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Am sure the answer is rhetorical but I want to ask anyway!
Ok, it's an old car (2.0 110 HDi 2002), it's a diesel but has a relatively low mileage for its years (66000) but - should it sound like a London black cab??
Is there any tlc that can be given to quiet things down any? At idle or low revs there is an annoying 'ticking' or 'rattle' from the engine.

There is also an irritating 'squeaking' from one of the belt pulleys - (wrong tension or just lubrication?)

Other than that, it drives well enough for what it is.

Anything that can be done to rectify the above?

Sounds like a rapidly failing crankshaft pulley.
Check the alternator pulley as well, but it sounds like a classic crank pulley fault.

Yes with a failing aux belt pulley the HDi can sound awful. Sometimes you'll see an accumulation of brown dust and metal shards around the area of the bottom pulley; signifying failure.

Normal advice it to get it checked/replaced asap because the pulley can separate, fling the aux belt off, jamming the cambelt drive and snapping the belt it's not common but has happened to a few on here in the past.

Thanks for the heads up, chaps. I shall investigate.
I watched a pretty good video on YT showing the pulley replacement and saw there the tell-tale brown dust you mention. Must admit though, mine isn't exhibiting the same awful sound the one in the video does. There is an annoying squeaking present which must be pulley or belt related, which also needs looking at.
My question really was, not ever having owned a diesel before, should this car (2002, 2.0 HDi 110 auto) sound the way it does - that is, like a London taxi? It is a relatively low mileage for its age - 66k - and, certainly don't expect it to purr like a kitten(!) but, equally, were they 'noisy' like this when new? If not, what best to address to quieten things down??
Am planning an oil change (Mobil One New Life 0w40) soon as a matter of course. Perhaps that may help ?