747dieseldude - Bristol GS just came out with a new CD for distance learning. I just received it two days ago and I highly recommend it. If you have heavy time, you'll only need to study 7 subjects.
It's not like the FAA training. You can't pick up a Gleim and answer questions. The learning is in depth so there isn't a fast way to learn. There is only an effective thus efficient way to learn.
As far as the flight training portion, I don't recommend doing it in the states. I was recommended a flight school in Bristol called Bristol Flying Centre.
www.b-f-c.co.uk A friend of mine, who is a captain at BA, attended their training 17 years ago and he says it's pretty top notch. Comparatively speaking, to other UK schools, the prices are really good too.
I was going to mix and match the flight training with Commercial in the US and IR conversion in the UK but I heard about all the horror stories of adapting to UK airspace. I also considered the expense in travel time going to Florida then to the UK. Wasn't worth it to me.
Good luck