My 2c:
I have been flying for 35+ years in the UK. I have an IR.
I know of very few private pilots who operate in the UK in SE light aircraft as a serious method of moving around in almost any weather (ie including winter and at night). It can be done but not by anyone, perhaps not many would want to. Go to a small UK airfield on a marginally flyable rainy winter day - there is little activity.
I mostly operate at smaller airfields and private strips, which is what is required in the UK if you are going to get near most destinations. So I do not see the grown ups in their Cirri, turbine singles and twins .... but they can't get into most of the places I go.
Of course this is different to going between 2 concrete runways with proper instrument approaches which is perhaps more what the OP has in mind? .... and is more passenger friendly.