Depends what the OP thinks is a toe in the water, so I'll assume entry level.
Project Genie III which has an interesting design, is less than £200 and is well regarded. Tweakable too by all accounts, but it will have its limitations.
The Rega P2. There is the P1, but the price differential between the two is minimal (£50-60 or so I think) and the P2 is the better deck of the two.
Used? Be careful here - there's tons of decent options out there, but if buying off Ebay, remember one man's "excellent condition" is another's "falling to bits". I had a similar experience when buying a Systemdek IIX a couple of years back which had to go back thanks to it not being quite the "great nick" the seller promised - got my cash back though luckily.
Plenty to choose from, but keep an eye out for the aforementioned Systemdek IIX (the ones with the teardrop shaped armboard are the earlier models, the rectangular ones being the later issue), the Pioneer PL-12 (should be under £30).
Be wary of Technics decks, they've been owned by thousands of people, but hammered at the same time by many. Terrific build and a great option, but I'd go for a new one and upgrade the arm and cartridge if you find you like the "toe in the water" session with the cheap deck instead.