191 Histon Road, Cambridge, CB4 3HL
About 2 km away
Sports and clubs
Cambridge Rugby Union Football Club
Stadium
Grantchester Road, Cambridge, CB3 9ED
About 3 km away
Hills Road Sports & Tennis Centre
Tennis, badminton, basketball, soccer, netball, cricket nets, pickleball, racquet, squash, table tennis, volleyball. Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 07:00-22:30; Sa-Su 08:00-21:00; PH 08:00-16:00
Purbeck Road, CB2 8PF
About 2 km away
St. Ivo outdoor centre
Soccer, tennis, athletics, cricket. Sports centre
Ansley Way, Huntingdonshire, PE27 6UN
About 21 km away
Newmarket Rugby Club
Rugby. Sports centre
King Edward VII Road, West Suffolk, CB8 0EU
About 19 km away
F45 Training
Exercise, fitness. Fitness centre
60 Station Road, Cambridge, CB1 2JH
About 2 km away
Abbey Leisure Centre
Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 06:30-21:30; Sa-Su 08:00-18:00
Pool Way, Cambridge, CB5 8NT
About 2 km away
Fishing spots and tackle shops
Days out and things to do
Newmarket Racecourse
Sight worth seeing
Racehorse Statue Roundabout, East Cambridgeshire, CB8 0TW
About 16 km away
Driving schools
Community and support groups
Brown's Field Youth and Community Centre
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-17:00
31a Green End Road, Cambridge, CB4 1RU
About 2 km away
Storey's Field Centre
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-15:00
Eddington Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 1AA
About 3 km away
Marleigh Community Centre
Community centre. Hours: 24/7
2 Jubilee Square, Cambridge, CB5 8UW
About 3 km away
"twelve"
Community centre. Hours: Mo 14:00-16:30; Tu,Th,Fr 09:30-16:30; Sa 09:30-12:30
15 High Street, South Cambridgeshire, CB21 5DH
About 7 km away
Cottenham Village Hall
Community centre
Lambs Lane, Cambridge, CB24 8TB
About 9 km away
All Saints Hall
Community centre
High Street, South Cambridgeshire, CB24 8QN
About 10 km away
Caldecote Village Club
Community centre
54 Highfields Road, Cambridge, CB23 7NX
About 10 km away
Unity Centre
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-21:00; Su 09:00-17:00; PH off
Unity Way, Cambridge, CB24 1FD
About 11 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Hot towel and traditional shaves
Istanbul Barbers
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-19:00; Su 09:00-17:00
192 Mill Road, Cambridge, CB1 3LP
Barbers and salons
The Barbers Cambridge
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-We 10:00-19:00; Th-Fr 08:30-18:00; Sa 08:30-16:30; Su off
27 King Street, Cambridge, CB1 1LH
Lui's Barbershop
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo,Tu,Fr 08:45-17:30; We,Th 08:45-19:00; Sa 08:30-17:00; Su 11:00-15:00
5a Pembroke Street, Cambridge, CB2 3QY
Cinemas and libraries
Cambridge Central Library and Learning Centre
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Tu, Th-Fr 09:30-18:00; We 09:30-19:00; Sa 10:00-18:00; Su 12:00-16:00
7 Lion Yard, Cambridge, CB2 3QD
Arts Picturehouse
Cinema. Hours: "depends on the showings"
38-39 Saint Andrew's Street, Cambridge, CB2 3AR
Zoology Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Th 08:30-17:00; Fr 08:30-16:30; SH Mo-Th 08:30-17:00
Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ
Newnham College Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Sidgwick Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 9DB
About 2 km away
Fitzwilliam College Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: 24/7
Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, CB4 3YH
About 2 km away
Betty and Gordon Moore Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-12:00,13:00-16:00
Wilberforce Road, Cambridge, CB3 0EH
About 2 km away
Arbury Court Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu,Fr 09:00-17:00; Mo 15:00-18:00; Th 09:00-13:00; Sa 10:00-14:00
46-47 Arbury Road, Cambridge, CB4 2JQ
About 2 km away
Cherry Hinton Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 15:00-18:00; Tu off; We,Fr 09:00-17:00; Th 09:00-13:00; Sa 10:00-14:00; Su off
High Street, Cambridge, CB1 9HZ
About 4 km away
West Hub Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-17:00
About 3 km away
Cottenham Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 13:00-18:00; Tu 10:00-17:00; We 10:00-13:00; Th 10:00-17:00; Sa 10:00-13:00
Margett Street, CB24 8QY
About 9 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 Cambridge
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