Settling in · Roslin
Landing in Roslin? Start here.
The first fortnight in Roslin, 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
83 places in Roslin 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
Hyvots Bank church of Christ
Christian
48A Gilmerton Dykes Drive, City of Edinburgh, EH17 8LB
About 5 km away
Polwarth Church
Christian, Church of scotland
36-38 Polwarth Terrace, Edinburgh
About 9 km away
St Cuthberts Church
Christian
Slateford Road, City of Edinburgh, EH14 1PW
About 9 km away
Salvation Army Church
Christian, Salvation army
431 Gorgie Road, City of Edinburgh, EH11 2RT
About 10 km away
The Salvation Army
Christian, Salvation army
1 East Adam Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9TF
About 10 km away
Orthodox Community of St Andrew
Christian, Orthodox
James Gall Wynd, City of Edinburgh, EH9 2DH
About 8 km away
Priestfield Parish Church
Christian, Church of scotland
Marchhall Place, City of Edinburgh, EH16 5HW
About 9 km away
Saint Catherine's Argyle
Christian, Scottish episcopal
Lover's Loan, City of Edinburgh, EH9 2JD
About 9 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Polwarth Mosque
Muslim
8-10 Temple Park Crescent, City of Edinburgh, EH11 1HT
About 10 km away
Dar Al-Arqam
Muslim
Lauriston Gardens, City of Edinburgh, EH3 9HH
About 10 km away
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Edinburgh
About 13 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
Worx24
Computer
30-32 Bridge Road, City of Edinburgh, EH13 0LQ
About 8 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 10 km away
Oriental Supermarket
Convenience. Hours: Mo-Su 10:00-21:00
125 Lauriston Place, Edinburgh, EH3 9JN
About 10 km away
Spice of Asia
Convenience. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-21:00; Su 10:00-20:00
398 Gorgie Road, Edinburgh, EH11 2BF
About 10 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
About 10 km away
Food and takeaways
Pataka
Indian. restaurant
190 Causewayside, City of Edinburgh, EH9 1PN
About 9 km away
Taste Good
Chinese. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 16:30-00:00
65-71 Slateford Road, Edinburgh, EH11 1PR
About 9 km away
Tanjore
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 12:00-22:00
6-8 Clerk Street, City of Edinburgh, EH8 9HX
About 9 km away
Chaskaa
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Tu-Th 14:00-20:00; Fr,Sa 13:00-22:30; Su 14:00-22:00
30-32 Leven Street, City of Edinburgh, EH3 9LJ
About 10 km away
Kismot
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo,We-Su 16:30-23:30
29 St Leonard's Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9QN
About 10 km away
Kalpna
Indian. restaurant. Hours: 12:00-14:30,17:30-22:30
2-3 St Patrick Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9EZ
About 10 km away
Thai2go
Thai. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 12:00-22:00
201 Pleasance, City of Edinburgh, EH8 9RU
About 10 km away
Namaste Kathmandu
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 12:00-22:30
17-19 Forrest Road, Edinburgh, EH1 2QH
About 10 km away
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
About 10 km away
Xuzhou Ground Pot
Chinese. restaurant
41 West Preston Street, City of Edinburgh, EH8 9PY
About 9 km away
Namaste India
Indian. restaurant
109 Slateford Road, City of Edinburgh, EH11 1QY
About 9 km away
Dragon 川府阁
Chinese, korean. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Fr 12:00-15:00,16:30-23:00; Sa,Su,PH 12:00-23:00
167-171 Dundee Street, City of Edinburgh, EH11 1BY
About 10 km away
Sports and clubs
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 5 km away
Inch Park Community Sports Centre
Rugby, football, cricket. Sports centre
Gilmerton Road, City of Edinburgh, EH16 5QX
About 7 km away
The Crags Centre
Basketball. Sports centre
10 Bowmont Place, City of Edinburgh, EH8 9RY
About 10 km away
Warrender Swim Centre
Swimming. Fitness centre. Hours: Mo-Th 07:00-21:00; Fr 07:00-22:00; Sa 08:00-17:00; Su 09:00-18:00
55 Thirlestane Road, Edinburgh, EH9 1AP
About 9 km away
Edinburgh Iyengar Yoga Centre
Yoga. Fitness centre. Hours: Open for classes
195 Bruntsfield Place, Edinburgh, EH10 4DQ
About 9 km away
Royal Commonwealth Pool
Swimming. Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 05:30-22:00; Sa 05:30-20:00; Su 07:30-20:00
21 Dalkeith Road, Edinburgh, EH16 5BB
About 9 km away
Meadows Tennis
Tennis. Sports centre
Ascham Court, City of Edinburgh, EH8 9LQ
About 9 km away
PureGym
Fitness centre. Hours: 24/7
15 Lauriston Place, Edinburgh, EH3 9EN
About 10 km away
Han Wong Tae Kwon Do Academy
Taekwondo. Sports centre
9 Thornybauk, City of Edinburgh, EH3 9QH
About 10 km away
Driving schools
RSD Edinburgh Driving School
Driving school
Liberton Place, City of Edinburgh, EH16 6JR
About 6 km away
Community and support groups
Prestonfield Neighbourhood Centre
Community centre
63 Prestonfield Avenue, Edinburgh
About 8 km away
Columcille Centre
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-17:00
2 Newbattle Terrace, Edinburgh, EH10 4RT
About 9 km away
Salisbury Centre
Community centre
Salisbury Road, City of Edinburgh, EH16 5AA
About 9 km away
The Venchie Centre
Community centre
61 Niddrie Mains Terrace, City of Edinburgh, EH16 4NX
About 9 km away
Nelson Hall Community Centre
Community centre
5 Spittalfield Crescent, Edinburgh, EH8 9QZ
About 9 km away
youthagency
Community centre
44 Dumbryden Drive, Dumbryden Grove, City of Edinburgh, EH14 2QR
About 10 km away
Pregnancy and Parents Centre
Community centre
188 Pleasance, Edinburgh, EH8 9RT
About 10 km away
Southside Community Centre
Community centre
117 Nicolson Street, City of Edinburgh, EH8 9ER
About 10 km away
Valley Park Community Centre
Community centre
Southhouse Road, City of Edinburgh, EH17 8EZ
About 5 km away
Goodtrees Neighbourhood Centre
Community centre
5 Moredunvale Place, City of Edinburgh, EH17 7LA
About 7 km away
Danderhall Community Hub
Community centre
Edmonstone Road, Danderhall, EH22 1QW
About 7 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Barbers and salons
Chad's
Hairdresser
3 Oxgangs Broadway, City of Edinburgh, EH13 9LQ
About 6 km away
Jaxx: Hairdressers and Barbers
Hairdresser
92 Mayfield Road, City of Edinburgh, EH9 3AE
About 8 km away
Efendi
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu-Fr 10:00-13:00,14:00-19:00; Sa 09:00-14:00
59A Mayfield Road, Edinburgh
About 8 km away
SisCo
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu-We 10:00-18:00; We 10:00-20:00; Fr 10:00-18:00; Sa 09:00-16:00
225 Morningside Road, Edinburgh, EH10 4QT
About 8 km away
Duke's Barbers
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 08:30-17:00
123 Marchmont Road, Edinburgh
About 9 km away
Babu
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu,We,Fr 09:00-18:00; Th 10:00-20:00; Sa 09:00-17:00
104 Marchmont Crescent, Edinburgh, EH9 1HD
About 9 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 9 km away
McKensie Knight Hairdressing
Hairdresser. Hours: Tu-Sa 10:00-18:00
94 South Clerk Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9PT
About 9 km away
Cinemas and libraries
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 8 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 8 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 9 km away
Edinburgh Napier Merchiston Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
10 Colinton Road, Edinburgh, EH10 5DT
About 9 km away
Edinburgh University Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: 24/7
30 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9LJ
About 10 km away
ODEON MULTIPLEX CINEMA
Cinema
120 Wester Hailes Road, City of Edinburgh, EH14 3HR
About 10 km away
Currie Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu, Th-Sa 10:00-17:00; Mo, We 13:00-20:00
210 Lanark Road West, City of Edinburgh, EH14 5NX
About 10 km away
Oxgangs Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-We 10:00-20:00; Th-Sa 10:00-17:00
Oxgangs Road North, City of Edinburgh, EH13 9NE
About 6 km away
Colinton Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
14 Thorburn Road, City of Edinburgh, EH13 0BQ
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 Roslin
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