Flying school for PPL around London (~2-hour driving radius)
 

Send me a PM if Elstree is suitable.

Within 2 hours of London give you are very wide choice.

I think the Pilot Centre at Denham is hard to beat The Pilot Centre

If you wanted to take a slightly different (cheaper) route then you could investigate learning on a TMG and then converting to SEP.
The folks at Oxfordshire Sport Flying could help with that route - Enstone in just within 2 hours of London: Enstone Aerodrome

Or for a different type of flying (which will stand you in good stead for anything you want to go onto) try: Tiger Club

OC619

I have tried Stapleford - found it a bit too commercially oriented (not sure if you plan just PPL or CPL+)
Also used EFG, but did most of my flying at Surrey & Kent at Biggin (now taken over by EFG)
Been flying at North Weald Flying School since July last year and I've found them really helpful and professional.

The airfield is massive with a 5000ft runway and good facilities.

Would recommend them to anyone looking to learn.

Do give Flyelstree a call or pop out to see them. It is as close to City of London as Biggin and fairly easy to get to on public transport with a short (3.5mile 15minute) taxi ride but most importantly, the people there are really nice!

If you were looking for a personal trainer what sort of person would you choose? If you were looking for a driving instructor what sort of person would you choose? The key is finding someone with whom you can communicate and feel comfortable. You're going to be spending many hours 2-300 feet up in the air in a cosy setting doing something technical. I had an unpleasant experience at Stapleford with a snarky individual who seemed to almost take delight in belittling me and trying to turn me into an aerobatic pilot - something I never wanted to be. He was kind of like the school sports coach who everyone hated. When it became clear this wasn't working I looked elsewhere and found someone completely different - someone who was professional, approachable, relaxed and genuinely interested in flying and helping people fly. He could explain something in about 10 seconds that the other bloke would have taken weeks over.

Stapleford has quite an idiosyncratic culture and the instructors / admin staff are either really nice or really surly. It's in for a penny, in for a pound with them! If you're going for a PA28 then G-SACO is their best plane. The other one, SACI, reeks of WD40 and has a manky tube of softmints stuck in the seat. I quite liked Stapleford. I miss the tea and crumpets served in the clubhouse and some of the staff were lovely. I miss the hares on the runway and the unique ambiance!

Schools
 

I found Clacton good fun as I upgraded from PLL(D) until I met the CFI and then moved to the NWFG at North Weald and had a great time. I also liked Andrewsfield as they are friendly and have a number of instructors so you can find one that fits. Clacton is a fair run from London due to the road layout on the coast.
I was at Stapleford for a while and SIRALLAN Sugar is based there. His ego is er well as you'd expect which can be entertaining!

I'd recommend you visit White Waltham (EGLM) and talk to them about PPL training before you start. I did and learnt to fly there 10 years ago, and now they can't get rid of me.

The grass only triangular airfield is never unusable because of cross-winds, but there's always one available for cross-wind training. There's an interesting mix of vintage, ex-military, modern and aerobatic fixed wing aircraft and helicopters, and a friendly restaurant.

The website is www.wlac.co.uk

It's well served by frequent trains to Maidenhead from Paddington, or the M4 by road.

Christopher

I found Stapleford fine for just PPL, no feeling pushed by those aiming higher. And they got me through.

Poor old SACI, used to be the nicest of their PA28.

Redhill or Biggin Hill
 

hiya;
Any of you have a recent experience, with Redhill aviation and/or Biggin Hill? I also want to start my PPL ( CPL eventually) and Biggin Hill, or Redhill is the closest to me. I visited both, but hard to tell.

ta

I've been told by EFG, that they've extended their lease for another 4 years.

I decided on Redhill and to start beginning of June.
FYI: For me, weekdays are fine, but I had a feeling, that if you only can do weekends, then Biggin Hill may be a better choice. I suggest to visit both of them -nice folks.

Tttttt
Not sure if you've called us yet? (see #7)