Settling in · Shipdham
Landing in Shipdham? Start here.
The first fortnight in Shipdham, 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
60 places in Shipdham 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
Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart and Saint Margaret Mary
Christian, Catholic
35 London Road, Breckland District, NR19 1AS
About 6 km away
The Salvation Army - Dereham
Christian, Salvation army
3 Saint Nicholas Street, Dereham, NR19 2BS
About 7 km away
Saint Peter and Saint Paul
Christian, Anglican
Dereham Road, Breckland District, NR19 2PE
About 5 km away
Dereham Baptist Church
Christian, Baptist
21 Norwich Street, Dereham, NR19 1BX
About 7 km away
Saint Andrew's Church
Christian, Anglican
Church Road, Breckland District, IP25 7DR
About 7 km away
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses
Christian, Jehovahs witness
Norwich Road, Breckland District, NR20 3PX
About 8 km away
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Watton
About 11 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)
Iglesia ni Cristo, Norwich
About 30 km away
Frettenham Village hall, Church road, Norwich, NR12 7NN, England
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
Food and takeaways
Rani's Indian Dining and Bar
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 09:00-18:00
Norwich Road, Breckland District, NR19 1RP
About 6 km away
Rising Noodle
Chinese. takeaway
17 Market Place, Dereham, NR19 2AL
About 7 km away
Great China
Chinese. restaurant. Hours: Mo 17:00-23:00; We-Su 17:00-23:00
2 Middle Street, Breckland District, IP25 6AG
About 8 km away
Sports and clubs
New Revolution Health & Fitness Club
Fitness centre
12 Norwich Street, Dereham, NR19 1BX
About 7 km away
Watton Sports Association & Social Club
Sports centre
Dereham Road, Breckland District, IP25 6EZ
About 7 km away
Old Hall Leisure Centre
Sports centre
Cressingham Road, Breckland District, IP25 7BZ
About 8 km away
Community and support groups
Toftwood Social Club
Community centre. Hours: Mo-We 19:00-23:00; Th 13:00-15:00,19:00-23:00; Fr 13:00-15:00,19:00-23:45; Sa 12:00-15:00,19:00-23:45; Su 12:00-22:30
Shipdham Road, Breckland District, NR19 1AH
About 5 km away
Yaxham Village Hall
Community centre
Norwich Road, Breckland District, NR19 1RJ
About 6 km away
Garvestone and Thuxton Village Hall
Community centre
Dereham Road, Breckland District, NR9 4AD
About 6 km away
Dereham Meeting Point
Community centre
St Withburga Lane, Breckland District, NR19 1ED
About 7 km away
Dereham Memorial Hall
Community centre
62A Norwich Street, Breckland District, NR19 1AD
About 7 km away
Holme Hale Village Hall
Community centre
School Road, Breckland District, IP25 7DP
About 7 km away
Watton Christian Community Centre
Community centre
57 High Street, Breckland District, IP25 6AB
About 8 km away
Pickenham Community Hub
Community centre
South Pickenham Road, Breckland District, PE37 8DA
About 10 km away
Wells-Cole Community Centre
Community centre
Bell Lane, Breckland District, IP25 7HD
About 8 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Afro hair specialists
Barbers and salons
Practical Magic
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-17:00
66A High Street, Breckland District, IP25 6AH
About 8 km away
J & N Barbers
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-We 08:30-17:00; Fr 08:30-18:00; Sa 08:00-15:00
16A High Street, Breckland District, IP25 6AE
About 8 km away
Cutting Edge Hair Design
Hairdresser
1 The Bull Yard, Breckland District, IP25 6YG
About 8 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Dereham Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 08:00-19:00; Sa 08:00-16:00; Su 10:00-16:00; PH off
59 High Street, Dereham, NR19 1DZ
About 6 km away
Hingham Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu 14:00-19:00;Th 10:00-13:00,14:00-19:00;Sa 10:00-13:00
The Fairland, South Norfolk, NR9 4HW
About 8 km away
Watton Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,Th,Fr 10:00-17:00;We 10:00-19:00;Sa 10:00-13:00
George Trollope Road, Breckland District, IP25 6AS
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 Shipdham
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