I really have no idea how much of an option this is in the UK, but to a US student in a similar position, I would recommend enrolling in a masters program at a respectable university and working hard, and then trying to transfer somewhere research-focused. I know a couple of people for whom this path worked (for example, one who got a masters degree at San Francisco State University and then transfered to Berkeley). This provides an opportunity to show that you are serious, to get some good recommendations and at least carries some possibility of having financial support.
(Of course, I should credit supercooldave for suggesting this in comments)
