Where to start?

[WheresMyAlex]

I’m interested in researching my family tree, and I was wondering what genealogy site is best recommended? I used a free trial once before a long time ago but unfortunately hit a brick wall after my grandparents, perhaps because my great grandmother was adopted? I was hoping I could get some tips from other successful researchers.
Thanks!

Ancestry has a lot of stuff nowadays. But Free BMD can be enough to get you started. Now the 1911 census is online, if you know your grandparents, great grandparents etc. I am not sure about adoption records though.

Ancestry used to have an offline software but now you can do it online. You enter your details and it automatically brings up the records plus other people's family trees. I've just remembered that DH bought be the DNA kit for Xmas which I still haven't done. This might be a way of getting past the adoption part. PM if you want some help. Happy to have a quick scan.

Matching records that should say.

Thanks so much for that, I’ve had a look on free BMD but I can’t really get on with that site.
I think I’ll bite the bullet and get a subscription for Ancestry and see where that gets me!
I’d love to do one of those DNA kit things too, can’t believe you’ve had it for 8 months and haven’t done it yet! I’m far too curious!

You can do a certain amount free on Ancestry and Find My Past. Ancestry often has free access on bank Holidays. Don't be tempted to order certificates from Ancestry - it is much cheaper to order from the government site. Googling will find it. FamilySearch I think is run by the LDS Church but holds huge amounts of information across a lot of countries and is free. Good luck!

Where to start? Start with yourself and work backwards from the known to the unknown. Never assume that someone else's research is accurate, or that just because a record is on the internet it must be correct. Double check everything.

I use ancestry and findmypast.
Initially ask all family members, cousins etc, what they know. Information really helps you rule people in or out when looking at the census. DNA gives you a bit more information, and can rule people in, but not out, as with more distant connections you may not aways share enough DNA for it to show.
Then start your tree with what you know. Hopefully you can get back to at least 1920 that way, then you can look at the 1911 census and work your way back to 1841. Pre the birth years of your relatives on that census it becomes much more difficult , depending how affluent or important your family are or were.

And yes, as sycamore says, double check everything. I have a dna matched cousin whose tree is completely wrong, he has the wrong marriage, and there are at least five other trees with the same mistake.