Like ½+½ and Jami74 I took an access course.
I readily agree with everything they said, especially contacting the universities you want to go to and asking them if they will accept access or not. Also know that they are entitled to change their mind at the last moment. Some will also say that they will accept access but you my get a feeling that they don't. And once you get the feeling, it's too late.
What Jami74 also said about not all access courses being the same is also something to remember.
I personally believe, though this is not based on any fact and I have no real evidence to back up my statement, that you'll have to work a little harder to get accepted over A Level students at some institutions. And if you are accepted, you'll be put at the back of the queue and be dealt with later on as they may have to consider and request other things based on your circumstances. Though this could still be true even if you do A-levels or it could just be me.
Additionally if you feel it has been awhile since you did chemistry, etc. and want someone to get really detailed with the chemistry, maths etc required for the Pharmacy course, do A-Levels. If feel you can cover it yourself, do access, while also remembering not all access courses are the same.
And not to make access sound really negative, I felt that many things I covered during my access course (at Lambeth College) put me at an advantage over many A-Level students during the selection process and now that I am on the course (I'm at King's). This is because at Lambeth they have a separate Pharmacology subject and it helped get me into a pharmacy mindset (drug dose calculations, terminology and basic concepts).