Settling in · Queensferry
Landing in Queensferry? Start here.
The first fortnight in Queensferry, 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
79 places in Queensferry 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 Thomas' Church
Christian, Anglican
75-79 Glasgow Road, Edinburgh, EH12 8LJ
About 8 km away
Kirkliston Parish Church of Scotland
Christian, Church of scotland
High Street, Kirkliston, EH29 9AY
About 4 km away
St Andrew’s Church Clermiston
Christian, Church of scotland
Clermiston View, City of Edinburgh, EH4 7BS
About 8 km away
The Old Kirk & Muirhouse Parish Church
Christian, Church of scotland
42 Pennywell Gardens, City of Edinburgh, EH4 4PE
About 9 km away
Dunfermline Abbey
Christian, Church of scotland. Hours: Mar 29-Sep 30 Mo-Sa 10:00-16:30, Su 13:00-16:00; Tu-Sa 10:00-16:00; Dec 25-Jan 05 off
St Catherine's Wynd, Dunfermline, KY12 7PH
About 10 km away
North Queensferry Parish Church
Christian, Church of scotland
Ferryhills Road, North Queensferry, KY11 1HE
About 3 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Blackhall Mosque
Muslim
1 House O' Hill Road, City of Edinburgh, EH4 2AJ
About 10 km away
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Edinburgh
About 12 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
Polish Shop Domino
Supermarket. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:30-12:00; Sa 09:30-12:00; Su 11:00-12:00
31 Allan Crescent, Dunfermline, KY11 4HE
About 9 km away
Food and takeaways
Graziano's
Fish and chips, kebab, pasta, pizza. takeaway. Hours: Mo-Su 16:00-22:30
2 Hopetoun Road, South Queensferry, EH30 9RA
Panas
Indian, nepalese. restaurant. Hours: Tu-Th 16:00-20:30; Fr-Sa 16:00-21:00; Su 15:00-20:00
170 Queensferry Road, Rosyth, KY11 2JF
About 6 km away
Peony Inn
Chinese. restaurant. Hours: Su-Th 16:30-22:30; Fr,Sa 16:30-23:00
Central Way, Dalgety Bay, KY11 9JJ
About 7 km away
Chilli Waves
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Su-Th 16:00-23:00, Fr,Sa 16:00-24:00
55 The Loan, South Queensferry, EH30 9SD
Sports and clubs
World of Football
Soccer. Sports centre
25 Marine Drive, City of Edinburgh, EH4 5EJ
About 9 km away
Sport & Wellbeing Hub
Swimming, fitness, badminton. Sports centre
Linlithgow Road, Winchburgh, EH52 6PX
About 5 km away
Longcraig Scout Centre
Sailing. Sports centre
B924 City of Edinburgh, EH30 9TS
About 2 km away
Dalgety Bay Sports & Leisure Centre
Sports centre
Harbour Drive, Rosyth, KY11 9NA
About 6 km away
Lost Shore Surf Resort
Surfing. Sports centre. Hours: 08:00-23:00
11 Greenstone Loan, City of Edinburgh, EH28 8AY
About 8 km away
Future Gym
Fitness centre
Fishing spots and tackle shops
The Fresh Fish Place
Tackle shop, and the place to ask where to fish and about permits
About 9 km away
Days out and things to do
Xtreme Karting Edinburgh
Sports centre
2 Huly Hill Road, City of Edinburgh, EH28 8PH
About 6 km away
Edinburgh International Climbing Arena
Sports centre. Hours: Mo,We,Fr 09:00-21:00; Tu,Th 09:00-22:00; Sa-Su 09:00-18:00
Union Canal Towpath, City of Edinburgh, EH28 8AA
About 7 km away
Community and support groups
EATS Rosyth
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-17:00
115 Queensferry Road, Rosyth, KY11 2PS
About 6 km away
Corstorphine Community Centre
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-15:00
5 Kirk Loan, Edinburgh, EH12 7HD
About 9 km away
21st Craigalmond (South Queensferry) Scout Group
Community centre
Port Edgar Marine, South Queensferry, EH30 9SQ
Newton Community Centre
Community centre
26 Duddingston Crescent, Broxburn, EH52 6QG
About 3 km away
30th Craigalmond (Davidson's Mains) Scout Group
Community centre
24 Quality Street Lane, City of Edinburgh, EH4 5BU
About 9 km away
Abbeyview Community Hub
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-21:30; Sa 09:00-16:00
Abbey View, Dunfermline, KY11 4HA
About 9 km away
114th Fife (Linburn) Scout Group
Community centre
Abbey View, Dunfermline, KY11 4HA
About 9 km away
North Queensferry Community Centre
Community centre
Brock Street, North Queensferry, KY11 1JF
About 3 km away
Ballast Bank Community Leisure Centre
Community centre
Preston Crescent, Inverkeithing, KY11 1DS
About 5 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Hot towel and traditional shaves
Barbers and salons
Ashley Clarke Signature Salon
Hairdresser
16 West Terrace, South Queensferry, EH30 9LL
Salon 13
Hairdresser. Hours: We 10:00-16:00; Th 12:00-20:00; Fr 10:00-18:00; Sa 09:00-16:00; Su 12:00-16:00
249A St John's Road, Edinburgh, EH12 7XD
About 9 km away
Campbell Young
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-17:00
4 Strachan Road, City of Edinburgh, EH4 3RE
About 10 km away
Sheds
Hairdresser
26-28 Guildhall Street, Dunfermline, KY12 7NS
About 10 km away
Vibe Hair Styling
Hairdresser
18 Guildhall Street, Dunfermline, KY12 7NS
About 10 km away
Barocco Hair Salon
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-18:00; Th 09:00-19:30; Sa 09:00-16:30
60 Corstorphine High Street, City of Edinburgh, EH12 7SY
About 9 km away
Sher Hair and Beauty
Hairdresser
5 Clermiston Road, City of Edinburgh, EH12 6XQ
About 9 km away
Cinemas and libraries
The Lex Davidson Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Tu 08:30-17:00, Th 08:30-19:00, Fr 08:30-16:00, Sa 10:00-13:00, We, Su Closed
West Main Street, Broxburn, EH52 6JQ
About 8 km away
Corstorphine Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
12 Kirk Loan, Edinburgh, EH12 7HD
About 9 km away
Ratho Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
6 School Wynd, City of Edinburgh, EH28 8TT
About 7 km away
Muirhouse Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-We 10:00-20:00; Th-Su 10:00-17:00
MacMillan Square, City of Edinburgh, EH4 4AB
About 10 km away
Aberdour Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 14:00-19:00; We,Sa 10:00-13:00; Th 14:00-17:00
9 Shore Road, Aberdour, KY3 0TR
About 10 km away
Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,Tu,We,Fr 10:00-17:00; Th 10:00-18:00; Sa 10:00-16:00; Su 12:00-16:00
About 10 km away
Kirkliston Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 13:00-20:00; Tu 10:00-17:00; We 13:00-20:00; Th-Sa 10:00-17:00
16 Station Road, Kirkliston, EH29 9BE
About 4 km away
South Queensferry Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Inverkeithing Library and Heritage Centre
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-17:00
10 Queen Street, Inverkeithing, KY11 1PA
About 5 km away
Rosyth Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-We 10:00-12:30, 13:30-17:00; Th 11:00-12:30,13:30-19:00; Sa 10:00-14:00
Parkgate Rosyth, KY11 2JW
About 6 km away
Dalgety Bay Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu,We,Fr 10:00-12:30,13:30-17:00; Th 11:00-12:30,13:30-19:00; Sa 10:00-14:00
Carrick Drive, Rosyth, KY11 9UY
About 6 km away
The Drumbrae Library Hub
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Drum Brae Drive, City of Edinburgh, EH4 7SH
About 8 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 Queensferry
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