Settling in · Suffolk
Landing in Suffolk? Start here.
The first fortnight in Suffolk, 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
80 places in Suffolk 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
Christ Church Moreton Hall
Christian, Anglican
Lawson Place, IP32 7EW
About 18 km away
Christchurch
Christian, Methodist, united reformed church
High Street, Ipswich, IP6 8AP
About 6 km away
Burlington Baptist Church
Christian, Baptist
London Road, Ipswich, IP1 2EZ
About 18 km away
Zoar Baptist
Christian, Baptist
St Helens Street, Ipswich, IP4 2LH
About 20 km away
Salvation Army Hall
Christian, Salvation army
St Johns Street, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1SP
About 20 km away
Salvation Amry, Diss Corps
Christian, Salvation army
36-40 Sunnyside, Diss, IP22 4DS
About 21 km away
Saint Mary Magdalene
Christian, Anglican
High Street, Mid Suffolk, IP14 6QN
About 13 km away
Gurdwaras
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Ipswich
About 21 km away
Hatfield Road Congregational Church, Hatfield Road, Ipswich, England, IP3 9AF
Worship services: Tue 7:30pm · Sat 4:00pm
Iglesia ni Cristo, Colchester
About 28 km away
Boxted Village Hall, Cage Lane, Boxted Cross, Colchester, C04 5RE
Worship services: Thu 7:00pm · Sat 9:30am · Sat 11:30am (children)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Watton
About 39 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)
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
Go East
Supermarket. stocks Asian goods. Hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-17:30; Su 11:00-16:00
36 Tacket Street, Ipswich, IP4 1BA
About 19 km away
Hughes
Electronics. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-17:30; Sa 09:30-17:30
Victoria Road, Diss, IP22 4JN
About 21 km away
Europa
Convenience. Hours: Mo-Su 09:00-21:00
12 Woolhall Street, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1LA
About 20 km away
Food and takeaways
Kwan Thai
Thai. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Sa 12:00-13:30, 18:00-23:00
14 St Nicholas Street, Ipswich, IP1 1TJ
About 19 km away
Zaika
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 17:30-23:30; Sa 12:00-14:00
17 St Nicholas Street, Ipswich, IP1 1TW
About 19 km away
Nando's
Chicken, portuguese. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Th 12:00-22:00; Fr 12:00-23:00; Sa 11:00-23:00; Su 11:00-22:00
27 Grafton Way, Ipswich, IP1 1AX
About 19 km away
Bangkok Heightz
Thai. restaurant
4a Orwell Place, Ipswich, IP4 1BB
About 19 km away
Kervan Kitchen
Turkish. restaurant
41 Grafton Way, Ipswich, IP1 1AX
About 19 km away
Ipswich Pizza
Pizza, kebab, burger, chicken. restaurant
94 St Helens Street, Ipswich, IP4 2LB
About 20 km away
Eastern Spice
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Su-Th 17:30-23:00; Fr-Sa 17:00-23:00
418 Woodbridge Road, Ipswich, IP4 4EL
About 20 km away
Ottoman
Turkish. restaurant
482 Woodbridge Road, Ipswich, IP4 4PS
About 20 km away
Valley Connection
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 12:00-14:30,17:30-23:30
42 Churchgate Street, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1RG
About 20 km away
Mowgli Street Food
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-We 11:30-22:00; Th-Sa 11:30-22:30; Su 11:30-21:30
50 Abbeygate Street, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1LB
About 20 km away
Amigos
Mexican. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Th 12:00-21:00 open "Dining in"; Fr-Sa 12:00-23:00 open "Dining in" || Fr-Sa 12:00-24:00 open "bar"
35 Brentgovel Street, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1EA
About 20 km away
Sports and clubs
Ipswich and East Suffolk Cricket Club
Cricket. Sports centre
London Road, Ipswich, IP2 0TA
About 18 km away
Smugglers Pass Adventure Footgolf
Footballgolf. Sports centre
A1120 Mid Suffolk, IP14 6AS
About 10 km away
Wattisham Flying Station P&RTC
Swimming, squash, basketball, soccer, weightlifting, martial arts. Sports centre
Chestnut Avenue, Mid Suffolk, IP7 7SD
About 9 km away
Ipswich School Sports Centre
Badminton. Sports centre
Eaton Place, East Suffolk, IP5 1BD
About 21 km away
Bury St Edmunds Leisure Centre
Basketball, swimming, fitness, netball, table tennis, badminton. Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 06:00-21:00; Sa,Su 08:00-16:00
Beetons Way, West Suffolk, IP33 3TT
About 21 km away
Skyliner
Soccer, hockey, running, handball, basketball, badminton. Sports centre
IP32 7QB
About 17 km away
Fishing spots and tackle shops
Tackle up
Tackle shop, and the place to ask where to fish and about permits. Hours: Mo,We-Sa 09:00-17:00
49A St Johns Street, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1SP
About 20 km away
Driving schools
Pass in Auto
Driving school. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-13:30
47B Queen's Road, West Suffolk, IP33 3EW
About 21 km away
Community and support groups
Wooden House Children's Centre
Community centre
20b Lanark Road, Ipswich, IP4 3EJ
About 19 km away
The Market Cross Community of Creatives
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-17:00
Cornhill Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1BT
About 20 km away
Chatterbox Children's Centre
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-17:00
Copleston Road, Ipswich, IP4 5HB
About 21 km away
Whitton Sports & Community Centre
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-22:00; Sa-Su 09:00-18:00; PH off
Whitton Church Lane, Ipswich, IP1 6LW
About 15 km away
Castle Hill Community Centre
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Su 08:00-21:30
Highfield Road, Ipswich, IP1 6DH
About 17 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Hot towel and traditional shaves
First Class Traditional Turkish Barbers
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-18:00; Su 10:00-16:00
Unit 2, Mere Street, Diss, IP22 4AG
About 21 km away
Barbers and salons
Hair His & Her
Hairdresser
24 Brentgovel Street, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1EB
About 20 km away
Blackbird Barbershop
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Th 08:30-14:00; Fr 09:00-17:30; Sa 08:00-16:00
80 St Johns Street, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1SQ
About 20 km away
Bimbo's Hair
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu-Th 10:00-20:00; Fr 10:00-17:00; Sa 09:00-16:00
9 St Johns Street, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1SQ
About 20 km away
Room 66
Hairdresser
66B St Johns Street, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1SJ
About 20 km away
Loyal Wolf Barbershop
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Th 08:30-18:00; Fr 08:30-20:00; Sa 08:30-16:00
74 St Andrews Street North, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1TZ
About 20 km away
Moons Hairdressing
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo 09:00-17:00; Tu 09:00-19:00; We 09:00-18:00, Th 09:00-19:00; Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 09:00-15:00
Chapel Street, Diss, IP22 4AN
About 21 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Regal
Cinema. Hours: Mo-Fr 11:30-21:00; Sa-Su 10:00-21:00
Ipswich Street, Mid Suffolk, IP14 1AY
About 2 km away
Bury St Edmunds Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,We,Th 08:30-17:30; Tu,Fr 08:30-19:30; Sa 08:30-17:00; Su 10:00-16:00
Sergeants Walk, Bury St Edmunds
About 20 km away
Diss Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 08:00-19:00; Sa-Su 10:00-16:00; "Check website for staffed hours"
Church Street, Diss, IP22 4DD
About 21 km away
Needham Market Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Teachers Close, Mid Suffolk, IP6 8BW
About 6 km away
County library Ipswich
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Th 09:00-18:00; Tu,Fr 09:00-19:00; Sa 08:30-17:00; Su 10:00-16:00
Northgate Street, Ipswich, IP1 3DE
About 19 km away
Elmswell Memorial Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Cooks Road, Mid Suffolk, IP30 9BX
About 7 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 Suffolk
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