A few simple rules ... limitless possibilities
Sets
Go playing sets vary widely in quality. You can get beginner sets under £10, a full-size set with glass stones and wooden board for under £50 or you can spend £1,000 or more. Some sets have mat or wooden boards of various sizes (9, 13 or 19 lines) and plastic or glass stones. There are also magnetic sets for use when travelling.
We give some advice on Go sets to buy and what might be suitable for a variety of different circumstances. We also have some pictures of Go sets that are, or have been, available in the UK.
Don't forget if you're a novice that it is best to start playing on smaller boards before moving up to the large 19x19 one. Some boards have a different size version on the reverse, helping you through this progression without the expense of buying another board.
As an alternative to purchasing a set you could make your own. Making stones can be a difficult, so we'd definitely recommend buying them; printing your own 9x9 or 13x13 board is much easier. You might want to look at the board of the BGA-designed A3 laminated BGA Takeaway Go Set.
Note on Buying Boards and Stones
If buying stones and boards from differing sources, be careful to check sizes as some slightly larger Chinese stones do not quite fit onto the Japanese-standard boards which are the norm in the UK.UK Retailers
There are a number of UK retailers of sets and books, including good games shops you can visit.
Other Suppliers
There are various non-UK suppliers that ship to the UK. These include publishers, shops and mail order companies.
The most useful of these are Go Shop Keima, the online branch of the Het Paard shop in Amsterdam, and Hebsacker Verlag in Germany.
Go Game Guru is one that supplies by mail-order a range of books, including those formerly published by Hinoki Press and Oromedia, and equipment, however they are in the process of ceasing this service. In addition their website includes news, problems and information about the world of Go.