Amy Johnson bought an aircraft from Selfridges
It appears they would sell you the aircraft of your choice, teach you to fly and flog you all you needed to look good in the clubhouse... On tick as well if you didn`t have the readies.
As for the Flight Sim ... not a Link Trainer, but a much more sophisticated bit of kit... The Whitlet Hoverplane. (Pictured on the store roof)
Extract From the Flight Archive - March 25th 1932
"The machine is a small biplane, built by A. V. Roe & Co., Ltd.,
and powered with a Douglas flat twin engine. It is pivoted on a
tripod which is supported by wheels, and upon these it travels
on a small circular track, performing according to the pupil's handling of the controls....."
Selfridge also claims to have been the first individual in the UK to charter an aircraft for a business trip. (Heston-Dublin in an Airco 9 - 1919)
.... and much much more