Settling in · County Durham
Landing in County Durham? Start here.
The first fortnight in County Durham, 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
70 places in County Durham 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
Woodhouse Close Church and Community Centre
Christian, Methodist, anglican
Proudfoot Drive, Bishop Auckland, DL14 6PD
About 6 km away
Shildon Methodist Church
Christian, Methodist
3 Main Street, Shildon, DL4 1AH
About 8 km away
St John's Church
Christian, Anglican
Church Street, Shildon, DL4 1DW
About 8 km away
The Salvation Army Shildon
Christian, Salvation army
Cross Street, Shildon, DL4 1PF
About 9 km away
Our Lady Of Perpetual Succour & St Thomas Of Canterbury RC Church
Christian, Roman catholic
Cumberland Terrace, Crook, DL15 0PB
About 2 km away
Byers Green Methodist Church
Christian, Methodist
High Street, Spennymoor, DL16 7PG
About 3 km away
St Peter the Apostle
Christian, Anglican
Church Street, Spennymoor, DL16 7NL
About 3 km away
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, North Shields
About 38 km away
1A Stormont Street, North Shields, Tyne and Wear, NE29 OEY
Worship services: Thu 7:00pm · Sun 10:00am · Sun 12:00pm (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
Food and takeaways
Indian Cottage
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Tu-Su 17:30-23:00
18 Church Street, Crook, DL15 9BG
About 3 km away
Rain Flower
Chinese. restaurant. Hours: Mo,We-Th 17:00-22:30; Tu off; Fr-Su 17:00-23:30
41 Hope Street, Crook, DL15 9HU
About 4 km away
Chang Thai
Thai. restaurant
7 Market Place, Bishop Auckland, DL14 7NJ
About 4 km away
Aleeza's
Indian. restaurant
10 King Street, Spennymoor, DL16 6QQ
About 7 km away
Foysol Tandoori
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 17:00-23:00
4 East Bridge Street, Crook, DL15 9BJ
About 3 km away
Fortune Palace
Chinese. restaurant. Hours: Tu-Th 17:00-23:00; Fr 17:00-00:00;Su 17:00-23:30
8 Hope Street, Crook, DL15 9HS
About 3 km away
Spice Lounge
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Tu-Fr 18:00-22:00; Sa,Su 17:30-22:00
11 Fore Bondgate, Bishop Auckland, DL14 7PF
About 4 km away
Sports and clubs
Bishop Auckland RUFC
Rugby union. Sports centre
Bridge Road, Bishop Auckland, DL14 7PA
About 4 km away
Tow Law Town AFC
Soccer. Sports centre
Weardale Crescent, Bishop Auckland, DL13 4EQ
About 9 km away
Crook Leisure Centre
Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 06:00-21:00; Sa 07:00-17:00; Su 08:00-16:00
Deerness Valley Railway Path, Crook, DL15 9AH
About 4 km away
Woodhouse Close Leisure Complex
Swimming. Sports centre
Woodhouse Lane, Bishop Auckland, DL14 6JX
About 6 km away
Spennymoor Library And Leisure Centre
Sports centre
High Street, Spennymoor, DL16 6DB
About 6 km away
Bishop Auckland Snooker Club
Snooker. Sports centre
Finkle Street, Bishop Auckland, DL14 7PL
About 4 km away
Shildon Sunnydale Leisure Centre
Sports centre
Middridge Lane, Shildon, DL4 2EP
About 8 km away
Wooley Grange Motocross Track
Motocross. Sports centre
Deerness Valley Railway Path, Stanley Crook, DL15 9AN
About 5 km away
Fishing spots and tackle shops
Days out and things to do
Driving schools
Bud's Motorcycle Academy
Driving school
A689 Bishop Auckland, DL14 7SB
About 3 km away
Driving Theory Test Practice
Driving school. Hours: 08:00-21:00
8 Hackworth Street, Shildon, DL4 1HF
About 9 km away
Community and support groups
Innovations
Community centre
1 Dundas Street, Spennymoor, DL16 6AS
About 6 km away
Four Clocks Centre
Community centre
Newgate Street, Bishop Auckland, DL14 7LE
About 5 km away
Auckland Youth and Community Centre
Community centre
Walker Drive, Bishop Auckland, DL14 6QL
About 6 km away
Community Centre
Community centre
Ironworks Road, Bishop Auckland, DL13 4AW
About 9 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Hot towel and traditional shaves
Hardys Traditional Turkish Barbershop
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-We 09:00-17:30; Th-Fr 09:00-19:00; Sa 09:00-17:30
22 Hope Street, Crook, DL15 9HS
About 4 km away
Barbers and salons
Truly Love Hair & Beauty
Hairdresser
3 North Terrace, Crook, DL15 9AZ
About 3 km away
BarberBar
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-We 09:00-17:30;Th-Fr 09:00-19:00;Sa 09:00-17:30
23 Hope Street, Crook, DL15 9HS
About 4 km away
Empire Hair & Beauty
Hairdresser
3G Fore Bondgate, Bishop Auckland, DL14 7PF
About 4 km away
Blades Barber Shop
Hairdresser
Finkle Street, Bishop Auckland, DL14 7PL
About 4 km away
Diva Unisex Hair Salon
Hairdresser
South Church Road, Bishop Auckland, DL14 7JX
About 5 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Willington Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Commercial Street, Willington, DL15 0DQ
Crook Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu, Th 09:30-19:00; Mo 13:30-17:00; We, Sa 09:30-12:30; Fr 09:30-17:00
North Terrace, Crook, DL15 9ES
About 3 km away
Bishop Auckland Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Market Place, Bishop Auckland, DL14 7NP
About 4 km away
Woodhouse Close Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Woodhouse Lane, Bishop Auckland, DL14 6JX
About 6 km away
Brandon Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Lowland Road, Brandon, DH7 8NN
About 7 km away
Ferryhill Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
North Street, Ferryhill, DL17 8JH
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 County Durham
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