From what I understand, common law is more organic, in that it is based more on traditions rather than following strict rules.

Whereas civil law is more arbitrary and codified. Everything comes down to the letter of the law, and that's it.

First point though - there is no "UK law". English law applies to England and I think more or less Wales and Northern Ireland. Then you also have Scots law, which is obviously for Scotland and is as far as I know sort of a split between common and civil law, and I remember hearing it took a lot of inspiration from Dutch law.