I'm in the process of getting divorced, and I'm damn sure it won't cost thousands of pounds.
The problem is that everyone thinks that "you have" to use a solicitor, not true. A solicitor will charge you a minimum of five hundred pounds to fill out a form that dosn't cost anything, write a few unnecessary letters to you, and your spouses solicitor, and phone you a few times.
In reality the forms don't cost a penny, the clerks office at your local County Court will provide them for nothing. They are so simple to fill out even I could do it. You also get leaflets that explain how to fill them out and what the sequence of events and timescales are. If you and your spouse can agree to all the details of money etc. then there shouldn't be a problem. Once you have sorted that, fill out the forms and take them back to the court. At this point you will have to pay a fee of one hundred and fifty pounds.
If you have children or property you MUST get legal advice, however, you can get thirty minutes free advice off a solicitor. How does this help? pick the solicitor you want to use, then go to all other solicitors and ask most of the questions you want to find the answers to. Then go to the one you want to use you'll be more prepared, so you'll spend less time, so less money.
You've paid one hundred and fifty smackers, what's next? forms will go back and forth between the court you and your spouse, when they've done all the rounds and the judge agrees, he'll grant a Decree Nisi. A few weeks later you then apply for your Decree Absolute. This will cost another fifty smackers, a total then of £230. My last neighbours, in total, spent over five thousand smackers and ended up with what they originally wanted before the solicitors became involved. Final score solicitors £5000+: divorcees nil.
I appreciate that divorce is a touchy subject, and a lot of distress and mental anguish is involved, try to stay calm, and even if the circumstances are difficult, there is nothing to be gained from going for the throat. Even if you feel that you have been embarrassed, slighted, hurt, whatever... revenge will make you feel worse, it's a transitory pleasure that will only hurt you more in the end.
Take care.