At the risk of geting into the same old US versus UK argument it can be done in the UK fast if you get the right school and right preparation. I did my PPL in Kent in 3 1/2 weeks, only to be beaten by my brother who did a full JAR PPL in 12 days...thats not a typo...a full JAR PPL in 12 days (OK he'd done the ground school before he went)... don't believe me?? ask mad jock...we has his instuctor...it can be done.