Settling in · St Michaels
Landing in St Michaels? Start here.
The first fortnight in St Michaels, 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
76 places in St Michaels 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 Patrick's Roman Catholic Church
Christian, Roman catholic
Arthurstone Terrace, Dundee, DD4 6RW
About 9 km away
Dundee Quakers Meeting House
Christian, Quaker
7-9 Whitehall Crescent, Dundee, DD1 4AR
About 8 km away
Dundee Westgait
Christian, Church of scotland
130 Perth Road, Dundee, DD1 4JW
About 8 km away
St Mary's Newport-on-Tay
Christian, Scottish episcopal
High Street, Newport-on-Tay, DD6 8DA
About 5 km away
Wormit Parish Church
Christian, Church of scotland
52 Riverside Road, Newport-on-Tay, DD6 8LL
About 6 km away
St Fillan's RC Church
Christian, Roman catholic
18 King Street, Newport-on-Tay, DD6 8BJ
About 6 km away
St Margaret of Scotland Episcopal Church
Christian, Scottish episcopal
Queen Street, Tayport, DD6 9JZ
About 6 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
The nearest Iglesia ni Cristo to St Michaels
Iglesia ni Cristo, Edinburgh
About 51 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 113 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 179 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
Wagamama
Asian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Su 11:00-22:00
13 Whitehall Street, Dundee, DD1 4AA
About 8 km away
Gidi Grill
African, caribbean, west african. restaurant. Hours: Tu-Th 12:00-22:00; Fr,Sa 12:00-22:30; Su 13:00-22:00
6-7 City Square, Dundee, DD1 3BA
About 8 km away
Manchurian
Chinese. restaurant
15a Gellatly Street, Dundee, DD1 3DY
About 8 km away
Mandarin Garden
Chinese. restaurant. Hours: Th-Tu 12:00-22:00; We off
40-44 South Tay Street, Dundee, DD1 1PF
About 8 km away
Babujee
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Th 12:30-15:00, 17:00-23:00; Fr-Su 12:30-23:00
204 Perth Road, Dundee, DD1 4JY
About 9 km away
Balaka
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Th 12:00-13:30,17:30-23:00; Fr-Sa 15:00-24:00; Su 17:00-23:00
123 Perth Road, Dundee, DD1 4JD
About 9 km away
Rishi's
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Th 12:00-15:00,17:00-23:00; Fr-Sa 12:00-23:00; Su 12:00-22:00
11 Hawkhill, Dundee, DD1 5DL
About 9 km away
Tulsi
Indian. restaurant
62 Market Street, St Andrews, KY16 9NT
About 9 km away
Mirch Masala
Pakistani. restaurant. Hours: 16:00-23:00
5 Hawkhill, Dundee, DD1 5GP
About 9 km away
Nando's
Chicken, portuguese. restaurant
73 Market Street, St Andrews, KY16 9NU
About 9 km away
Sports and clubs
Olympia
Swimming. Sports centre
3 East Whale Lane, Dundee, DD1 3JU
About 9 km away
Sport and Active Health
Fitness, running, cycling, athletics, squash. Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 07:00-21:30; Sa-Su 08:30-17:30
Old Hawkhill, Dundee, DD1 4HD
About 9 km away
Mayfield Sports Centre
Multi. Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 18:00-22:00; Sa-Su 09:00-19:00
193 Arbroath Road, Dundee, DD4 7HS
About 9 km away
Wormit & Newport Tennis Club
Tennis. Sports centre
11 Bay Road, Newport-on-Tay, DD6 8LU
About 6 km away
Wild Shore Dundee
Water sports. Sports centre
West Victoria Dock Road, Dundee, DD1 3JP
About 8 km away
Hatha Vidya Traditional Yoga School
Yoga. Fitness centre
Sports Centre, Gardyne Road, Dundee, DD5 1NH
About 9 km away
Days out and things to do
Avertical World
Sports centre. Hours: Mo-We 11:00-22:00; Th-Fr 08:30-22:00; Sa-Su 10:00-19:00
Blinshall Street, Dundee, DD1 5DF
About 9 km away
Bloc10 Bouldering
Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-22:00; Sa 08:30-22:00; Su 09:00-18:00
North Isla Street, Dundee, DD3 7JQ
About 10 km away
Community and support groups
The Larick Centre
Community centre
Shanwell Road, Tayport, DD6 9EA
About 6 km away
Dundee International Women's Centre
Community centre
Unit 9, Manhattan Business Park, Dundonald Street, Dundee, DD3 7PY
About 9 km away
Rio Community Centre
Community centre
St Mary's Lane, Newport-on-Tay, DD6 8AH
About 6 km away
Blyth Hall
Community centre. Hours: Mo,Fr 10:00-17:00; Tu 10:00-14:00; Fr 10:00-17:00; Sa 10:00-13:00
Scott Street, Newport-on-Tay, DD6 8DD
About 5 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Hot towel and traditional shaves
Barbers and salons
Hard Grind
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-We 10:00-18:00; Th 10:00-20:00; Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 09:00-15:00; Su off
12 Exchange Street, Dundee, DD1 3DL
About 8 km away
Spoiled Hairdressing
Hairdresser
9 North Street, St Andrews, KY16 9HH
About 9 km away
Gary Wightman Hairdressing Salon
Hairdresser
65-67 Constitution Road, Dundee, DD1 1LA
About 9 km away
R+R Studios
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-We 09:00-18:00; Th 09:00-20:00; Fr 09:00-19:00; Sa 09:00-16:00; Su off
12 Union Street, Dundee, DD1 4BH
About 8 km away
St Andrews Hair Co
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-19:00; Su 10:00-17:00
91 Market Street, St Andrews, KY16 9NX
About 9 km away
O'Hair
Hairdresser. Hours: We,Th 09:00-21:00; Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 09:00-16:00
218 Blackness Road, Dundee, DD2 1RG
About 9 km away
A Class Barbers
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-We,Fr 08:30-18:00; Th 08:30-19:00; Sa 08:00-18:00; Su 10:30-17:00
Union Street, Dundee, DD1 4BH
About 8 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Dundee Contemporary Arts
Cinema. Hours: Mo-Su 10:00-00:00
152 Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4DY
About 8 km away
Library & Learning Centre
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Su 08:00-02:00; Dec 25 00:00-02:00; Dec 26 off; Dec 27 08:00-02:00; Dec 31 00:00-02:00; Jan 01 off; Jan 02 08:00-02:00
Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4HN
About 8 km away
DJCAD Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-17:00
Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4HN
About 9 km away
Dundee and Angus College Gardyne Campus Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 08:30-16:30
Gardyne Road, Dundee, DD5 1NY
About 9 km away
New Picture House
Cinema
117 North Street, St Andrews, KY16 9AD
About 9 km away
Arthurstone Community Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 09:00-13:00 || Mo 14:00-19:00; Tu 09:00-13:00 || Tu 14:00-17:30; We 10:00-13:00 || We 14:00-17:30; Th 09:00-13:00; Fr 09:00-13:00 || Fr 14:00-17:30; Sa 09:00-13:00
5 Arthurstone Terrace, Dundee, DD4 6RT
About 9 km away
Dundee Central Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Dundee DD1 1DB
About 9 km away
Bernard King Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Bell Street, Dundee, DD1 1HG
About 9 km away
Blackness Community Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 09:00-19:00; Tu, Fr 09:00-17:30; We 10:00-17:30; Th, Sa 09:00-13:00
225 Perth Road, Dundee, DD2 1EJ
About 9 km away
Shaikh Hamdan Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-20:00
124 Blackness Road, Dundee, DD1 5PE
About 9 km away
Newport Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,Fr 10:00-17:00; Tu 10:00-14:00; Fr 10:00-17:00; Sa 10:00-13:00
Scott Street, Newport-on-Tay, DD6 8DD
About 5 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 St Michaels
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