Just to clear up a few slips in some of the above posts.
The 3 month window is not a UK only thing. JAR-FCL provides that for a rating revalidated within the last 3months of validity the next period starts from the expiry date of the rating and not from the date the revalidation was completed on........i.e. do the necessary a bit early and you don't loose out.
The requirements have to be met in the year prior to when the licence is presented for revalidation.
If you fly reguluarly and foresee a period coming when you will not fly ask yourself if it will be worthwhile revalidating now even if it is more than 3months early because you have all the requirements but may not when the 3 month window comes round. Similarly if you are not a regular flier, completing a test can be cheaper than chacing hours and flying with an instructor just to get the paper signed.
The 1 hour with an instructor flight can be for any purpose and the reason why the instructor signs the logbook is to certify that the flight did indeed take place. The CAA's advice is that instructors should not sign a logbook if the standard of flying is below par. Thus doing a clubcheckout where there is 1 hour or more flight time is perfectly acceptable provided that the instructor signed the logbook.
Don't forget that the CAA say the 1 hour with an instructor can be used to try something new eg night flying, IMC, aeros etc.
£75 for the test and you pay for the aircraft time.
Regards,
DFC