Flying 2 cats and 3 dogs to the UK

i'm looking for some input from those of you out there who have already done this.
i'm moving to Scotland in August to attend vet school at the University of Glasgow.  we are going to bring 2 cats and 3 dogs with us.  can't leave them at home, it would kill us.  however, they won't be ready to fly (because of the blood tests) until October.
what do people think about the pets flying alone vs. accompanied.  a friend may be able to fly over with them, but it's not guaranteed.  and then if anyone has any advice on how to get them from London to Glasgow, quickly and relatively cheaply i'd appreciate that to.
this is going to cost an arm and a leg, but i can't imagine life without them. 

thanks

and just in case anyone thinks we're nuts for trying to bring 5 animals to the UK, we are giving up 2 other dogs and 2 other cats.  so yeah, we're crazy.

My cat didn't fly alone, but I would have had no qualms about doing that had the timing not worked out. They're not really with you, anyway, even if you're on the same plane. You hand them over at the beginning and then get them at the end.

I can't help you about getting from London to Glasgow, but maybe hiring a car might be a good bet?

Good luck to you! I completely understand about not imagining life without your pets!

I flew my cat unaccompanied.  She has been everywhere and sometimes, she has flown with us and other time, she has flown alone.  All times, she has done magnificently.  When we moved here, we sent her on an earlier flight, so that she was cleared by the time we landed.