Settling in · Derbyshire
Landing in Derbyshire? Start here.
The first fortnight in Derbyshire, 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 Derbyshire 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
Holy Trinity Church
Christian, Anglican
Derby Road, Derbyshire Dales, DE4 3PU
About 3 km away
The Salvation Army - Somercotes
Christian, Salvation army
1 Sleetmoor Lane, Amber Valley, DE55 1RB
About 15 km away
Fritchley Friends Meeting House
Christian, Quaker
Kirkham Lane, Amber Valley, DE56 2FR
About 9 km away
St. Peter's In The City
Christian, Anglican
Saint Peter's Street, Derby, DE1 1SN
About 22 km away
Salvation Army
Christian, Salvation army
32-38 Osmaston Road, Derby, DE1 2HU
About 22 km away
All Saints Catholic Church
Christian, Catholic
Belle Vue Road, Derbyshire Dales, DE6 1AT
About 13 km away
Swanwick Baptist Church
Christian, Baptist
Derby Road, Amber Valley, DE55 1BG
About 14 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Nottingham
About 33 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
About 21 km away
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
About 22 km away
Ripley Convenience Store and Off Licence
Newsagent
65 Oxford Street, Amber Valley, DE5 3AH
About 14 km away
Food and takeaways
The Shalimar Restaurant
Indian. restaurant
Dale Road North, Derbyshire Dales, DE4 2HX
About 9 km away
Slice of India
Indian. restaurant
Mansfield Road, Derby, DE21 4AW
About 20 km away
Lee Kitchen
Chinese. takeaway. Hours: Mo 17:00-23:00; Tu off; We-Su 17:00-23:00
32 Duffield Road, Derby, DE1 3BH
About 21 km away
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
About 21 km away
Lucky House
Thai, chinese, seafood. takeaway. Hours: Mo off; Tu-Su 16:00-22:45
14 Mercaston Road, Chaddesden, Derby, DE21 4HU
About 21 km away
Hari Hari
Asian. takeaway. Hours: Tu-Sa 10:00-16:00; Su-Mo off
23 Iron Gate, Derby, DE1 3GP
About 21 km away
Okra
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Su-Th 17:00-23:00; Fr-Sa 17:00-00:00
5 Friar Gate, Derby, DE1 1BU
About 21 km away
Nando's
Chicken, portuguese. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 11:30-22:00
15-16 Market Place, Derby, DE1 3QF
About 21 km away
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
About 21 km away
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
About 21 km away
Turtle Bay
Caribbean. restaurant. Hours: Su-Th 10:00-22:30; Fr-Sa 10:00-23:00
1-5 Wardwick, Derby, DE1 1HA
About 21 km away
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
About 22 km away
Sports and clubs
Derby Martial Arts Centre
Martial arts
34 The Strand, Derby, DE1 1BE
About 21 km away
Langley Mill United Cricket Club
Cricket. Sports centre
Station Road, Nottingham, NG16 4BE
About 20 km away
SMH Group Stadium
Soccer. Stadium
1866 Sheffield Road, Chesterfield, S41 8NZ
About 21 km away
Ashford in the Water Cricket Club
Cricket. Sports centre
A6020 Derbyshire Dales, DE45 1QA
About 15 km away
Wirksworth Swimming Pool
Swimming. Sports centre
Hannage Way, Derbyshire Dales, DE4 4JG
About 3 km away
Lennon's Pool and Snooker
Snooker. Sports hall. Hours: Mo-Th 13:00-23:00; Fr 12:00-22:00; Sa 10:00-22:00; Su 12:00-21:00
16a Stephenson Place, Chesterfield, S40 1XL
About 19 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 21 km away
Nathan's Of Derby
Tackle shop, and the place to ask where to fish and about permits
About 20 km away
Driving schools
Community and support groups
Somercotes Village Hall
Community centre
Nottingham Road, Amber Valley, DE55 4LY
About 16 km away
Roe Farm Community Centre
Community centre
69-71 Worcester Crescent, Chaddesden, Derby, DE21 4HG
About 21 km away
Rowsley Village Hall
Community centre
School Lane, Derbyshire Dales, DE4 2EE
About 10 km away
Youlgrave Village Hall
Community centre
Holywell Lane, Derbyshire Dales, DE45 1UT
About 10 km away
Belper Community Cottage
Community centre
16 Chapel Street, Amber Valley, DE56 1AR
About 12 km away
Brailsford and Ednaston Institute
Community centre
Main Road, Derbyshire Dales, DE6 3DA
About 15 km away
Cromford Community Centre
Community centre
9 Market Place, Derbyshire Dales, DE4 3RE
About 3 km away
1st Duffield Scout Group
Community centre
Eaton Court, Amber Valley, DE56 4FS
About 15 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Hot towel and traditional shaves
Turkish and Meditterranean Barber
Hairdresser
Mansfield Road, Chesterfield, S41 0JA
About 19 km away
Barbers and salons
Katie Weeds Hair Studio
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo 09:30-16:00; Tu 09:30-20:00; We 09:00-17:00; Th 09:30-19:30; Fr 09:00-17:30; Sa 09:00-16:00
Allestree Derby, DE22 2QN
About 19 km away
Fam Fade
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:30-16:30
Allestree Derby, DE22 2QN
About 19 km away
Blend Salon
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu 10:00-20:00; We 09:00-17:00; Th 10:00-20:00; Fr-Sa 09:00-17:00
48-49 Queen Street, Derby, DE1 3DE
About 21 km away
Deesh Dhindsa
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu-Sa 09:00-18:00
7 Strand Arcade, Derby, DE1 1BQ
About 21 km away
David Sebastian
Hairdresser
8 - 9, Strand Arcade, Derby, DE1 1BQ
About 21 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Wirksworth Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Coldwell Street, Derbyshire Dales, DE4 4EU
About 3 km away
Huthwaite Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: We,Sa 09:30-12:30; Th 14:00-17:00; Fr 14:00-17:30
Sutton Road, Ashfield, NG17 2NG
About 20 km away
Selston Community Partnership Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Chapel Road, Nottingham, NG16 6BW
About 20 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 21 km away
Derby Local Studies Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Full Street, Derby, DE1 3AF
About 21 km away
Derwent Community Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Roe Farm Lane, Chaddesden, Derby, DE21 6ET
About 21 km away
Belper Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Derwent Street, Amber Valley, DE56 1UQ
About 11 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 Derbyshire
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