Steve,
Microlights are very nice indeed, but do be aware of their limitations!
* never fly after dark, let alone on instruments. Day VFR is all you get.
* being ultra light, you will be ultra shaken in turbulence, even over a wood on a hot day
* you can take a passenger, but depending on how the two of you are built you will be limited on fuel, and even more on luggage. Really not a travelling machine for two.
I would only recommend it if you can live with these limitations AND if you can avail of the big advantage of doing your own maintenance - though I am not aware of the situation in UK. Seems some PPL'ers can now do a fair deal of maintenance too.
Keep us posted, and good luck! Fly safe!