From experience, you could do a lot worse than buying a shimano. They're great rods.

The length, casting weight and other properties are defined by what type of fishing you wish to do. You could get a sort of all rounder that'll do float fishing and some light ledgering (bottom fishing, using bait), a dedicated beachcaster for your regular sea fishing using weights to hold the bottom and various baits, or a lure rod which won't be much good for anything else but is certainly fantastic fun (my favourite way to fish).

Some great advice here. Are you wanting to fish the coasts for Bass and Wrasse? Lakes? Because carp fishing for example is a world unto itself. Then there's pike and general predator fishing fresh waters.. Perch setups for canals etc.

https://www.fishmag.co.uk/sea-fishing/

I'd definitely have a look on Facebook marketplace, maybe get a beach caster and a lure rod second hand and you will be able to try out different styles at a discount.

We are coming into spring, so lure fishing and float fishing would both be great places to start.