I did my PPL at UKFT about 3 years ago and then the IMC rating about 2 years ago.
A hell of a lot depends upon the luck of the draw regarding your assigned instructor but that will apply wherever you train.
My instructor had just qualified so I was the "Guinea Pig".
I really enjoyed my time and got the PPL in 4 weeks. However I failed on Navigation and blame this on lack of good instruction.
As I am an instructor now I can speak from experience.
However I went back to do the IMC rating a year later and had the same instructor (who was now waiting to start his airline job) and he and the course was much better.
I was back at LGB 2 mths ago and because I had already got the IMC rating I managed to complete the rest of the FAA/IR in 15 hours.
So my advice is just do the IR in the first place as this gives you IMC rating privileges for free and a lot more experience for not a lot more money.
More importantly though, doing the FAA IR allows you to use any US flying school and not one of the few "JAA" (read more expensive) ones.
BTW UKFT at LGB seemed to be a former shadow of itself from the days that I was there. I think the "East Coast" operation now has more priority.
Good luck anyway,
FIS