Settling in · Peterculter
Landing in Peterculter? Start here.
The first fortnight in Peterculter, 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
52 places in Peterculter 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 Devenick's
Christian, Church of scotland
2 Ballieswells Road, Aberdeen, AB15 9AP
About 5 km away
Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church
Christian, Roman catholic
231 Deeside Gardens, Aberdeen, AB15 7PR
About 8 km away
Northfield Parish Church of Scotland
Christian, Church of scotland
Byron Crescent, Aberdeen, AB16 7EX
About 10 km away
Cults Parish Church
Christian, Presbyterian
Quarry Road, Aberdeen City, AB15 9EX
About 5 km away
Mannofield Parish Church
Christian, Church of scotland
Countesswells Road, Aberdeen City, AB10 6UZ
About 9 km away
South St Nicholas Kincorth Church
Christian, Church of scotland
Kincorth Circle, Aberdeen City, AB12 5NX
About 10 km away
Mastrick Parish Church
Christian, Church of scotland
Greenfern Road, Aberdeen City, AB16 6TR
About 9 km away
Holy Family Church, Aberdeen
Christian, Roman catholic
Deveron Road, Aberdeen City, AB16 6LZ
About 9 km away
The nearest Iglesia ni Cristo to Peterculter
Iglesia ni Cristo, Edinburgh
About 138 km away
RCCG-Edinburgh Tabernacle Hall 41-42 Inverleith Gardens Ferry Road Edinburgh, Scotland EH3 5PR
Worship services: Wed 6:00pm · Sat 11:00am
Iglesia ni Cristo, Glasgow
About 193 km away
White House Hall, 20 Neilson road, Paisley, Scotland, PA2 6LN
Worship services: Tue 6:00pm · Sat 3:00pm (children) · Sat 5:00pm
Iglesia ni Cristo, North Shields
About 238 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
Shops from home
Food and takeaways
Culter Curry House
Indian. restaurant
27 School Road, Aberdeen City, AB14 0TB
Bill's Wok Inn
Chinese. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 16:30-22:30; Tu off
Village Centre, Aberdeen, AB15 8TG
About 7 km away
Sports and clubs
Cults Sports Complex
Badminton, basketball, soccer, swimming. Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 17:00-22:30; Sa-Su 08:30-17:00
Quarry Road, Aberdeen, AB15 9TP
About 5 km away
RGU SPORT
Basketball, climbing, fitness, gymnastics, handball, multi, racquet, soccer, swimming, table tennis, tennis, volleyball. Sports centre
Garthdee Road, Aberdeen City, AB10 7GE
About 8 km away
Battle Grounds Adventure Activities
Shooting range, paintball, archery, laser tag, bubble football, axe throwing, airsoft. Sports centre
B977 Banchory, AB31 5RB
About 10 km away
Westdyke Leisure Centre
Multi. Sports centre
4 Westdyke Avenue, Westhill, AB32 6QU
About 6 km away
Adventure Aberdeen
Sport club. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-16:30
Fairley Road, Kingswells, Aberdeen, AB15 8PZ
About 7 km away
Garthdee Ski Centre
Sports centre
Garthdee Road, Aberdeen City, AB10 7BA
About 9 km away
Driving schools
Community and support groups
Kingswells Community Centre
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-16:15; We 12:45-16:15; Sa 09:00-12:00
Kingswells Avenue, Aberdeen, AB15 8TG
About 7 km away
Varapunya Meditation Centre
Community centre
Mains View, Westhill, AB15 8RD
About 7 km away
Ruthrieston Community Centre
Community centre
532-536 Holburn Street, Aberdeen, AB10 7LL
About 10 km away
Kingswells Village Hall
Community centre
Old Skene Road, Aberdeen, AB15 8QA
About 6 km away
Williamson Family Resource Centre
Community centre
Mastrick Close, Aberdeen City, AB16 6XZ
About 9 km away
Northfield Community Centre
Community centre. Hours: 09:00-17:00
Byron Square, Aberdeen, AB16 7LL
About 10 km away
Maryculter Community Hall (Corbie Hall and Field)
Community centre
B9077 Aberdeen City, AB12 5FX
About 2 km away
Airyhall Community Centre
Community centre
Springfield Road, Aberdeen City, AB15 8AD
About 8 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Barbers and salons
A & G Hair Design
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 09:00-13:00
31 Ramsay Crescent, Aberdeen
About 8 km away
Aha Barber
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 08:00-17:00; Su 10:00-16:00
4 Greenfern Place, AB16 6JR
About 9 km away
Cutting Edge Hairstylists
Hairdresser
1 Stockethill Crescent, Aberdeen City, AB16 5TT
About 10 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Airyhall Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,We 09:00-19:00; Tu,Th-Fr 09:00-17:00; Sa 10:00-13:00,14:00-17:00; PH off
Springfield Road, Aberdeen, AB15 7RF
About 8 km away
Mastrick Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-16:45; Sa 10:00-12:45
Greenfern Road, Aberdeen, AB16 6TR
About 9 km away
Northfield Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Byron Square, Aberdeen City, AB16 7LL
About 10 km away
Peterculter Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
North Deeside Road, Peterculter, AB14 0UJ
Cults Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
North Deeside Road, Aberdeen City, AB15 9SX
About 6 km away
Westhill Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Westhill Drive, Westhill, AB32 6FY
About 7 km away
University Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Riverside Path, Aberdeen City, AB10 7GJ
About 8 km away
Portlethen Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Bruntland Road, Portlethen, AB12 4SS
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 Peterculter
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