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I'm looking to try some WW1/2 tabletop games, I had a quick look on Wikipedia for a list of WW1/2 tabletop games and it resulted in a large list of around 30/40 games. Which would be the most common (bar FoW which I'm well aware of) as I'd hate to start building up an army only to find it's a pain the to find anywhere to game.

What sort of types of games are you looking to play? Skirmish games with a handful of guys, large divisional level games or somewhere in-between?

Anything beyond FoW could well be a pain in the ass to find anywhere to game.

Ignoring LuciusAR's good question about what size games you want, I'd suggest you find out if there's anything being played locally. If there isn't, then you're kind of equally shafted whatever the game.

That would leave you with a couple of options.

1 - Make forces for both sides and try and get gamer friends to play you using one of your forces. I've done this for 15mm sci-fi and 20mm moderns stuff. It has worked well for me but you should note that both those scales are cheap and quick to paint! I wouldn't want to be making both sides with something expensive or slow to paint.

2 - Pick a game that other people near you already have models that they can use in it. Then try and convince them to give you a game. I've done this with Tomorrow's War in 28mm against 40K models. I'm also currently building a 15mm WWII german army for Battle Group Kursk. There's tonnes of 15mm Flames of War armies around here, so there's a low barrier of entry for those gamers to try Battle Group Kursk.

3 - Try and convince other people to agree to play the game you're interested in (or you play the one they're interested in), and all buy small starter forces together. This is either the easiest option or not an option at all depending on your situation

As I mentioned, I'm trying option #2 currently with Battle Group Kursk in 15mm. I'm hoping that some of the 15mm FoW gamers who already have forces for it will be willing to give it a go. If I provide the rules then there's a pretty low barrier of entry for them to at least try it. This sort of thing has worked for me before.

It will actually be easier again I think when Battle Group Normandy comes out (due out by Salute in April) as then FoW allies forces will be able to play too.

As to which are the most common, I don't know. Nothing WWII is played where I am except FoW. Bolt Action is new but isn't doing well where I am and is skirmish scale. It might do well, I don't know. Rapid Fire is one of the ones I hear mentioned more often but again, I never see it played. Battle group kursk (and it's sort-of-predecessor Kampfgruppe Normandy) have some players but I don't know if that will turn into any kind of longevity. I'm going to give it a go anyway myself.

Best of luck!

well in my club you wont get a game of FOW as no-one plays it...

But then we dont play anything other than Battlegroup for WW2.

WW1 wise I do remember Warhammer Historical's Great War being quite popularish

They key question is whether you want small actions or larger battles.

For small action games the more well known include:

Rules of Engagement - platoon level (a squad is the main tactical unit), thorough platoon-level orders of battle (army lists), 30 to 50 figures per side, each model equals one man, well supported online at www.greatescapegames.co.uk
Crossfire - company level (a platoon is the main tactical unit), no movement measuring, 30 to 40 figures per side, figures based in elements (2-3 figs represent a squad), http://crossfire.wargaming.info/
Disposable Heroes - platoon level (a squad is the main tactical unit), alternate unit activation, 30 to 50 figures per side, each model equals one man
Bolt Action - platoon level (a squad is the main tactical unit), random unit activation, focuses more on gaming that history, 30 to 50 figures per side, each model equals one man
Nuts! - squad level (a single man is the tactical unit), around 10 men a side
IABSM - platoon level (a squad is the main tactical unit), each model equals one man, card activation of units, benefits from having a referee, well supported online

I don't play WW2 games beyond platoon level myself, except when our club puts on large, multi-player scenarios. Games for larger actions:

Flames of War - I just never liked this, seems quite gamey and not very reflective of WW2
Battlegroup Kursk - same level of gaming as FoW but looks a better WW2 game - http://ironfistpublishing.com/