Well I did the Southampton Aero-Eng degree, as did a great many other TPs and FTEs of my acqaintance, and would certainly not try to talk you out of that particular option. But, all the degrees offer an FT element to the course, albeit rather cursory - usually in the Cranfield Jetstream. Bath, Glasgow, Loughborough, Kingston, Hatfield, all offer degree courses that nobody would be disadvantaged by.
The main thing to do is look at the options within the 2nd to 4th years of the various degrees - look for whole aircraft subjects such as flight dynamics, flight control systems, aerospace vehicle design, helicopter dynamics (Southampton call it powered lift). These courses will put you in a far stronger position than the more esoteric CFD, combustion chamber thermodynamics, etc.
As to books, go on the internet and look up AC23-8, the FAA's flight test handbook, also their ultralight and homebuilt flight test manual (sorry, forgotten the reference) and best of all, get yourself a copy of Darrol Stinton's trilogy - very expensive but worth their weight in gold for student and practicing Engineers alike.
G