Schools
Oliverpollard
If you get PPL training at c.£100 per hour, you are doing ok.
Remember not to be drawn in by glossy schools who say you get what you pay for.
I worked in flight operations for four years around that area.
If you want to travel a little further, I can recommend the Denham Pilot Centre. I knew them from a few years back and if they are the same people, then good.
Visit the schools and see ;
1. If they are interested in talking to you and not just a quick view round the aircraft/prices list and 'give us a call when your ready'.
2. That they have a few aircraft . a school with just one or two will normally get one of them going U/S on a staurday and leaving you nothing to do but read notams.
3. At least a couple full time instructors and not instructors who have full time jobs elsewhere with the possibility of time in the week to do some flying. having one or two instructors is not normally a problem but frequent changes can be a disadvantage and cost extra i learning different styles.
I fly from shoreham and all i can tell you is that from elstree it's about an hour plus £11.50 landing fee. YOu can private hire for about £85.oo inc.
The C152/172 is what i did my PPL on and found it easy to fly. I personally prefer the C172 to a PA28, but thats purely personal.
As said before. Pick a good flying day and drive round the local airfields and talk to students as well as the staff. Any school who is worth it's salt will not mind you doing this.
Good luck with it
JTK