Ancestry, and FindMyPast, offer 14-day free trials!
You have to sign up first, giving debit/credit card details - but as long as you cancel before the end of 14 days, it's free!
With both of these, you really need to get back to 1911 (the latest available census) to find records.
Also, treat the trees with a HUGE pinch of salt! Many people just copy info from other trees, and don't check if it's accurate!
FreeBMD.org.uk is the place to go for the Birth, Marriage, Death Indexes.
Volunteer-run, coverage is excellent up to 1940's.
Once you have a reference from there, you can order certificates from GRO.
FamlySearch is also free (use the Search button) and offers very good coverage - particularly earlier.
Don't forget to ask relatives for information! Names, dates, places - even bits of scandal!
And ask questions here on RootsChat!
We were all beginners once, and we all had to learn
If you do ask a question, please include all relevant information.
It is much easier for us (and you) to find someone if we know where and when they were born, married or died. Spouse names also help, as do children and parents names - anything really!
For example, "William Wray" is a popular combination of names, particularly in Yorkshire.
Knowing his father's name and approx year of birth would help enormously!
Above all - have fun!
