Very new to high end audio - Recomendations

Audio gear is just like high-end watches.

A watch may cost 40k and the other $400 or $4000

Yes, in both watches and HiFi, there is an enormous price range.
However, with watches, even $50-$100 can get you a quartz watch that keeps nearly perfect time. With HiFi, with respect to sound quality, there is no equivalent to the $100 Timex. In my opinion, you are unlikely to get a "high end" component audio system for £1000, even with used gear.

For that budget, if you’ve ruled out headphones (because sharing music with family and friends is the goal), have a look at some of the Sonos or Bluesound units. A single Bluesound Pulse 2i might work, or maybe a pair of the Bluesound Pulse Flex 2i units. Products like this can sound quite good. They take up little space,and are easy to set up and use. If you later invest in a more expensive component HiFi system, the Sonos/Bluesound units should be easy to integrate as satellites for a bedroom or kitchen.

For a little more, you might be able to find a pair of used, high-quality bookshelf speakers and a used integrated amp with WiFi built in. Maybe have a look at something like the Totem Dreamcatchers and a Bluesound Powernode.  The Totems might be ~$300+ USD used on eBay, the Power Node 2i about $700 new. 

death_block ... this may be the future to music consumption.  That is, a smart phone/ ipad/ laptop with powered speakers.  A concept that is largely rebuffed here but has high return for cost and at the end of the day sounds very, very good.  Check these guys out ... perhaps you can find some used.  Let us know!

https://www.elac.com/category/powered-speakers/

thanks for all the comments! What are your thoughts on paradigm monitor 5 floorstanding speakers?

At some point you’ll outgrow active speakers due to its non flexibility. It could happen pretty fast, so my suggestion is to go class A amplification with high sensitivity speakers….pay a lot of attention to preamplification as sound signature depend on it a lot…tubes are preferred….be ready to do a lot of experiments (speakers positioning, cables rolling, power sourcing, room treatment etc..)  

Hello,
I am going to suggest the PSB AM5. These are a lot less than your budget. This is a lot of powered speakers for the money. It even has a built in Phono amp. With your left over money I would invest in a used subwoofer. Not to rock out but to get great sound even at low levels. Another powered speaker is the KEF LSX. These really rock plus come in cool colors. They are baby LS 50s. No sub needed for now and you have full capability but no phono preamp. $1000 is just under your budget and they just upgraded these so you can find the previous model for a few $100 less. You cannot go wrong with these two. It looks like you are in Europe. If someone else wants to check out these two powered speakers and several more and live in the Chicagoland area this brick and mortar has all of this to try out before you buy. https://holmaudio.com/
Later you can add the matching KEF KC62 sub that plays down to 11hz. Also, The big brother KF92 that also plays down to 11hz but 50% louder. KEF makes killer products.