There are plenty of shops in the U.K. that sell imports. Game Exchange, Microsonic - hell, I once found a French version of FF7 in the bargain bin at Electronics Boutique.
Things were better in the past though. Before everything became so corporate, and the stuff on the shelves was written by the same class of people who would buy it, there were little computer shops all around the country full of imports, rarities, bartering, a strange smell which was a cross between "new-car" and "bookshop" and an unshaven geek behind the counter who really cared about what he was selling.
Everything is broken now.