Very new to high end audio - Recomendations

Knowledge is almost zilch when it comes to speakers/amps etc.

You’ll fit right in. [Sorry, couldn’t resist]

Most here are FanBoys. Ignore ALL specific recommendations. No one has your taste in music, response, level or R O O M !

IMO, powered speakers are a risk. They are convenient for recording engineers that move from studio to studio. I've never heard a pair that I’d want to take home.

You can fine tune separates with cables and amplifiers. FWIW, which is zero, I had the same speakers for 35 years and 5 different amps and about the same number of cables for both interconnect and speaker. [Truth in advertising dept: Speakers were Spica TC-50 and I place coherence over frequency response six ways to Sunday.]

Since you referenced quid, search out some High End HiFi shops relatively close by. [Distances are much less in the UK than here in the US.] Time spent now trolling the waterfront will keep money in your pocket later. If you are in one of the bigger burgs, there may be a HiFi or Tube society. Worth checking out.

Bonne Chance!

What makes a 'loudspeaker' any different to a studio monitor, or bookshelf etc, they look basically the same?

In the old days, monitors were for analysis, loudspeakers for listening.

In the 80's Yamaha NS-10 loudspeakers became ubiquitous pop music small monitors in studios. IMO, sonics suffered from using them. Later Genelec self powered. I never cared for either, monitoring or listening.

20 year old DSP with internal amplifiers would give me pause...