Look again at Dunstable - London Gliding Club - !
Broomstick, a lot - and I mean a lot! has changed for the better at Dunstable!
Despite the interesting undulations of the airfield, the instructors and the entire atmosphere have changed, so that you would not be held back by inappropriate petty rules any more. They have a first rate fleet of gliders, and a professional attitude toward instruction, so you will find it much easier these days to make good progress.
Be sure that I am COMPLETELY WITHOUT PREJUDICE recommending a club that isn't mine! I fly at Shenington, 7 nm NW of Banbury, we also have a ridge and an airfield that is not as big as others (Lasham is the biggest club in the UK, and also enjoys the biggest flattest airfield, and has a nice cafe. But no ridge. A ridge can be used to stay airborne...indefinitely, if the wind is right.
Visit the club, have a trial lesson before you commit your cash and your time.
And if you suffer from travel sickness, and it is a GOOD DAY for soaring, I advise beginners to take a quell before going up. After 8 or 10 flights when you are doing most of the flying, the tendency to turn green is forgotten.
Power planes fly in straight lines. Gliders, on a good day will do a fair bit of turning in lift. You have been warned!
(My longest flight in the UK in a single seat glider, in THERMALS was 8 hours and 53 minutes....and over 500 kilometers.) Mainly it is great fun.
Mary