the fuji finepix prosumer-style cameras are great, i had a much earlier model and they've got better and better since then.
huge optical zoom (which is probably one of the biggest things to distinguish one camera from another these days), loadsa megapixels... the only potential drawback is AA batteries - MAKE SURE YOU BUY RECHARGABLES or it'll cost you a hundred pounds every time you take a photo. well I'm exaggerating but the point stands.
bargain, too, i paid £600 for my fuji, and it's a 3.1MP camera
*edit* although what they ^ say is kinda true, if there's a way you can strech to whatever a second hand / discontinued SLR would cost, do so.
but if you're not gonna get an SLR the fujis are a great choice.
