Settling in · Desborough
Landing in Desborough? Start here.
The first fortnight in Desborough, 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
74 places in Desborough 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.
Nothing nearby matches that yet. Try a shorter word.
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
Kettering Salvation Army
Christian, Salvation army
66 Rockingham Road, Kettering, NN16 8JU
About 8 km away
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Christian, Latter day saints
Rothwell Road, Kettering, NN16 8XE
About 6 km away
St Giles Anglican and Methodist Church
Christian, Anglican, methodist
Lower Street, Kettering, NN14 2NP
Quakers Friends' Meeting House
Christian, Quaker
Northall Street, Kettering, NN16 8DS
About 8 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Gurdwaras
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Peterborough
About 35 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
Chan's
Chinese. takeaway. Hours: Tu-Th,Su 17:00-22:00; Fr,Sa 17:00-23:00
73 Brambleside, Kettering, NN16 9BP
About 7 km away
Good World Chinese
Chinese. takeaway. Hours: Tu-Th 17:00-23:00; Fr,Sa 17:00-23:30; Su 17:00-23:00
53 Field Street, Kettering, NN16 8EN
About 7 km away
Shagorika Indian Restaurant
Indian. restaurant
16 Saint Mary's Road, Harborough, LE16 7DU
About 8 km away
Mezbaan
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Th 17:00-22:30; Fr,Sa 17:00-23:00; Su 13:00-22:00
3 Newland Street, Kettering, NN16 8JH
About 8 km away
Sports and clubs
Shire Kings Fitness Solutions
Boxing, thai boxing. Fitness centre
Hallwood Road, Kettering
About 8 km away
Kettering Rugby Football Club
Rugby union. Sports centre
Waverley Road, Kettering, NN15 6NT
About 9 km away
Desborough Leisure Centre
Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 07:00-21:00; Sa-Su 08:00-16:00
Ironwood Avenue, Kettering, NN14 2JJ
Kettering Swimming Pool
Swimming. Sports centre
London Road, Kettering, NN15 7QA
About 8 km away
Fishing spots and tackle shops
Angling Direct
Tackle shop, and the place to ask where to fish and about permits. Hours: Mo-We 09:30-18:00; Th,Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 08:00-18:00; Su 10:00-15:30
1B Northall Street, Kettering
About 8 km away
Driving schools
CamRider Kettering
Driving school
Windmill Avenue, Kettering, NN15 6ER
About 10 km away
Community and support groups
Woodcroft Scout Centre
Community centre
London Road, Kettering, NN15 6NQ
About 9 km away
Snap Dragon & Bop
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Sa 12:30-17:00; Tu off
254-256 Bath Road, Kettering, NN16 9LX
About 8 km away
Melton Community Centre
Community centre. Hours: "by appointment"
Cross Street, Kettering, NN16 9DS
About 7 km away
Poppies Community Centre
Community centre. Hours: "By Appointment"
Britannia Road, Kettering, NN16 9RZ
About 7 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Barbers and salons
Golden Scissors
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-We 09:00-18:00; Th-Fr 09:00-19:00; Sa 08:00-18:00; Su 10:00-16:00
27a Station Road, Kettering, NN14 2RL
Salon 101
Hairdresser
101 Rockingham Road, Kettering, NN16 9HX
About 8 km away
Toni & Guy
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo off; Tu-We 09:00-19:00; Th-Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 09:00-17:00; Su off
6B St Mary's Place, Harborough, LE16 7DR
About 8 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Desborough Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu,We 09:30-16:00; Th 09:00-17:00; Fr 10:00-17:00; Sa 10:00-12:00
High Street, Kettering, NN14 2QS
Rothwell Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,We,Fr 10:00-16:00; Sa 10:00-13:00
Market Hill, Kettering, NN14 6EP
About 3 km away
Danesholme Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: We,Sa 10:00-14:00; Th,Fr 14:00-18:00; Su 11:00-14:00
Boden Close, Corby, NN18 9EJ
About 7 km away
Prince William Education Centre Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Rothwell Road, Kettering, NN16 8UZ
About 7 km away
Market Harborough Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-18:30; Sa 10:00-16:00
Adam and Eve Street, Harborough, LE16 7LT
About 8 km away
Kettering Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 09:00-17:00
Sheep Street, Kettering, NN16 0AY
About 8 km away
Corby Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-18:00, Sa 09:00-17:00
George Street, Corby, NN17 1QG
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 Desborough
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