Durham is a beautiful city located in northeast England, south of Newcastle upon Tyne. As you prepare to move to Durham, or have just landed, TTM Healthcare Solutions international division has put together this information on the local area, as well as links to additional resources to help you best settle into the area.
Things to do in Durham
Durham is a city in northeast England, south of Newcastle upon Tyne. The River Wear loops around the Romanesque Durham Cathedral and Norman Durham Castle. North of the castle, 13th-century, medieval Crook Hall is home to gardens and a maze. South of the river, Durham University offers a Botanic Garden with woodland and tropical plants, and the Oriental Museum exhibiting Asian, Egyptian and Middle Eastern artefacts.
Find out more about the many different things to do in Durham at the links below:
• www.thisisdurham.com/things-to-do
• www.thisisdurham.com/visitor-information/getting-around
Banking & the Cost of Living in Durham
The local currency in England is pound sterling (£/GBP). Local shops will not accept Euro, or other currencies. Please be mindful of this when you first arrive in Durham.
When you first arrive to the UK you will need to set-up a bank account. To find out the locations of local bank branches and their contact information click this link: www.bankpoint.co.uk/banks/county-durham
You can access a list of local post offices at this link: www.postoffice.co.uk/branch-finder/0113131/durham
You can find out more about the cost of living in Durham at this link: www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Durham-United-Kingdom
How to Get Medical Care
You will need to register with a doctor – known as a GP – as soon as possible, especially if you are taking medication that needs a prescription. Your GP will be able to treat most illnesses but may refer you to a hospital if you require tests or if your medical condition is more serious.
You will not need to pay to see a doctor as this is covered by the National Insurance contributions you make which will be deducted from your salary. You will need to visit the nearest GP and ask to join as a patient. Be sure to have these documents with you:
• Your passport/VISA
• Your BRP Card
• Your Tenancy Agreement (the signed copy of your tenancy agreement for Trust accommodation or private rental accommodation)
• A Bank Statement OR utility bill (letter from your copy showing your current address) OR a letter from HC-One confirming your employment and address.
It can take 2-3 weeks to register you as a new patient so please apply at the GP during your first week in the country.
Renting and Buying in Durham
You can view properties which are available to rent or buy on www.rightmove.co.ukor www.zoopla.co.uk.
The following link is also very useful for finding accommodation in the area short term/long term: www.spareroom.co.uk
Public Transport in Durham
When you first arrive in Durham, we encourage you to familiarise yourself with the local public transport infrastructure.
The cost of any journey will be determined by the length of the journey. When using bus or train, if you are planning a return journey it is cheaper to buy a return ticket at the start of your journey.
You can find out more about local bus and train transport at this link: www.durham.gov.uk/publictransport
Local Education
If you are planning on bringing your family with you to move to Durham, then you will be able to enrol your children in a local school, usually FREE of charge.
You can find a list of local schools at this link: www.durham.gov.uk/article/4526/A-to-Z-of-schools
Places of Worship
As a multi-cultural area, you will find a convenient spiritual home or place of worship in your area.
Click this link to view a list of places of worship in Durham: www.yell.com/s/places+of+worship-durham.html
