While one can look in toy shops and other retailers like Argos, the best outlets are the specialists. Companies like Chess and Bridge and Chess Baron. Some companies overseas sell good chess materials on the internet and are use full specially if you can pay by Paypal. These include, Chess Bazzar, Chess USA, and The Chess Piece. Now that you have purchased your chess set, the next step is to learn the game.  The best way to do this is to buy a chess book that teaches everything fro first principles.  So not only do you learn the moves, you can learn the notation, and the strategy of the game.  Strange as it may seem I suggest you learn the end of the game first, or the so called endgame as it is known.  In tournaments, not all games go to bitter end as players can resign a game if they feel all is lost.
Once familiar with the ending, the next step is to learn the opening.  Opening

theory is complex and depends on what sort of player you want to be.  Are you an attacking player going all out from the start, or one who likes to start more slowly picking up the pace later in the game. 

Main guides cover the most important openings and their  variations. This is the type of book you study, as a good knowledge of the openings will give you confidence and improve your play.  In addition, a good start to a game of chess is vital, as in sports like football or cricket. Some other opening books will concentrate on only one opening, or even just on a variation of an opening.

At this stage you are only a starter and so should not dive into competitive games which need Chess Clocks and score sheets.

The Northumberland Chess Association runs local chess in the North East and

Indeed has its own league. http://northumberlandchess.com/.

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