Settling in · Balerno
Landing in Balerno? Start here.
The first fortnight in Balerno, 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
75 places in Balerno 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
St Thomas' Church
Christian, Anglican
75-79 Glasgow Road, Edinburgh, EH12 8LJ
About 7 km away
St Cuthberts Church
Christian
Slateford Road, City of Edinburgh, EH14 1PW
About 8 km away
Salvation Army Church
Christian, Salvation army
431 Gorgie Road, City of Edinburgh, EH11 2RT
About 8 km away
Polwarth Church
Christian, Church of scotland
36-38 Polwarth Terrace, Edinburgh
About 9 km away
Corstorphine Old Parish Church
Christian, Church of scotland
Kirk Loan, City of Edinburgh, EH12 7HD
About 8 km away
Carrick Knowe Parish Church
Christian, Church of scotland
Saughton Road North, City of Edinburgh, EH12 7DR
About 7 km away
St. John's Colinton Mains Parish Church
Christian, Church of scotland
Oxgangs Drive, City of Edinburgh, EH13 9BG
About 8 km away
St John the Baptist
Christian, Roman catholic
37 St. Ninian's Road, City of Edinburgh, EH12 8AL
About 8 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Polwarth Mosque
Muslim
8-10 Temple Park Crescent, City of Edinburgh, EH11 1HT
About 10 km away
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Edinburgh
About 13 km away
RCCG-Edinburgh Tabernacle Hall 41-42 Inverleith Gardens Ferry Road Edinburgh, Scotland EH3 5PR
Worship services: Wed 6:00pm · Sat 11:00am
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
Worx24
Computer
30-32 Bridge Road, City of Edinburgh, EH13 0LQ
About 6 km away
Good Food Asian Supermarket
Convenience. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-22:00; Su 10:00-21:30
306 Gorgie Road, EH11 2PP
About 9 km away
Spice of Asia
Convenience. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-21:00; Su 10:00-20:00
398 Gorgie Road, Edinburgh, EH11 2BF
About 9 km away
Food and takeaways
Taste Good
Chinese. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 16:30-00:00
65-71 Slateford Road, Edinburgh, EH11 1PR
About 9 km away
Corner Curry House
Indian. restaurant
8 Pentland View, City of Edinburgh, EH14 5NP
About 2 km away
St John's Curry Club
Indian. restaurant
100 St John's Road, City of Edinburgh, EH12 8AT
About 8 km away
The Eastern Pavilion
Indian. restaurant
46 St John's Road, City of Edinburgh, EH12 6PA
About 8 km away
Namaste India
Indian. restaurant
109 Slateford Road, City of Edinburgh, EH11 1QY
About 9 km away
Dragon 川府阁
Chinese, korean. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Fr 12:00-15:00,16:30-23:00; Sa,Su,PH 12:00-23:00
167-171 Dundee Street, City of Edinburgh, EH11 1BY
About 10 km away
ScotIndian Spices
Indian. restaurant
14 Polwarth Crescent, City of Edinburgh, EH11 1HW
About 10 km away
Sports and clubs
Saughton Sports Complex
Multi, athletics, rugby, soccer. Sports centre
Whitson Way, City of Edinburgh, EH11 3BJ
About 8 km away
Lost Shore Surf Resort
Surfing. Sports centre. Hours: 08:00-23:00
11 Greenstone Loan, City of Edinburgh, EH28 8AY
About 6 km away
Craiglockhart Tennis Centre
Tennis. Sports centre
Glenlockhart Valley, City of Edinburgh, EH14 1DE
About 8 km away
Craiglockhart Leisure Centre
Multi. Sports centre
177 Colinton Road, City of Edinburgh, EH14 1BZ
About 8 km away
Oriam Indoor Tennis Centre (ITC)
Sports centre
Garden Lane, City of Edinburgh, EH14 4BA
About 3 km away
Juniper Green Tennis Club
Tennis. Sports centre
Lucas Gardens, City of Edinburgh, EH14 5BY
About 4 km away
Colinton Castle Sports Club
Sports centre
Katesmill Road, City of Edinburgh, EH14 1JF
About 7 km away
Days out and things to do
Xtreme Karting Edinburgh
Sports centre
2 Huly Hill Road, City of Edinburgh, EH28 8PH
About 8 km away
Driving schools
Community and support groups
youthagency
Community centre
44 Dumbryden Drive, Dumbryden Grove, City of Edinburgh, EH14 2QR
About 6 km away
Corstorphine Community Centre
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-15:00
5 Kirk Loan, Edinburgh, EH12 7HD
About 8 km away
Columcille Centre
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-17:00
2 Newbattle Terrace, Edinburgh, EH10 4RT
About 10 km away
Community Wellbeing Space
Community centre
120 Wester Hailes Road, City of Edinburgh, EH14 2SW
About 5 km away
Carrickvale Community Centre
Community centre
Saughton Mains Street, City of Edinburgh, EH11 3HH
About 7 km away
Colinton Mains Community Centre
Community centre
1 Firrhill Loan, City of Edinburgh, EH13 9EJ
About 7 km away
150th Craigalmond Scout Group
Community centre
53 Saughton Crescent, City of Edinburgh, EH12 5SP
About 9 km away
Saughtonhall Community Association
Community centre
22A Saughtonhall Avenue, City of Edinburgh, EH12 5RN
About 9 km away
Gibson-Craig Memorial Hall
Community centre
156 Lanark Road West, City of Edinburgh, EH14 5NZ
About 3 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Barbers and salons
Salon 13
Hairdresser. Hours: We 10:00-16:00; Th 12:00-20:00; Fr 10:00-18:00; Sa 09:00-16:00; Su 12:00-16:00
249A St John's Road, Edinburgh, EH12 7XD
About 8 km away
Chad's
Hairdresser
3 Oxgangs Broadway, City of Edinburgh, EH13 9LQ
About 8 km away
SisCo
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu-We 10:00-18:00; We 10:00-20:00; Fr 10:00-18:00; Sa 09:00-16:00
225 Morningside Road, Edinburgh, EH10 4QT
About 10 km away
Barocco Hair Salon
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-18:00; Th 09:00-19:30; Sa 09:00-16:30
60 Corstorphine High Street, City of Edinburgh, EH12 7SY
About 8 km away
Antony Zein
Hairdresser
102 St John's Road, City of Edinburgh, EH12 8AT
About 8 km away
Fairbairn and Laing
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu,We 09:30-17:00; Th 09:00-20:00; Fr 09:00-17:30; Sa 09:00-16:00
6 Lanark Road, City of Edinburgh, EH14 1TQ
About 8 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Balerno Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 13:00 - 20:00; Tu 10:00 - 17:00; We 13:00 - 20:00; Fr 10:00 - 17:00; Sa 10:00 - 14:00
1 Main Street, Balerno, EH14 7EQ
Corstorphine Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
12 Kirk Loan, Edinburgh, EH12 7HD
About 8 km away
Morningside Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-We 10:00-20:00;Th-Sa 10:00-17:00
184 Morningside Road, Edinburgh, EH10 4PU
About 10 km away
Edinburgh Napier Merchiston Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
10 Colinton Road, Edinburgh, EH10 5DT
About 10 km away
Dominion Cinema
Cinema. Hours: Mo-Tu 15:00-21:00; We-Su 12:00-21:00
18 Newbattle Terrace, City of Edinburgh, EH10 4RT
About 10 km away
Currie Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu, Th-Sa 10:00-17:00; Mo, We 13:00-20:00
210 Lanark Road West, City of Edinburgh, EH14 5NX
About 2 km away
ODEON MULTIPLEX CINEMA
Cinema
120 Wester Hailes Road, City of Edinburgh, EH14 3HR
About 5 km away
Ratho Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
6 School Wynd, City of Edinburgh, EH28 8TT
About 5 km away
Cameron Smail Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Cameron Smail Road, City of Edinburgh, EH14 4AS
About 3 km away
Wester Hailes Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Westside Plaza, City of Edinburgh, EH14 2ST
About 5 km away
Sighthill Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
55 Sighthill Road, City of Edinburgh, EH11 4PB
About 5 km away
Colinton Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
14 Thorburn Road, City of Edinburgh, EH13 0BQ
About 6 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 Balerno
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