This bit is down to the good old postcode lottery and even different practices within the post code. Its worth asking if you DN or doctor will prescribe test strips.
Getting a meter is not normally a problem, as most suppliers will send you one free eg the likes of Bayer, Abbott medisense, Lifescan , Accu Chek. My personal favorites are the Bayer Contour next USB and the Accu Chek Mobile.
Sometimes you can buy strips direct from the suppliers, I believe Abbott sell them direct at around £15 for 50. In a chemist test strips are around £25 + for strips for most of the meters.
If you self fund then theres the SD code free which has strips for around £7 for 50 strips. Theres also the suprcheck2 and I think the nexusRX systems, which use cheaper test strip options.