Hardtails for under £500

Oxon Tim

Typical newbie question,looking to get a hardtail as a form of exercise and to get away from cars

been reading on here and on the website at various reviews but actually person experience is always best

ive looked around at what my local bike shops sell and found locally ive got
Kona
Giant
GT
along with a halfords and going abit further ive got the Trek shop in Milton Keynes where there also an evans so ive got plenty of choice locally which makes the choice tougher

cheers