The Higher Education Policy Institute based in Oxford published in September 2007 a report titled 'The Academic Experience of Students in English Universities'. See
http://www.hepi.ac.uk/pubdetail.asp?ID=240&DOC=reports.
It includes a comparison with non-UK EU universities. The report notes that students at non-UK universities have more classroom time. However, the classes tend to me many times larger. In my view fewer but smaller classes is a better approach (as long as there are enough of them!).

Articles in the Guardian discussing the report:
http://education.guardian.co.uk/universityteachinginspection/story/0,,2176688,00.html
http://education.guardian.co.uk/universityteachinginspection/story/0,,2176187,00.html

Abstract:
In March 2006, with a grant generously provided by the Higher Education Academy, the Higher Education Policy Institute commissioned Opinionpanel Research to undertake a survey of first and second year students in English universities retained as panellists in their database. The survey focused on various aspects of the amount of teaching and private study undertaken by students and their levels of satisfaction and other attitudinal questions. In October 2006, the report of the survey was published as The academic experience of students in English universities. The survey was repeated in March 2007 to validate the general account of the English Higher Education sector provided by its predecessor, and this is the report of its results.

The executive summar is here: http://www.hepi.ac.uk/downloads/33Theacademicexperienceofstudents2007summary.doc.