Edit: Thanks all for your input. Got an idea on how to start now. Appreciate everyone’s time.

Hey Linux folk.
I have an old laptop that is out of Windows support so I may give Linux a go on it.
I’m an absolute IT n00b beyond some high level swearing experience.
What resources do you recommend I look at?

@OverclockedAndy get a decent size USB drive and load Ventoy on it and as many distro ISOs you can. Boot each of them, see what you like and understand. I would try mint cinnamon first.
https://www.ventoy.net/en/index.html
Ventoy

Ventoy is an open source tool to create bootable USB drive for ISO files. With ventoy, you don't need to format the disk again and again, you just need to copy the iso file to the USB drive and boot it.