Settling in · Derby
Landing in Derby? Start here.
The first fortnight in Derby, 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
100 places in Derby 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
Salvation Army
Christian, Salvation army
32-38 Osmaston Road, Derby, DE1 2HU
St. Peter's In The City
Christian, Anglican
Saint Peter's Street, Derby, DE1 1SN
NTCG Derby
Christian, Pentecostal
91 Brighton Road, Derby, DE24 8SZ
About 3 km away
Salvation Army Derby South
Christian, Salvation army
24 Chellaston Road, Allenton, Derby, DE24 9AE
About 4 km away
St John's Parish Church
Christian, Anglican
Canal Street, Long Eaton, Nottingham, NG10 4NL
About 13 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Karimia Masjid & Institute
Muslim
141-143 Berridge Road Central, Nottingham, NG7 6HR
About 21 km away
Hindu temples
Shri Swaminarayan Mandir
Hindu
102-103 Palm Street, Nottingham, NG7 7HS
About 21 km away
Gurdwaras
Buddhist temples and centres
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Nottingham
About 18 km away
Leyton Crescent Beeston, Nottingham NG9 1PR
Worship services: Tue 7:00pm · Fri 7:00pm
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
Baasko Afro Continental Stores
Convenience
6 Osnabrück Square, Derby, DE1 2DS
Chung Wah Chinese Supermarket
Supermarket. stocks Asian goods. Hours: Mo-Sa 10:30-17:30; Su 11:30-16:00
1-2 Wilmot Street, Derby, DE1 2LS
Food and takeaways
Viceroy
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Su-Th 16:00-23:00; Fr-Sa 16:00-00:00
8-9 Midland Road, Derby, DE1 2SN
Shalimar Gold
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Su-Th 16:30-23:00; Fr-Sa 16:30-00:00
15 Midland Road, Derby, DE1 2SN
The New Water Margin Cantonese Restaurant
Chinese. restaurant. Hours: We-Sa 17:30-21:30; Su 12:00-21:30
72-74 Burton Road, Derby, DE1 1TG
Turtle Bay
Caribbean. restaurant. Hours: Su-Th 10:00-22:30; Fr-Sa 10:00-23:00
1-5 Wardwick, Derby, DE1 1HA
Nando's
Chicken, portuguese. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 11:30-22:00
15-16 Market Place, Derby, DE1 3QF
Finale
Thai. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Tu 17:30-22:00; Th 17:30-22:00; Fr-Sa 17:30-23:00
11 The Strand, Derby, DE1 1BE
Hari Hari
Asian. takeaway. Hours: Tu-Sa 10:00-16:00; Su-Mo off
23 Iron Gate, Derby, DE1 3GP
The Derby Spice
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Su-Th 17:00-23:30; Fr-Sa 17:00-01:00
17-19 Curzon Street, Derby, DE1 1LH
Okra
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Su-Th 17:00-23:00; Fr-Sa 17:00-00:00
5 Friar Gate, Derby, DE1 1BU
Modern Cuisine
Chinese. takeaway. Hours: Mo-Th 16:40-22:20; Fr-Sa 16:40-22:45; Su 16:40-22:20
54 Friar Gate, Derby, DE1 1DF
Lee Kitchen
Chinese. takeaway. Hours: Mo 17:00-23:00; Tu off; We-Su 17:00-23:00
32 Duffield Road, Derby, DE1 3BH
Sports and clubs
Long Eaton Cricket Club
Cricket. Sport club
Long Eaton, Nottingham, NG10 4LJ
About 13 km away
White Tiger Kickboxing
Kickboxing. Sport club
Chapel Street, Long Eaton, Nottingham, NG10 1EQ
About 14 km away
Long Eaton United Football Club
Soccer. Stadium
Long Eaton, Nottingham, NG10 2DU
About 15 km away
Nottingham Outlaws
Rugby league. Sports centre
Lenton Lane, Nottingham, NG7 2SA
About 20 km away
Wash Meadows Basketball Facility
Basketball. Pitch
Rutland Street, Ilkeston, DE7 8GN
About 13 km away
Langley Mill United Cricket Club
Cricket. Sports centre
Station Road, Nottingham, NG16 4BE
About 14 km away
Burton Amateur Boxing Club
Boxing. Sports centre
Bradmore Road, East Staffordshire, DE13 0GH
About 16 km away
Eastwood Community Football Club
Soccer. Sports centre
Chewton Street, Nottingham, NG16 3HB
About 16 km away
Fishing spots and tackle shops
Angling Direct
Tackle shop, and the place to ask where to fish and about permits. Hours: Mo-Sa 08:00-18:00; Su 10:00-15:30
Derby DE1 1NA
About 2 km away
Nathan's Of Derby
Tackle shop, and the place to ask where to fish and about permits
About 4 km away
The Matchman Angling Centre
Tackle shop, and the place to ask where to fish and about permits
5 Bannerman Road, Nottingham, NG6 9JA
About 21 km away
Fishermania
Tackle shop, and the place to ask where to fish and about permits
714-716 Harvey Road, Derby, DE24 0EG
About 4 km away
Driving schools
Community and support groups
Roe Farm Community Centre
Community centre
69-71 Worcester Crescent, Chaddesden, Derby, DE21 4HG
About 3 km away
Mickleover Model Railway Group
Community centre. Hours: Mo-We 19:30-22:00; Fr 19:30-22:00
Uttoxeter Road, Mickleover, Derby, DE3 0DA
About 5 km away
Hilton Village Hall
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 07:30-22:00; Sa,Su 09:00-22:00
Peacroft Lane, Derby, DE65 5GH
About 12 km away
Commerce Street Community Centre
Community centre
54 Commerce Street, Derby, DE24 8TQ
About 3 km away
Saint Edmund's Church Hall
Community centre
Kings Croft, Allestree, Derby, DE22 2FN
About 4 km away
Full Circle Centre
Community centre
Sinfin Avenue, Shelton Lock, Derby, DE24 9QX
About 5 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Curly and wavy hair
Hot towel and traditional shaves
Istanbul Barbers
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-18:00; Su 10:00-16:00
15-19 South Street, Ilkeston, DE7 5QT
About 12 km away
Barbers and salons
Sally Montague
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu 09:00-17:00; We-Th 09:00-20:00; Fr 09:00-19:00; Sa 08:30-17:00
Saint Peter's Churchyard, Derby, DE1 1NN
No. 10
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu 09:00-16:00; We 09:00-19:00; Th 09:00-20:00; Fr 09:00-19:00; Sa 09:00-17:00
10 Saint Peter's Churchyard, Derby, DE1 1NN
Toni & Guy
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo off; Tu 09:00-18:00; We 10:00-18:00; Th 10:00-20:00; Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 08:00-17:00; Su Off
4 Market Place, Derby, DE1 3PW
KH Hair
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu-We 09:00-17:00; Th-Fr 09:00-19:00; Sa 08:30-16:00
48 Sadler Gate, Derby, DE1 3NQ
Deesh Dhindsa
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu-Sa 09:00-18:00
7 Strand Arcade, Derby, DE1 1BQ
Cinemas and libraries
Derby Local Studies Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Full Street, Derby, DE1 3AF
Derwent Community Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Roe Farm Lane, Chaddesden, Derby, DE21 6ET
About 2 km away
Allenton Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Poole Street, Derby, DE24 9DA
About 4 km away
Blagreaves Public Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: We-Th 10:00-15:00; Fr-Sa 10:00-13:00
Blagreaves Lane, Derby, DE23 1PT
About 4 km away
Springwood Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu,Th 10:00-16:00,15:00-19:00
Springwood Drive, Oakwood, Derby, DE21 2RQ
About 4 km away
Spondon Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Tu,Th 10:00-16:30; Sa 10:00-13:00
Sitwell Street, Derby, DE21 7FG
About 4 km away
Swadlincote Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-17:00
Civic Way, South Derbyshire, DE11 0AD
About 17 km away
Hathern Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu,Th 14:00-18:00; We,Fr 10:00-12:30; Sa 10:00-12:00
Greenhill Rise, Charnwood, LE12 5LG
About 20 km away
Clifton Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,Tu,Th,Fr 09:30-17:30; We, Sa 09:30-13:00; PH,Su off
Southchurch Drive, Nottingham, NG11 8AB
About 20 km away
Manuscripts and Special Collections
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Lenton Lane, Nottingham, NG7 2NR
About 20 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 Derby
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