Upgrading my knives – UK-based, ~£300 budget, leaning Japanese

I’m looking to finally upgrade from a really cheap knife set that never stays sharp and just isn’t fun to use. I cook at home a lot and want to put together a small set of good knives that I can keep for years. I’ve got around £300 to spend and I’m in the UK (London), so any UK-based retailers or places that usually do good Black Friday deals would be ideal.

In terms of what I want, I’m really drawn to Japanese knives. I’d like a santoku as my main knife and I’m happy to spend a decent chunk of the budget on that one. I also want something smaller for fruit, herbs, garlic, trimming meat, etc — probably a petty or paring knife. For a third knife I’m a bit unsure. I’m not sure whether it makes more sense to add a gyuto/chef’s knife or go for something a bit smaller and more versatile, like a funayuki. Open to being steered either way.

Aesthetically I really like wooden handles, and I do think Damascus or patterned steel looks great, but that’s not essential — I’d rather prioritise performance, decent steel, and something that isn’t a nightmare to maintain. I’ve only ever used cheap stainless knives so I’m still learning. I’m fine with hand washing and looking after them properly, but I don’t have a sharpening setup yet, so I’d also be interested in advice on stones vs just getting them sharpened professionally.

If you were in the UK with about £300 to spend, what knives would you go for? Which brands or specific models should I be looking at in this price range, and which shops are actually trustworthy and good value? I’ve seen people mention Cutting Edge Knives, Japanese Knife Company, Kataba, Kitchen Provisions, Sous Chef, Borough Kitchen, etc., but I don’t know what’s hype vs what’s actually worth it.

Any advice or personal experiences would be massively helpful. Happy to hear suggestions for specific knives, steel types to aim for, or even if I should just buy one great knife plus a petty and add more later.

Thanks!