i'm in the UK too and have found that the Aria AMB 35 or 50 aint bad for the price .I've got an AMB 35 but thought (foolishly) it would sound more electric when plugged in, it sounds like an amplified acoustic *bangs head on desk* they cost £150-200. Tanglewood and Applause (as Squire is to Fender ,Applause is to Ovation)make good guitars .Fender Telecoustics are around £200 and Yamaha always make a good value guitar.

Check out

http://www.harmony-central.com/Guitar/Data4/

for reviews,but take 'em with a slight pinch of salt. The best thing is to trawl round you local music shops and play every one of the B_a_S*ards you can find till you find one you like. Ask the guitar shops to give you an amp like you've got at home, as its disapointing to find that it sounds great in a 100w marshall and crappy through a small practice amp.

Good luck.