Rubbish is it!
I agree with slopey it has been done to death, and heated arguments do end up taking over, no doubt caused by comments like 'that guy is talking rubbish'.
The long and short of it is, I'm being trained in some of the busiest airspace in the world. I can buzz about at 4,500 over LAX, you can't even fly near London as its class Alpha. I've looked at UK charts and yes, at this stage in my training they seem daunting compared to US sectionals, too busy and too many restrictions but I don't don't doubt that when it comes to sitting my JAA CPL/IR at Tayflight after 1,500 hours in the States, instructing everything from 152's to Seneca's, 172's with glass cockpits and Diamond twins (again with glass cockpits) and having completed my 14 ATPL exams by distance learning, I'll have the ability to absorb it.
By the time I return to the UK and complete my CPL/IR I will have spent £30,000 total, I will have 1,500 hours and I will be as happy as a pig in sh!t.
£4000 is a great price for a JAA PPL, TJF97 I'd certainly look into that especially if you want to do all your flying in the UK, you've also got the best time of year to do it in terms of the weather and getting continious flying. Accomodation in the UK is no less than £30 in a B&B. Also flights to Inverness are around £250 from Heathrow. However there is nothing to do in Inverness, except look at the pretty scenery so that'll aid studying.
I was in a postion when I moved here that I had no ties back home, only a house which is now on the market. However I'm going from 0 to the full shebang so there is no way I could have done it other than moving out here. The type of training you undertake depends on your situation, funds and needs.
TFJ97, I'm unsure at what level of licence you want to get to.
Stephen