Hi there James,
I'm living in Nottingham right now. I'm in a bit of a strange position in that I'm not exactly prepping for myself. Long story short (I don't want to bore you) I'm 46, now live alone, no family except a sister but she does have a family and it's really them I'm prepping for. She's no fool but her concerns stop with her job and her boys (one 18 the other 14). I've been looking for the right bit of land to build on so I can create something secure. Firearms aren't really the issue, it's training and a willingness to fight. Most people in the UK just don't have the instinct for violence, which is great in times of peace but when under treat there's a lot one can do to protect oneself and those we love.
I'm a great fan of the bow. Terrific weapon if your aim is to hunt or threaten but useless in a fight. You need to know how to fight properly with a knife. Although ju-jitsu teaches how to fight against a knife it's a great way to learn how to flow with a blade. It's all about practice and finding your own style but at the end of the day you still have to possess the willingness to use a weapon. I'm of school that if you get into a fight you've already lost control of the situation so have lost. A good baseball bat swung at the right spot will cripple an opponent in a single blow. It's not like the movies. One hit and most people go down.
In economic collapse it's the chaos you can prepare for and the desperate you need to protect against and the best way to do that is to hide but, being found, it is to make any attempt at ingress too dangerous or too much trouble.
If you really feel you need a weapon though a machete would probably be my choice. I've used swords for years. If you live in the country can't you apply for a shotgun licence? I fully intend to!