In planning your future, your initial choice will be based on which will suit you better. Your time will be split between working in Chambers, or at home, and appearing in Court. Be prepared to be briefed on a Friday for a Court appearance on Monday with consequent disruption to weekend social life. Barristers are self employed, not salaried employees, and this has both advantages and disadvantages. You will need to arrange your own insurance and pensions cover, so a good accountant is helpful.
Solicitors are, of course, normally employed by the firm or organisation for which they work.
The core difference between a barrister and a solicitor however lies in the day to day nature of their work. A barrister is essentially an advocate speaking on behalf of his or her client, arguing their case, persuading judge or jury to their way of thinking. For most solicitors however, their office will be their principal place of work, whether employed as an in-house lawyer with a multinational company or as a partner in a small High Street practice. Firms vary so much in the kind of work they do that you need to decide at an early stage what kind of client will suit you. Work will be demanding, so the more you can find work that taps your own interests, abilities and skills the higher the chance of your being successful.