I guess I could be a bit flexible on the budget. I'd be looking for the whole shabang... bike, lights, hat... all that sort of gubbins so was guessing £250 -300 for a bike and perhaps £50 - 100 for all the bits and pieces? Not ridden a bike since living in Holland for a year in 1996/97... Lots of bike riding on a rather antiquated looking thing with back peddle breaking!
It sounds like a hybrid bike is probably more practical... but then I might not be able to hang out with the cool kids as they would laugh at my bike
How do they cope if going off road? The new house is in lots of farm land which would be good to explore, also 'the heath' and taking the dog out (when we get one!) so think I'll be up for a bit of going out and getting muddy. Although as you point out... not that great if getting mucky/wet going to / from work.
To be honest I know very little about it all what else can I tell you to narrow it down?