Learning to fly in the UK
Hi jkveenstra,
Some general principles for flying training in the UK.
First of all, take account of the UK climate. The weather is wetter the further West you go, so it is best to avoid the Western seaboard and choose somewhere in a Central or an Eastern region.
Secondly, the weather is better in the South than in the North, so it is best to train in Southern or Central England. Airspace here, however, is busy so you have to work harder and you will learn more about flying in busy airspace which is probably much closer to Netherlands conditions.
Thirdly, personally I always prefer flying in the Autumn and Winter. This is because the atmosphere is much more stable and you are not going to be thrown around in the cockpit while you are trying to master the basic skills of flying. Daylight hours, however become shorter so it is as well to avoid the mid-winter. October should be perfect.
For your purposes, it would be best to go to a professional flight training organisation (FTO) rather than a club, despite the higher hourly rates. At a club, you will be competing for lesson bookings with the regular local club members.
If you go to an FTO, they will know you are coming from the Netherlands, they will ensure aircraft and instructors are available, (just as they would in the States). Use this website to check the reputation of the FTO as one or two do not have a good name.
Finally, never never never pay for your course in advance. Insist on paying as you go with a credit card or in having a client account that the FTO's administrators can't touch in the event that the business goes bust or you fall out of friendship with the FTO.
Good luck.
Broomstick.