Settling in · Whitstable
Landing in Whitstable? Start here.
The first fortnight in Whitstable, 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
70 places in Whitstable 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
Whitstable Baptist Church
Christian, Baptist
Middle Wall, Whitstable, CT5 1BJ
Hamilton Road Evangelical Church
Christian, Evangelical
Hamilton Road, Canterbury, CT5 1JX
St Peter's Methodist Church
Christian, Methodist
St. Peter's Street, Canterbury, CT1 2BE
About 9 km away
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Christian, Latter day saints
Forty Acres Road, Canterbury, CT2 7HJ
About 9 km away
St Dunstans Church
Christian, Anglican
St. Dunstan's Street, Canterbury, CT2 8BH
About 9 km away
Mosques and prayer rooms
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Canterbury
About 9 km away
Canterbury Umbrella Centre, 22 St. Peter's Place, Canterbury, Canterbury, CT1 2DB
Worship services: Thu 6:30pm
Iglesia ni Cristo, Southend
About 33 km away
71-73 Elm Road, Leigh-on-Sea, Southend-on-Sea, Leigh-on-Sea, SS9 1SP
Worship services: Tue 7:30pm · Sat 10:00am
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
Food and takeaways
Thai Orchid
Thai. restaurant. Hours: Mo,We-Sa 12:00-22:00;Su 12:00-21:00
82 Middle Wall, Whitstable, CT5 1BN
Ancient Raj
Indian. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Th 12:00-14:00, 18:00-00:00; Fr 18:00-00:00; Sa 12:00-14:00, 18:00-00:00; Su 12:00-00:00
25-26 North Lane, Canterbury, CT2 7EE
About 9 km away
Café des Amis
Mexican. restaurant
93-95 St. Dunstan's Street, Canterbury, CT2 8AD
About 9 km away
Pho
Vietnamese. restaurant. Hours: Mo-Th,Su 12:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 12:00-22:00
45 Burgate, Canterbury, CT1 2HW
About 10 km away
Chom Chom
Indian, chinese, thai, italian. restaurant
10-11 Burgate Lane, Canterbury, CT1 2HH
About 10 km away
Bangkok House
Thai. restaurant. Hours: Mo 17:30-22:00; Tu-We 12:00-14:30, 17:30-22:00; Th-Sa 12:00-14:30, 17:30-23:00; Su 12:00-14:30, 17:30-22:00
13 Church Street, Canterbury, CT1 1NH
About 10 km away
Golden Moon
Chinese. takeaway. Hours: Tu-Su 17:00-23:00
51 Old Bridge Road, Whitstable, CT5 1RD
Sports and clubs
Fighting Lions
Martial arts, fitness. Fitness centre
10-16 Reeves Yard, Whitstable, CT5 1HX
Basketball court
Basketball. Pitch
Tankerton Bay Sailing Club
Sailing. Sport club
Marine Crescent, Whitstable, CT5 2LQ
About 2 km away
The King's School Sports Centre
Sports centre
1 St. Stephen's Road, Canterbury, CT2 7HU
About 9 km away
Canterbury Gymnastics Club
Gymnastics. Sports centre
4 Cotton Road, Canterbury, CT1 3RB
About 10 km away
Days out and things to do
Chimera Climbing
Sports centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-22:00; Sa-Su 08:00-18:00
22 Maynard Road, Canterbury, CT1 3RH
About 10 km away
Community and support groups
Canterbury & District Early Years Project
Community centre. Hours: Mo-Fr 08:00-16:00
11A South Street, Canterbury, CT1 1EA
About 9 km away
Reculver and Beltinge Memorial Hall
Community centre
Reculver Road, Canterbury, CT6 6QR
About 9 km away
Canterbury Umbrella Centre
Community centre
St. Peter's Place, Canterbury, CT1 2DB
About 9 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Hot towel and traditional shaves
Traditional Barber
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-19:00; Su 09:00-16:00
21C Palace Street, Canterbury, CT1 2DZ
About 9 km away
Wincheap Traditional Barbers
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 08:00-17:30; Sa 08:00-17:00
15 Wincheap, Canterbury, CT1 3TB
About 10 km away
Barbers and salons
The Chair
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo 09:00-19:00; Tu-We 09:00-17:00; Th 09:00-20:30; Fr 09:00-18:30; Sa 08:00-16:00; Su 09:00-14:30
3-4 Borough, Canterbury, CT1 2DR
About 9 km away
Coah
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo off;Tu,Th,Fr 09:00-17:30;We 09:00-19:00;Sa 09:00-17:00
81a Castle Street, Canterbury, CT1 2QD
About 10 km away
The Lunatic Fringe
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-We 09:00-18:00; Th-Fr 09:00-20:00; Sa 09:00-17:00
42 St. Margaret's Street, Canterbury, CT1 2TY
About 10 km away
Steven James
Hairdresser
55 Castle Street, Canterbury, CT1 2PY
About 10 km away
Chaps Male Grooming
Hairdresser
20A Lower Bridge Street, Canterbury, CT1 2LG
About 10 km away
Cinemas and libraries
Gulbenkian Cinema
Cinema. Hours: "Hours vary depending on programme"
Library Road, Canterbury, CT2 7NB
About 7 km away
Canterbury Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-We 09:00-18:00; Th 09:00-20:00; Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 09:00-17:00; Su off
18 High Street, Canterbury, CT1 2RA
About 9 km away
Herne Bay Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
High Street, Herne Bay, CT6 5AP
About 7 km away
Templeman Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-21:00; Sa,Su 12:00-18:00
Library Road, Canterbury, CT2 7NU
About 7 km away
Boughton Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
The Street, Borough of Swale, ME13 9BG
About 8 km away
Sturry Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo 13:30-17:00; Tu,Fr 10:00-13:00,14:00-17:00; We 08:45-12:30; Sa 09:00-13:00; Th,Su off
Chafy Crescent, Canterbury, CT2 0AX
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 Whitstable
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