Moving to a new city for a teaching post feels overwhelming at first. You’re settling into a new city, sorting out a flat, figuring out transport, and trying to remember where the nearest Tesco is. (After all, there’s a steep learning curve with every big life change!)
In our experience with hundreds of teacher relocations across London, we’ve noticed that teachers who tackle the admin tasks straight away feel settled much faster than those who put things off. However, OTJROnline connects teachers with schools across the UK while offering practical advice on making your move smoother.
This guide covers everything from tax and healthcare to meeting local friends and choosing the right neighbourhood. Whether you’re moving within the UK or living abroad for the first time, these tips will help you feel at home faster.
Finding Your Feet: First Steps When Settling in a New City
The first week in a new city requires tackling registration, tax updates, and utility setup. Now here’s where it gets tricky: admin tasks pile up faster than you expect when relocating for a teaching post across the UK.
Getting the practical planning sorted straight away prevents last-minute panic before term starts. Here’s what needs your attention first:
Register with Local Services
Registering with a GP early means you avoid long waits when you actually need healthcare. The reason this matters is simple: GP registration takes weeks in most areas, so you’ll want to book appointments immediately after you’ve arrived at your new post. Keep an eye on appointment availability because local practices fill up fast in popular teaching areas.
Plus, council tax registration avoids fines and connects you to local services you’ll need as you settle in. Dentists and opticians also get booked up quickly, so sorting those registrations within your first few weeks saves you hassle down the line.
Sort Out Your Tax Implications
When you move councils or switch regions within the UK, your tax code changes. Your PAYE code needs updating with HMRC to avoid paying the wrong amount from your teaching salary. Yes, you guessed it right: this creates headaches later when sorting refunds if you don’t handle it early.
International teachers moving abroad face different tax implications, depending on the country and the duration of their stay. The key here is timing. HMRC updates take a while, so notify them before your first pay date arrives. What’s more, some teachers forget this step entirely and end up on emergency tax codes for months.
Set Up Your Banking and Bills
Nothing delays settling in like waiting three weeks for broadband installation. Utility transfers require two weeks’ notice in most (annoying, but necessary), so contact providers as soon as you’ve got your move-in date confirmed.
Opening a local bank account speeds up salary payments and direct debits. Most teaching posts pay via BACS transfer, which works faster when you’ve got a UK account sorted. Also, broadband installation takes longer than expected, especially in September when everyone’s moving. Book your installation slot early to avoid the wait.
Where to Live? Choosing the Right Neighbourhood
Living near your school cuts commute time and gives you extra sleep on Monday mornings. Think about it this way: proximity to your school saves both transport cost and daily stress, which matters more than you might expect during busy term weeks. However, rental prices vary wildly between neighbouring postcodes in the same city (it’s more common than you think).
When you’re researching areas, look beyond just the rent figure. Crime rates differ significantly across neighbourhoods, plus school catchment areas affect the local vibe and community feel. Some teachers prefer living in quieter residential areas, while others want to be near the city centre with easier access to shops and food options. What works best depends on your lifestyle and budget.
After narrowing down a few neighbourhoods, visit them at different times. Walk around on a weekday evening and then again on Saturday morning. You’ll get a better sense of what life feels like in each area. Also, check local transport links because even a short distance can mean an extra 30 minutes on your commute if connections are poor.
Getting Around: Transport Options in Your New City
How you get to work affects your budget and daily stress levels more than you think. This is where most people go wrong: they underestimate transport costs when planning their move to a new city. The right choice depends on where you’re living and how far your school is from home.
Considering the following things could be worthy:
- Public transport works well in most UK cities and often offers teacher discounts. Check if your local council provides reduced fares for education staff. Monthly or annual passes usually work out cheaper than paying daily, so that’s worth looking into early.
- Cycling makes sense if you’re close to school and the city has decent infrastructure. That said, cycling options differ massively between London and smaller cities. Some areas have protected bike lanes and secure storage, while others barely have a cycle path.
- Owning a car becomes necessary for rural placements where buses run once an hour (if you’re lucky). In urban areas, though, parking costs and congestion charges make car ownership quite pricey. On top of that, finding affordable parking near your school can be a daily hassle.
Give yourself a few weeks to test different routes before committing to any annual passes or buying a car. Your commute shapes your daily routine more than almost anything else, so it’s worth getting right from the start.
How Do You Meet People as a Teacher?
Once you’ve sorted the practical stuff, building a social life becomes the priority. Look, making friends in a new city takes effort beyond work interactions, but teaching communities naturally form when you show up and get involved.
We’ve found through working with relocating teachers that social connections combat loneliness during your first term and help you feel settled faster. Don’t worry, though. There are plenty of ways to meet people, both through your school and beyond.
Let’s walk through the easiest options:
Connect Through Your School
Your staffroom offers built-in friendships with people who understand term-time exhaustion. When you chat with colleagues during break, you’re meeting people who share your schedule, which means planning weekend activities becomes straightforward rather than a logistical nightmare.
The thing is, school social events happen regularly, especially during induction periods when multiple new teachers join at once. Attending these gatherings (even when you’re tired) gives you face time with colleagues outside the classroom, which helps build genuine friendships faster than quick staffroom hellos.
Mentors and department heads often introduce newcomers to local running clubs, quiz nights, or weekend football matches. Don’t be shy about asking for recommendations because these introductions skip the awkward “how do I meet people” phase entirely.
Join Local Groups and Activities
Well, joining local groups outside school helps you meet people beyond the education bubble. Sports clubs welcome new members throughout the year, and most cities have dedicated communities for everything from rock climbing to pottery. Building relationships outside work means you’ll have friends who don’t want to discuss Ofsted reports over Sunday brunch.
Volunteering at or community gardens connects you to people who live in your neighbourhood. You’ll learn about hidden gems in your area (the best bakery, the quiet park, the decent Thai place) from people who’ve lived there for years.
Our suggestion is simple: try apps like or local to find book clubs, language exchanges, or exercise classes near you. Showing up to the same yoga class every Thursday means you’ll start recognising faces, which naturally leads to post-class coffee and actual friendships.
Moving Abroad vs. Moving Within the UK
International moves require more paperwork, but domestic relocations still need careful planning. When push comes to shove, both involve similar challenges around settling in, though the admin side looks quite different.
| Aspect | Moving Within the UK | Moving Abroad |
| Paperwork | Council tax, GP registration, utilities | Visa applications, work permits, residency documents |
| Healthcare | NHS registration (free at point of use) | Private insurance or foreign healthcare systems |
| Tax | PAYE code update with HMRC | Tax implications vary by country, possible dual taxation |
| Timeline | Can settle within 2-3 weeks | Visa processing adds 2-3 months to planning |
| Cost | Removals and deposits | Flights, shipping, and immigration fees on top of the moving cost |
Moving within the UK means you’re already familiar with how things work, from opening bank accounts to understanding council services. The process feels less complex because you know the language, the culture, and how to navigate everyday tasks like setting up broadband or registering with a GP.
Living abroad adds layers of complexity beyond just the visa paperwork. You’re adapting to a new healthcare system, figuring out different tax rules, and possibly dealing with language barriers when sorting utilities. Many countries require proof of income, background checks, and health certificates before they’ll even process your work permit.
That said, moving abroad often comes with better support networks because schools know international teachers need extra help settling in. Most international schools assign a relocation coordinator who handles housing, banking, and local registration on your behalf, which takes significant stress off your plate during those first chaotic weeks.
Managing Homesickness and Culture Shock
Even moving from Manchester to Brighton can trigger unexpected during half-term. And here’s the thing: missing home hits hardest during holidays and school breaks when you’ve got time to think (we’ve all been there).
Culture shock affects teachers moving between regions, not just those living abroad in a different country. The pace of life changes, local slang sounds foreign, and simple tasks like finding decent coffee suddenly feel complicated. This is perfectly normal and usually peaks around the three-month mark.
Wondering what actually helps? Small routines:
- Saturday morning at the local market
- Tuesday evening gym or yoga class
- Weekly phone call with family back home
- One new restaurant each week
- Sunday walks exploring your neighbourhood
When you’ve got regular touchpoints in your week, your new city starts feeling less temporary and more like your actual home.
Stay connected with family back home, but don’t spend every evening on video calls. You need time to build your new life while keeping those important relationships going.
Since you’re experiencing something many others have been through, join local expat groups or teaching communities where people understand the adjustment process.
Your Fresh Start Awaits
You’ve got the practical steps and social strategies to make your move work. Settling into a new city takes patience, but it gets easier each week as you build routines, meet people, and figure out which bus actually shows up on time.
The support systems exist if you need them. OTJR connects teachers with schools across the UK while helping you navigate the relocation process from start to finish. Your new school community will welcome you, and local groups are waiting for new members.
Your teaching career benefits from experiencing different cities and schools. Each move teaches you something new about adapting, building relationships, and finding your feet in unfamiliar places. This is your fresh start, and you’re more prepared for it than you think.
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