How heavy is an antique oak bureau?

They are substantial pieces of furniture. A standard oak bureau requires two strong people to move it safely. The dense timber and thick carcase sides add up quickly. Take the drawers out before you try to lift one. It reduces the weight and stops them sliding open on the stairs.

I want to use my laptop on one of these for working from home, but will the drop down flap actually hold the weight of my arms resting on it?

The fall is designed to support the weight of a person writing. When the lopers are pulled out fully, they provide a firm base for the hinged section. The hinges take the strain if the lopers are not engaged properly. Always pull the wooden supports out all the way before lowering the writing surface. This protects the joints from unnecessary leverage.

Do the locks still work on these?

Many retain their original brass locks, though the keys are frequently lost. The mechanisms are simple iron levers inside a brass casing. If you find one with a working key, turn it gently. The internal springs can become brittle with age. A locksmith can usually cut a new key if the lock itself is sound.

There is a wide gap running right along the side panel of the bureau I am looking at buying, is this normal for old furniture?

That gap is shrinkage. Oak contracts across the grain as it dries. Because the sides are secured at the top and bottom, the wood splits as it shrinks. It is standard for country oak furniture.

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Antique Oak Bureau from the 18th Century

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An antique oak bureau is a free-standing writing desk featuring a sloping fall-front that opens to reveal a fitted interior for correspondence, sitting above a chest of drawers. They were standard household furniture for keeping records and writing letters from the late seventeenth century onwards.