Settling in · Canterbur
Landing in Canterbur? Start here.
The first fortnight in Canterbur, 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
72 places in Canterbur 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 Peter's Methodist Church
Christian, Methodist
St. Peter's Street, Canterbury, CT1 2BE
Hamilton Road Evangelical Church
Christian, Evangelical
Hamilton Road, Canterbury, CT5 1JX
About 9 km away
Whitstable Baptist Church
Christian, Baptist
Middle Wall, Whitstable, CT5 1BJ
About 10 km away
Catholic Church of St. Thomas of Canterbury
Christian, Catholic
59 Burgate, Canterbury, CT1 2HR
Buddhist temples and centres
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Canterbury
In the area
Canterbury Umbrella Centre, 22 St. Peter's Place, Canterbury, Canterbury, CT1 2DB
Worship services: Thu 6:30pm
Iglesia ni Cristo, Southend
About 42 km away
71-73 Elm Road, Leigh-on-Sea, Southend-on-Sea, Leigh-on-Sea, SS9 1SP
Worship services: Tue 7:30pm · Sat 10:00am
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
Food and takeaways
Nando's
Chicken, portuguese. restaurant. Hours: Su-Th 11:30-22:00; Fr-Sa 11:30-22:30
46 St. Peter's Street, Canterbury, CT1 2BG
Café des Amis
Mexican. restaurant
93-95 St. Dunstan's Street, Canterbury, CT2 8AD
Bangkok House
Thai. restaurant. Hours: Mo 17:30-22:00; Tu-We 12:00-14:30, 17:30-22:00; Th-Sa 12:00-14:30, 17:30-23:00; Su 12:00-14:30, 17:30-22:00
13 Church Street, Canterbury, CT1 1NH
Chopsticks
Chinese. restaurant. Hours: Mo off; Tu-Su 12:00-14:00, 17:30-23:30
Island Road, Canterbury, CT3 4EY
About 7 km away
Thai Orchid
Thai. restaurant. Hours: Mo,We-Sa 12:00-22:00;Su 12:00-21:00
82 Middle Wall, Whitstable, CT5 1BN
About 10 km away
Plough & Harrow Turkish Restaurant
Turkish. restaurant. Hours: Tu-Su 11:30-22:00
86 High Street, Canterbury, CT4 5LA
About 5 km away
Golden Moon
Chinese. takeaway. Hours: Tu-Su 17:00-23:00
51 Old Bridge Road, Whitstable, CT5 1RD
About 9 km away
Sports and clubs
Kent County Cricket Club
Cricket. Sports centre
Old Dover Road, Canterbury, CT1 3NZ
About 2 km away
Fighting Lions
Martial arts, fitness. Fitness centre
10-16 Reeves Yard, Whitstable, CT5 1HX
About 10 km away
Stodmarsh Playing Fields
Rugby union, soccer. Sports centre
Stodmarsh Road, Canterbury, CT3 4AS
About 4 km away
Tankerton Bay Sailing Club
Sailing. Sport club
Marine Crescent, Whitstable, CT5 2LQ
About 10 km away
The King's School Sports Centre
Sports centre
1 St. Stephen's Road, Canterbury, CT2 7HU
Pilates Movement Matters
Pilates. Fitness centre
Reeves Yard, Whitstable, CT5 1HX
About 10 km away
Days out and things to do
Chimera Climbing
Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-22:00; Sa-Su 08:00-18:00
22 Maynard Road, Canterbury, CT1 3RH
Community and support groups
Canterbury & District Early Years Project
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 08:00-16:00
11A South Street, Canterbury, CT1 1EA
About 2 km away
Kingston Barn
Community centre
25 The Street, Canterbury, CT4 6JB
About 8 km away
City Space
Community centre. Hours: Tu 17:00-19:00, We 11:00-13:00, Th 14:00-16:00, We 15:00-17:00
47 Northgate, Canterbury, CT1 1BE
Spring Lane Neighbourhood Centre
Community centre
Sussex Avenue, Canterbury, CT1 1RT
About 2 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Barbers and salons
Coah
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo off;Tu,Th,Fr 09:00-17:30;We 09:00-19:00;Sa 09:00-17:00
81a Castle Street, Canterbury, CT1 2QD
Chaps Male Grooming
Hairdresser
20A Lower Bridge Street, Canterbury, CT1 2LG
Shaving Ken
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo 11:00-18:00;Tu,We,Fr 09:30-18:00;Th 10:30-19:30;Sa 09:00-17:00;Su off
4 Dover Street, Canterbury, CT1 3HD
Blakes Hair & Beauty
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Tu 09:00-17:30;We-Th 09:00-20:00;Fr 09:00-18:30;Sa 08:00-16:00;Su off
13 Dover Street, Canterbury, CT1 3HD
Stag Barbering
Hairdresser
86 High Street, Whitstable, CT5 1AZ
About 9 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Canterbury Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-We 09:00-18:00; Th 09:00-20:00; Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 09:00-17:00; Su off
18 High Street, Canterbury, CT1 2RA
Augustine House
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Rhodaus Town, Canterbury, CT1 2YA
Gulbenkian Cinema
Cinema. Hours: "Hours vary depending on programme"
Library Road, Canterbury, CT2 7NB
About 2 km away
Whitstable Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Oxford Street, Whitstable
About 9 km away
Learning Resource Centre
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Canterbury College Access Road, Canterbury, CT1 1PH
Templeman Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-21:00; Sa,Su 12:00-18:00
Library Road, Canterbury, CT2 7NU
About 2 km away
School Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Junior Playground, Canterbury, CT1 3EN
About 2 km away
Sturry Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 13:30-17:00; Tu,Fr 10:00-13:00,14:00-17:00; We 08:45-12:30; Sa 09:00-13:00; Th,Su off
Chafy Crescent, Canterbury, CT2 0AX
About 4 km away
Boughton Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
The Street, Borough of Swale, ME13 9BG
About 9 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 Canterbur
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