Settling in · Edinburgh
Landing in Edinburgh? Start here.
The first fortnight in Edinburgh, 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
96 places in Edinburgh 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
New Town Church
Christian, Church of scotland
15-17 George Street, Edinburgh
St Columba's Free Church
Christian, Free church of scotland
Johnston Terrace, Edinburgh, EH1 2PW
Augustine United Church
Christian, United reformed
41 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, EH1 1EL
The Salvation Army
Christian, Salvation army
1 East Adam Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9TF
The Parish Church of St Cuthbert
Christian, Church of scotland
5 Lothian Road, Edinburgh, EH1 2EP
Church of St John the Evangelist
Christian, Scottish episcopal
Princes Street, City of Edinburgh, EH2 4BJ
St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral
Christian, Episcopal
23 Palmerston Place, City of Edinburgh, EH12 5AW
About 2 km away
Duke Street United Reformed Church
Christian, United reformed
108 Duke Street, Edinburgh
About 2 km away
North & South Leith Parish Church
Christian, Church of scotland
Kirkgate Edinburgh, EH6 6BJ
About 2 km away
Polwarth Church
Christian, Church of scotland
36-38 Polwarth Terrace, City of Edinburgh, EH11 1NH
About 3 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Polwarth Mosque
Muslim
8-10 Temple Park Crescent, City of Edinburgh, EH11 1HT
About 2 km away
Blackhall Mosque
Muslim
1 House O' Hill Road, City of Edinburgh, EH4 2AJ
About 4 km away
Portobello Masjid
Muslim, Sunni
3 Fishwives Causeway, City of Edinburgh, EH15 1DH
About 4 km away
Buddhist temples and centres
Other places of worship
Hubbard Academy of Personal Independence Scientology Edinburgh
Scientologist. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-10:00; Sa-Su 09:00-18:00
20-23 South Bridge, Edinburgh, EH1 1LL
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Edinburgh
About 2 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
Seconds Out
Sports. Hours: Mo 12:00-18:00; Tu-Sa 10:00-18:00
Montrose Terrace, Edinburgh, EH7 5DL
Hibernian FC Club Store
Fan. Hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-17:00
12 Albion Place, Edinburgh
About 2 km away
Worx24
Computer
30-32 Bridge Road, City of Edinburgh, EH13 0LQ
About 7 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 3 km away
Matthew's Foods Oriental Supermarket
Convenience. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:30-18:00; Sa,Su 10:00-18:00
22-24 Earl Grey Street, Edinburgh, EH3 9BN
Food and takeaways
Mother India's Cafe
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-We 12:00-14:00, 17:00-22:30; Th 12:00-22:30; Fr-Sa 12:00-23:00; Su 12:00-22:00
3-5 Infirmary Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1LT
Wuzhen of China
Ch, chinese. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Fr 12:00-22:00; Sa-Su 12:00-23:00; PH off
6A Nicolson Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9DH
Namaste Kathmandu
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 12:00-22:30
17-19 Forrest Road, Edinburgh, EH1 2QH
Bistronomy 176
Greek, turkish. restaurant
176 Rose Street, City of Edinburgh, EH2 4BA
Kalpna
Indian. restaurant. Hours: 12:00-14:30,17:30-22:30
2-3 St Patrick Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9EZ
Kismot
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo,We-Su 16:30-23:30
29 St Leonard's Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9QN
Rendezvous
Chinese. restaurant. Hours: Tu-Th 12:00-14:30,17:00-22:30; Fr-Sa 12:00-14:30,17:00-23:00; Su 13:00-22:30
10A Queensferry Street, City of Edinburgh, EH2 4PG
Viet Taste
Vietnamese. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Sa 12:00-22:00; Su 12:00-21:00
2 Warriston Place, Edinburgh, EH3 5LE
Rishi's Indian Aroma
Indian, chinese. restaurant. Hours: 09:00-22:30
91-93 Shandwick Place, City of Edinburgh, EH2 4SD
Street Box
Thai. takeaway. Hours: Tu-Su 13:00+
53 Raeburn Place, Edinburgh, EH4 1HX
About 2 km away
Sports and clubs
Leith Victoria AAC
Boxing. Sports centre
28 Academy Street, Edinburgh
About 2 km away
Ainslie Park Leisure Centre
Swimming, fitness, basketball, pickleball. Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 06:00-21:00; Sa 06:00-16:00; Su 08:00-18:00
92 Pilton Drive, EH5 2HF
About 3 km away
Meadowbank Sports Centre
Soccer, athletics. Sports centre
London Road, City of Edinburgh, EH7 6AE
About 2 km away
Inch Park Community Sports Centre
Rugby, football, cricket. Sports centre
Gilmerton Road, City of Edinburgh, EH16 5QX
About 4 km away
Gracemount Leisure Centre
Swimming, badminton, fitness. Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 06:30-21:00; Sa,Su 09:00-17:00
Captain's Road, City of Edinburgh, EH17 8HW
About 6 km away
Boroughmuir Rugby and Community Sports Club
Sports centre
2 Meggetland Wynd, City of Edinburgh, EH14 1AF
About 4 km away
World of Football
Soccer. Sports centre
25 Marine Drive, City of Edinburgh, EH4 5EJ
About 5 km away
Fishing spots and tackle shops
Edinburgh Angling Centre
Tackle shop, and the place to ask where to fish and about permits. Hours: Mo-We, Fr-Sa 09:00-17:30; Th 09:00-20:00; Su 09:00-17:00
65 West Harbour Road, Edinburgh, EH5 1PW
About 4 km away
Gamefish
Tackle shop, and the place to ask where to fish and about permits. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:30-17:30; Sa 10:00-17:00
4 Howe Street, Edinburgh
Indigo Reef
Tackle shop, and the place to ask where to fish and about permits
1 Wolseley Place, Edinburgh, EH8 7AB
About 2 km away
Days out and things to do
Alien Rock
Sports centre
8 Pier Place, City of Edinburgh, EH6 4LP
About 3 km away
Driving schools
RSD Edinburgh Driving School
Driving school
Liberton Place, City of Edinburgh, EH16 6JR
About 5 km away
Community and support groups
Southside Community Centre
Community centre
117 Nicolson Street, City of Edinburgh, EH8 9ER
Pregnancy and Parents Centre
Community centre
188 Pleasance, Edinburgh, EH8 9RT
Pilmeny Development Project
Community centre
19-21 Buchanan Street, Edinburgh
Nelson Hall Community Centre
Community centre
5 Spittalfield Crescent, Edinburgh, EH8 9QZ
Duncan Place
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-17:00; Sa-Su off
4 Duncan Place
About 2 km away
1st Leith Company The Boys Brigade Bank Villa
Community centre
73 Ferry Road, Edinburgh
About 2 km away
Columcille Centre
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-17:00
2 Newbattle Terrace, Edinburgh, EH10 4RT
About 3 km away
Prestonfield Neighbourhood Centre
Community centre
63 Prestonfield Avenue, Edinburgh
About 3 km away
Pilton Youth & Children's Project
Community centre
33 West Pilton Brae, Edinburgh, EH4 4BH
About 4 km away
Living Well North Edinburgh
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-16:00
5 West Pilton Park, Edinburgh
About 4 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Hot towel and traditional shaves
Pasa Turkish Barber
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:30-18:30
98 Raeburn Place, Edinburgh
About 2 km away
Barbers and salons
connolly
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu 09:00-20:00; We 09:00-18:00; Th 09:00-20:00; Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 09:00-16:30
16 Howe Street, City of Edinburgh, EH3 6TE
Veen Barbers
Hairdresser. Hours: 09:00-18:00
64 Elm Row, Edinburgh, EH7 4AQ
Paterson SA
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-We 09:00-18:00; Th 09:00-19:30; Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 09:00-16:30
17 South Clerk Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9JD
McKensie Knight Hairdressing
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu-Sa 10:00-18:00
94 South Clerk Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9PT
About 2 km away
Cheryl Irvine
Hairdresser
20 Argyle Place, City of Edinburgh, EH9 1JL
About 2 km away
Ishi
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-We 09:00-18:00; Th 09:00-20:00; Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 09:00-16:30
4 Roseneath Street, Edinburgh
About 2 km away
Mighty Barbers and Beauty
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo 12:00-18:00; Tu-Fr 10:30-19:00; Sa 10:00-19:00; Su off
4 Lorne Street, City of Edinburgh, EH6 8QU
About 2 km away
Cinemas and libraries
National Library of Scotland
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Cowgate Edinburgh, EH1 1JN
McDonald Road Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-We 10:00-20:00; Th-Sa 10:00-17:00; Su off
2-4 McDonald Road, Edinburgh
Newington Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-We 10:00-20:00; Th-Sa 10:00-17:00; Su off
17-19-21 Fountainhall Road, Edinburgh
About 2 km away
Leith Public Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-We 10:00-20:00, Th-Sa 10:00-17:00
28-30 Ferry Road, Edinburgh
About 3 km away
Edinburgh Napier Merchiston Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
10 Colinton Road, Edinburgh, EH10 5DT
About 3 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 3 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 3 km away
Portobello Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-We 10:00-20:00; Th-Sa 10:00-17:00
14 Rosefield Avenue, City of Edinburgh, EH15 1AU
About 4 km away
Corstorphine Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
12 Kirk Loan, Edinburgh, EH12 7HD
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 Edinburgh
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