Hi Donna
It's great that you're interested in real nappies. They really are soooo much better than disposables in almost every way.
There's lots of choice out there and also quite a bit of conflicting advice and information.
One of the best places you can start is to look at specialised websites like The Nappy Lady here or KittyKins here
They have really good information about the different types and washing and care etc. Then they'll sell you the products.
The basics you'll need are some nappies; (about 20 if you want to wash everyday, about 30 if you wash every other day), about 4 wraps to go over them (the waterproof bit), some liners and a bucket to put them in when dirty.
Washing them is easy. You don't need anything special, you can just do it in your machine like everything else. Many people wash nappies separately, but after doing a spin to remove the dirty water, I actually wash them in with all my other laundry.
Don't worry about using them when out and about. There's no difference with disposables except that you put them in a waterproof bag and take them home rather than binning them.
A good way to start is to buy a starter pack. (Try the two websites above). They are cheap sets with a couple of different nappies and wraps so that you can try them out and see what suits you.
When I first started I just used a couple a day and never when I went out or at night. Then I gradually increased my usage to full time as I gained in confidence.
My personal recommendations are Tots Bots Nappies, Easy Peasy Bumble nappies and Motherease wraps.
Once you start, you'll love it.
Good luck!!