Settling in · Norwich
Landing in Norwich? Start here.
The first fortnight in Norwich, 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
88 places in Norwich 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
The Salvation Army - Norwich Citadel
Christian, Salvation army
34-36 St Giles Street, Norwich, NR2 1LL
Norwich Spiritualist Church
Spiritualist, Spiritist
10 Chapelfield North, Norwich, NR2 1NY
Elim Pentecostal Church Norwich
Christian, Pentecostal
Trory Street, Norwich, NR2 2RH
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses
Christian, Jehovahs witness
55 Rosary Road, Norwich, NR1 1SZ
Seventh Day Adventist Church
Christian, Seventh day adventist
133 Dereham Road, Norwich, NR2 3TA
Christ Church Eaton
Christian, Anglican. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-16:30; Su 08:00-19:30
Church Avenue, Norwich, NR2 2AQ
About 2 km away
Saint Anne's Church
Christian, Anglican
160 Colman Road, Norwich, NR4 7HF
About 2 km away
The Open Door Christian Fellowship
Christian, Evangelical
6 Ramsey Close, Norwich, NR4 7BQ
About 3 km away
Eternity Christian Centre
Christian
171 Earlham Green Lane, Norwich, NR5 8RF
About 4 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Norwich Central Mosque & Islamic Community Centre
Muslim, Sunni
63 Aylsham Road, Norwich, NR3 2HF
About 2 km away
Al-Madinah Muslim Community Centre
Muslim, Sunni. Hours: Fr,Sa 12:00-13:30
58 Sandy Lane, Norwich, NR1 2NR
About 3 km away
Gurdwaras
Gurdwara Sri Guru Ramdas Prakash
Sikh
12-14 Old Palace Road, Norwich, NR2 4JF
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Norwich
About 9 km away
Frettenham Village hall, Church road, Norwich, NR12 7NN, England
Worship services: Wed 7:30pm · Sun 10:00am · Sun 12:15pm (children)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Watton
About 33 km away
CWS venue, Frettenham Village hall, & AWS, Thompson Community Hall, Thompson, Thetford, England, IP24 1PY
Worship services: Wed 7:30pm · Sun 10:00am · Sun 12:15pm (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
Shops from home
Euro Max Mini Market
Convenience. Hours: Mo-Sa 08:00-22:00; Su 09:00-22:00
12-13 Earlham House Shops, Norwich, NR2 3PD
About 2 km away
Food and takeaways
Mambo Jambos Restaurant
Mexican, south american. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Sa 11:30+; Su 12:00+
14-16 Lower Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EL
Thai Lanna
Thai. restaurant. Hours: Tu-Sa 12:00-15:00,18:00-23:00; Mo 18:00-23:00; Su 17:30-22:30
24 Bridewell Alley, Norwich, NR2 1AQ
Haggle Restaurant
Turkish. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 12:00-01:00
13 Saint Benedicts Street, Norwich, NR2 4PE
Nando's
Chicken, portuguese. restaurant. Hours: Su-Th 11:00-22:30; Fr-Sa 11:00-23:30
23-25 Red Lion Street, Norwich, NR1 3QF
Wagamama
Asian, chinese. restaurant. Hours: Su-We 12:00-22:00; Th-Sa 12:00-23:00
408 Chapelfield Plain, Norwich, NR2 1SZ
The Merchants of Spice
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Su-Th 17:30-23:00; Fr-Sa 17:30-00:00
30-32 Colegate, Norwich, NR3 1BG
Spice Lounge
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su,PH 12:00-14:00,18:00-00:00
8-10 Wensum Street, Norwich, NR3 1HR
The House
Thai. restaurant. Hours: Su-Th 11:00-15:00,17:30-22:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-15:00,17:30-22:30
2 Queens Road, Norwich, NR1 3PR
Ali Tandoori
Indian. restaurant. Hours: 12:00-14:30,18:00-00:00
9-11 Magdalen Street, Norwich, NR3 1LE
Good Food Take Away
Indian. takeaway. Hours: Mo-Su 17:00-23:00
15 St Stephens Road, Norwich, NR1 3SP
Piccolos
Pizza, kebab, chicken. takeaway. Hours: Su-Fr 16:30-13:00; Sa 16:30-00:00
74 Prince of Wales Road, Norwich, NR1 1NJ
Sports and clubs
Wensum Sports Centre
Multi, badminton, squash, table tennis, football, pickleball, fitness, mixed martial arts. Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 07:00-22:00; Sa 08:00-20:00; Su 09:00-17:00
169a King Street, Norwich, NR1 1QH
St Peter Parmentergate Martial Arts Centre
Martial arts. Sports centre
King Street, Norwich, NR1 1PH
The FDC
Soccer. Sports centre
Clover Hill Road, Norwich, NR5 9ED
About 5 km away
The Gym
Fitness centre. Hours: 24/7
6-8 Little London Street, Norwich, NR2 1EA
Daynes Sports Centre
Multi. Sports centre
Saint Faiths Lane, Norwich, NR1 4DH
Phoenix Gym
Fitness centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 06:00-22:00; Sa 09:00-18:00; Su 09:00-15:00
2 Saint Mary's Works, Norwich, NR3 3AF
Quasar
Laser tag. Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 12:00-22:00; Sa 09:00-22:00; Su 10:00-20:00
17,19 St Stephens Road, Norwich, NR1 3SP
Gravity
Trampoline. Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Th 10:00-22:00; Fr 10:00-23:00; Sa-Su 09:00-23:00
Wherry Road, Norwich, NR1 1WZ
Complete Fitness
Fitness centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 06:30-22:00; Sa 08:00-20:00; Su 10:00-15:00
2 Marriott Close, Norwich, NR2 4UX
Fishing spots and tackle shops
Tim's Tackle
Tackle shop, and the place to ask where to fish and about permits
71 Borrowdale Drive, Norwich, NR1 4NS
About 2 km away
Angling Direct
Tackle shop, and the place to ask where to fish and about permits
279 Aylsham Road, Norwich, NR3 2RE
About 2 km away
Days out and things to do
Community and support groups
Harford Community Centre
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-16:00; Sa-Su off
10 Hall Road, Norwich, NR4 6ET
About 2 km away
The Phoenix Centre
Community centre
132A Mile Cross Road, Norwich, NR3 2LD
About 2 km away
231 Squadron Air Cadets
Community centre
Constitution Hill, Norwich, NR6 7RA
About 3 km away
Norman Centre
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-22:00; Sa 10:00-14:00; Su off
Bignold Road, Norwich, NR3 2QZ
About 3 km away
Frere Road Community Centre
Community centre
Frere Road, Norwich, NR7 9UT
About 3 km away
Clover Hill Village Hall
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 08:30-17:00
Humbleyard Norwich, NR5 9BN
About 5 km away
Bawburgh Village Hall
Community centre
Stocks Hill, Norwich, NR9 3LL
About 7 km away
Hethersett Village Hall
Community centre
Back Lane, Norwich, NR9 3JJ
About 8 km away
Charing Cross Centre
Community centre
17-19 Saint John Maddermarket, Norwich, NR2 1DN
The Shoe Box Community Hub
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-17:00
21-23 Castle Meadow, Norwich, NR1 3DH
Barbers and hair specialists
Curly and wavy hair
Hot towel and traditional shaves
Top Style 2 - Traditional Turkish Barber
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-19:00; Su 10:00-17:00
179 Plumstead Road, Norwich, NR1 4AB
About 2 km away
Barbers and salons
Down Town Cuts
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30; Th 12:00+ off; Su closed
Row H, Norwich, NR2 1NE
the den.
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 08:00-17:30; Sa 08:30-16:00; Su off
18b Lower Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EL
Crop Shop
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Tu,Sa 08:00-19:00; We,Fr 08:00-20:00; Th 08:00-21:00; Su 10:00-16:00
5-6 Castle Meadow, Norwich, NR1 3PY
Swagger & Jacks
Hairdresser. Hours: Su-Mo off; Tu-We 08:45-18:00; Th-Fr 08:45-19:00; Sa 08:15-18:00
9-10 Orford Hill, Norwich, NR1 3QD
Green Room Hair Design
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-18:00; Su off
51 Ber Street, Norwich, NR1 3EU
ChilliFlame
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu-Sa 09:00-17:00
141 Magdalen Street, Norwich, NR3 1NF
Solutions Hair Salon
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo,We,Fr 09:00-17:00; Tu,Th 09:00-21:00; Sa 09:00-15:00
Ipswich Road, Norwich, NR2 2LJ
Hair To Impress
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu-We 09:30-17:30; Th 11:00+; Fr 09:30+; Sa 09:00-17:00
2 Saint Johns Close, Norwich, NR1 2AD
About 2 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-19:00; Sa 09:00-19:00 open "Ground floor", Sa 09:00-17:00 open "All areas including ground floor"; Su 10:30-16:30
Millennium Plain, Norwich, NR2 1AW
Plumstead Road Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu,Th 13:00-19:00;We,Fr 10:00-13:00,14:00-17:00;Sa 10:00-15:30
Plumstead Road, Norwich, NR1 4JS
About 2 km away
Earlham Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu-Th 10:00-19:00;Fr 11:00-19:00;Sa 10:00-16:00
Colman Road, Norwich, NR4 7HG
About 2 km away
Tuckswood Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu,Fr 10:00-13:00,14:00-17:00; Sa 10:00-16:00
Robin Hood Road, Norwich, NR4 6BX
About 2 km away
St Williams Way Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,Th,Fr 10:00-13:00,14:00-17:00;Tu 14:00-20:00;Sa 10:00-13:00
Williams Loke, Norwich, NR7 0AJ
About 3 km away
Sprowston Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu 09:00-13:00,14:00-20:00; We-Fr 09:00-13:00,14:00-17:00; Sa 10:00-16:00
Recreation Ground Road, Norwich, NR7 8EW
About 3 km away
West Earlham Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu,Th 09:00-13:00,13:00-18:00; Sa 09:00-13:00
17-18 Earlham West Centre, Norwich, NR5 8AD
About 4 km away
Hellesdon Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 10:00-13:00; Tu-We 10:00-13:00,14:00-17:00; Th 10:00-13:00,14:00-20:00; Fr 10:00-13:00,14:00-17:00; Sa 10:00-13:00
Reepham Road, Broadland, NR6 6UW
About 5 km away
Costessey Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 09:00-13:00,14:00-17:00; Tu 14:00-19:30; We 09:00-13:00,14:00-17:00; Fr 09:00-13:00,14:00-17:00; Sa 09:00-13:00
Breckland Road, Norwich, NR5 0RW
About 5 km away
Mile Cross Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu 14:00-19:30; We,Th,Fr 10:00-17:30; Sa 10:00-13:00
About 2 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 Norwich
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