Settling in · Cambridgeshire
Landing in Cambridgeshire? Start here.
The first fortnight in Cambridgeshire, 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
71 places in Cambridgeshire 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
Cottenham Salvation Army
Christian, Salvation army
184 High Street, Cottenham, CB24 8RX
About 5 km away
St Andrew
Christian, Anglican
St Andrew's Park, South Cambridgeshire, CB24 9ER
About 6 km away
Baptist Meeting House
Christian, Baptist
The Shires, Huntingdonshire, PE28 3XZ
About 7 km away
Histon Baptist Church
Christian, Baptist
Poplar Road, South Cambridgeshire, CB24 9BP
About 7 km away
Saint Ives Methodist Church
Christian, Methodist
The Waits, Huntingdonshire, PE27 5BY
About 9 km away
Willingham Salvation Army
Christian, Salvation army
Silver Street, South Cambridgeshire, CB24 5LF
About 2 km away
Wilingham Baptist Church
Christian, Baptist
Love's Lane, South Cambridgeshire, CB24 5LJ
About 2 km away
St Mary & All Saints
Christian, Anglican
Church Street, South Cambridgeshire, CB24 5HT
About 2 km away
Other places of worship
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Cambridge
About 10 km away
Water Beach Barracks Sports Hall and Sudio, Cambridge, England, CB25 9PA
Worship services: Wed 7:00pm · Sun 11:00am · Sun 1:00pm (children)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Peterborough
About 38 km away
Colonel Dane Memorial Hall, Church Street, Alwalton, Peterborough, PE73UU
Worship services: Wed 7:45pm · Sat 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
Food and takeaways
Curry Palace
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 17:00-23:00
215 High Street, Cambridge, CB24 8QP
About 5 km away
The Indian Ocean
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Tu-Su 17:00-22:00
4 School Hill, Cambridge, CB24 9JE
About 6 km away
St Ives Dhaba
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Su-Th 17:30-22:00; Fr-Sa 17:30-22:30
21 Bridge Street, Huntingdonshire, PE27 5EH
About 9 km away
Cherry Valley
Chinese. restaurant
24 Bridge Street, Huntingdonshire, PE27 5EG
About 9 km away
Zzohanna
Indian. restaurant
8 Manor Mews, Huntingdonshire, PE27 5UW
About 9 km away
Sultan Tandoori
Indian. restaurant
16 London Road, Huntingdonshire, PE27 5ES
About 9 km away
Golden Wok
Chinese. takeaway. Hours: Mo-Sa 12:00-14:00,16:30-22:30; Su,PH 16:30-22:30; Tu off
191 Histon Road, Cambridge, CB4 3HL
About 10 km away
Golden Crown
Chinese. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Fr 16:00-21:40; Sa 16:00-21:00
2 Arbury Court, Cambridge, CB4 2JQ
About 10 km away
Anchor Fish Bar
Fish and chips, kebab, burger. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Sa 12:00-21:00
42 Arbury Road, Cambridge, CB4 2JQ
About 10 km away
Sports and clubs
Cambridge Gun Club
Shooting. Sports centre. Hours: We-Sa 10:00-16:00; Su 10:00-15:00
Long Drove, South Cambridgeshire, CB24 8AH
About 9 km away
One Leisure St Ives Indoor
Swimming, fitness, cardio. Sports centre
Westwood Road, Huntingdonshire, PE27 6WU
About 10 km away
The Oakington and Westwick Sports Pavilion
Gymnastics, table tennis. Sports centre
Queens Way, South Cambridgeshire, CB24 3AW
About 5 km away
Waves Health & Leisure Club
Gym, swimming. Sports centre
Crafts Way, South Cambridgeshire, CB23 8EJ
About 5 km away
Fishing spots and tackle shops
Community and support groups
Unity Centre
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-21:00; Su 09:00-17:00; PH off
Unity Way, Cambridge, CB24 1FD
Cottenham Village Hall
Community centre
Lambs Lane, Cambridge, CB24 8TB
About 5 km away
All Saints Hall
Community centre
High Street, South Cambridgeshire, CB24 8QN
About 6 km away
Storey's Field Centre
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-15:00
Eddington Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 1AA
About 9 km away
British Legion Hall
Community centre
121 High Street, South Cambridgeshire, CB24 8SD
About 5 km away
Bar Hill Village Hall & Social Club
Community centre
The Spinney, South Cambridgeshire, CB23 8TP
About 6 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Barbers and salons
Ashleys the Barbers
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo, We-Fr 09:30-13:30,14:30-17:30; Su off
159 The Spinney, Cambridge, CB23 8TW
About 6 km away
David William
Hairdresser
27 Bridge Street, Huntingdonshire, PE27 5EH
About 9 km away
Anya Lois Hair
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo 09:00-17:30; Tu,Th 09:00-19:00; Fr 09:00-17:30; Sa 08:30-14:00
Station Road, South Cambridgeshire, CB24 9LQ
About 7 km away
Plum Tree Hair & Beauty
Hairdresser
6 Thornton Way, Cambridge, CB3 0NJ
About 9 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Cottenham Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 13:00-18:00; Tu 10:00-17:00; We 10:00-13:00; Th 10:00-17:00; Sa 10:00-13:00
Margett Street, CB24 8QY
About 5 km away
St Ives Library and Learning Centre
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-We 09:30-17:00; Th 09:30-13:00,13:30-18:00; Fr 09:30-19:00; Sa 09:30-16:00; Su 12:00-16:00; Dec 25 off; Dec 31 off; Jan 01 off
4 Station Road, Huntingdonshire, PE27 5BW
About 8 km away
Arbury Court Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu,Fr 09:00-17:00; Mo 15:00-18:00; Th 09:00-13:00; Sa 10:00-14:00
46-47 Arbury Road, Cambridge, CB4 2JQ
About 10 km away
Willingham Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Church Street, Cambridge, CB24 5HS
About 2 km away
Bar Hill Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Gladeside Cambridge, CB23 8DY
About 6 km away
Histon Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 11:00-19:00; Tu 14:00-17:00; Th 09:00-17:00; Fr,Sa 09:00-13:00; We,Su off
School Hill, Cambridge, CB24 9JE
About 6 km away
Haddenham Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Station Road, East Cambridgeshire, CB6 3XD
About 9 km away
Community Information Centre
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Library Walk, Huntingdonshire, PE28 3FN
About 10 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 Cambridgeshire
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