Jamie D
I live in the UK and have just started to fly and it is great fun.
I would sugest you went for a seagul modal as the finish is better than most others (it took me a long time going around lots of shops looking at modals and talking to shop keepers most of them fly as well) and you can get away with a lot, that would put most others in to the ground.
Look on the BMFA web site as they list clubs by area and give very good infomation about the sport.
Best of luck
David