Settling in · Norfolk
Landing in Norfolk? Start here.
The first fortnight in Norfolk, 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 Norfolk 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
Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart and Saint Margaret Mary
Christian, Catholic
35 London Road, Breckland District, NR19 1AS
About 5 km away
The Salvation Army - Dereham
Christian, Salvation army
3 Saint Nicholas Street, Dereham, NR19 2BS
About 5 km away
Bowthorpe Church
Christian, Anglican
Bowthorpe Hall Road, Norwich, NR5 9AA
About 15 km away
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses
Christian, Jehovahs witness
Norwich Road, Breckland District, NR20 3PX
About 4 km away
Eternity Christian Centre
Christian
171 Earlham Green Lane, Norwich, NR5 8RF
About 16 km away
Dereham Baptist Church
Christian, Baptist
21 Norwich Street, Dereham, NR19 1BX
About 5 km away
The Open Door Christian Fellowship
Christian, Evangelical
6 Ramsey Close, Norwich, NR4 7BQ
About 17 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Al-Madinah Muslim Community Centre
Muslim, Sunni. Hours: Fr,Sa 12:00-13:30
58 Sandy Lane, Norwich, NR1 2NR
About 21 km away
Gurdwaras
Gurdwara Sri Guru Ramdas Prakash
Sikh
12-14 Old Palace Road, Norwich, NR2 4JF
About 19 km away
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Watton
About 17 km away
CWS venue, Frettenham Village hall, & AWS, Thompson Community Hall, Thompson, Thetford, England, IP24 1PY
Worship services: Wed 7:30pm · Sun 10:00am · Sun 12:15pm (children)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Norwich
About 22 km away
Frettenham Village hall, Church road, Norwich, NR12 7NN, England
Worship services: Wed 7:30pm · Sun 10:00am · Sun 12:15pm (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
Euro Max Mini Market
Convenience. Hours: Mo-Sa 08:00-22:00; Su 09:00-22:00
12-13 Earlham House Shops, Norwich, NR2 3PD
About 18 km away
Heroes Fitness Store
Sports
4 Bridewell Alley, Norwich, NR2 1AQ
About 20 km away
Asian Mart
Supermarket. Hours: 08:00-22:00
43 Magdalen Street, Norwich, NR3 1LQ
About 20 km away
Food and takeaways
Rani's Indian Dining and Bar
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 09:00-18:00
Norwich Road, Breckland District, NR19 1RP
About 2 km away
Rising Noodle
Chinese. takeaway
17 Market Place, Dereham, NR19 2AL
About 5 km away
Ordnance Arms
Thai. restaurant. Hours: Tu-Sa 06:00-22:00; Su-Mo off
Norwich Road, North Norfolk, NR20 5PF
About 17 km away
Dellacasa
Pizza, kebab, burger, chicken. takeaway. Hours: 16:00+
81 Lovelace Road, Norwich, NR4 7AE
About 17 km away
Planet Wok
Thai, chinese. takeaway. Hours: Tu-Th,PH 17:00-20:30; Fr-Sa 17:00-21:30; Su-Mo off
24 Eaton Street, Norwich, NR4 7LD
About 18 km away
Take Thai
Thai. takeaway. Hours: Tu-Su 17:00-22:30
130 Dereham Road, Norwich, NR2 3AF
About 19 km away
Wok China
Chinese. takeaway. Hours: Mo-Su,PH 16:30-23:00
217a Aylsham Road, Norwich, NR3 2RE
About 19 km away
Antep Kitchen
Turkish. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-23:00,Su 10:00-22:00
47 Dereham Road, Norwich, NR2 4HZ
About 19 km away
Sports and clubs
The FDC
Soccer. Sports centre
Clover Hill Road, Norwich, NR5 9ED
About 15 km away
St Peter Parmentergate Martial Arts Centre
Martial arts. Sports centre
King Street, Norwich, NR1 1PH
About 20 km away
Wensum Sports Centre
Multi, badminton, squash, table tennis, football, pickleball, fitness, mixed martial arts. Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 07:00-22:00; Sa 08:00-20:00; Su 09:00-17:00
169a King Street, Norwich, NR1 1QH
About 21 km away
Swaffham Kickboxing Academy
Kickboxing. Sports centre
Plowright Place, Breckland District, PE37 7LQ
About 21 km away
West End Cue Club
Cue. Sports centre
20 West End, Norwich, NR8 5AG
About 14 km away
CrossFit RS3
Fitness centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 06:00-21:30; Sa 08:30-14:00; Su 10:00-12:30
10 Francis Way, Norwich, NR5 9JA
About 14 km away
Bob Carter Centre
Multi. Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-22:00; Su 10:00-18:00
School Road, Norwich, NR8 6DN
About 16 km away
Fishing spots and tackle shops
Angling Direct
Tackle shop, and the place to ask where to fish and about permits
279 Aylsham Road, Norwich, NR3 2RE
About 19 km away
Tim's Tackle
Tackle shop, and the place to ask where to fish and about permits
71 Borrowdale Drive, Norwich, NR1 4NS
About 22 km away
Days out and things to do
Community and support groups
Hethersett Village Hall
Community centre
Back Lane, Norwich, NR9 3JJ
About 13 km away
Yaxham Village Hall
Community centre
Norwich Road, Breckland District, NR19 1RJ
About 2 km away
Garvestone and Thuxton Village Hall
Community centre
Dereham Road, Breckland District, NR9 4AD
About 3 km away
Clover Hill Village Hall
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 08:30-17:00
Humbleyard Norwich, NR5 9BN
About 15 km away
Litcham Jubilee Hall
Community centre
Church Street, Breckland District, PE32 2NS
About 16 km away
Toftwood Social Club
Community centre. Hours: Mo-We 19:00-23:00; Th 13:00-15:00,19:00-23:00; Fr 13:00-15:00,19:00-23:45; Sa 12:00-15:00,19:00-23:45; Su 12:00-22:30
Shipdham Road, Breckland District, NR19 1AH
About 4 km away
Dereham Memorial Hall
Community centre
62A Norwich Street, Breckland District, NR19 1AD
About 5 km away
Dereham Meeting Point
Community centre
St Withburga Lane, Breckland District, NR19 1ED
About 5 km away
Barnham Broom Village Hall
Community centre
Norwich Road, South Norfolk, NR9 4BZ
About 6 km away
Norman Centre
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-22:00; Sa 10:00-14:00; Su off
Bignold Road, Norwich, NR3 2QZ
About 18 km away
The Phoenix Centre
Community centre
132A Mile Cross Road, Norwich, NR3 2LD
About 19 km away
Harford Community Centre
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-16:00; Sa-Su off
10 Hall Road, Norwich, NR4 6ET
About 20 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Afro hair specialists
Hot towel and traditional shaves
Barbers and salons
Hot Pepper
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-We,Fr 09:00-17:30; Th 09:00-19:00; Sa 09:00-16:30; Su closed
Norwich Road, Norwich, NR9 3DD
About 14 km away
Roots Hair Salon
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu 12:00+; We-Fr 09:00-17:00; Sa 09:00-14:00; Su-Mo off
5 Mill Street, Breckland District, NR20 3QG
About 3 km away
Richards Hairdressers
Hairdresser
Church Plain, Breckland District, NR20 3QE
About 3 km away
Practical Magic
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-17:00
66A High Street, Breckland District, IP25 6AH
About 15 km away
Rebecca James Hair & Beauty Salon
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu,Fr 09:00-17:30; We 09:00-18:00; Th 09:00-19:00; Sa 09:00-16:00
73 Peckover Road, Norwich, NR4 7BP
About 17 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Dereham Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 08:00-19:00; Sa 08:00-16:00; Su 10:00-16:00; PH off
59 High Street, Dereham, NR19 1DZ
About 5 km away
Hingham Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu 14:00-19:00;Th 10:00-13:00,14:00-19:00;Sa 10:00-13:00
The Fairland, South Norfolk, NR9 4HW
About 8 km away
Wymondham Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,Tu,Fr 09:00-17:00; We 09:00-13:00; Th 09:00-19:00; Sa 10:00-16:00
Back Lane, South Norfolk, NR18 0QB
About 12 km away
Taverham Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,Fr 09:00-13:00,14:00-17:00; Tu,Sa 09:00-13:00; We 14:00-17:00; Th 14:00-20:00
Sandy Lane, Norwich, NR8 6JR
About 14 km away
Reepham Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 14:00-19:00; We 09:30-13:00,14:00-17:00; Fr 10:00-13:00,14:00-17:00; Sa 09:30-12:30
Market Place, Norwich, NR10 4JJ
About 15 km away
Watton Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,Th,Fr 10:00-17:00;We 10:00-19:00;Sa 10:00-13:00
George Trollope Road, Breckland District, IP25 6AS
About 15 km away
Costessey Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 09:00-13:00,14:00-17:00; Tu 14:00-19:30; We 09:00-13:00,14:00-17:00; Fr 09:00-13:00,14:00-17:00; Sa 09:00-13:00
Breckland Road, Norwich, NR5 0RW
About 15 km away
West Earlham Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu,Th 09:00-13:00,13:00-18:00; Sa 09:00-13:00
17-18 Earlham West Centre, Norwich, NR5 8AD
About 16 km away
Hellesdon Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 10:00-13:00; Tu-We 10:00-13:00,14:00-17:00; Th 10:00-13:00,14:00-20:00; Fr 10:00-13:00,14:00-17:00; Sa 10:00-13:00
Reepham Road, Broadland, NR6 6UW
About 18 km away
Earlham Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu-Th 10:00-19:00;Fr 11:00-19:00;Sa 10:00-16:00
Colman Road, Norwich, NR4 7HG
About 18 km away
Tuckswood Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu,Fr 10:00-13:00,14:00-17:00; Sa 10:00-16:00
Robin Hood Road, Norwich, NR4 6BX
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 Norfolk
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