3 ways to invest in gold in the UK

Find out why investors attempt to use gold as a safe haven, how you can invest in gold and what to be aware of when investing.

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Using a gold exchange-traded fund (ETF) or gold exchange-traded commodity (ETC) is a cheap and efficient way to own physical gold without having to manage, store or insure it yourself.

There are loads of gold-based ETFs to choose from. They can be a pure vehicle for owning gold or cover a host of different companies within the industry; which can include gold mining and exploration companies.

Gold ETFs and ETCs are pretty good for beginners looking to invest in gold or those who want plenty of diversification. It’important to check whether it’s an investment that purchases physical gold or if it’s one that invests in a basket of gold-related stocks. If you want to make sure you’re just investing in the underlying gold, it might be better to use a gold ETC.

If you want to check out some of the largest (by fund size) and most popular top-performing gold ETFs and ETCs in the UK, take a look at the options below:

Gold ETF
5-year performance (to Jul. '25)
Link
iShares Physical Gold ETC (SGLN) iShares Physical Gold ETC icon 73.59% Invest Capital at risk
Invesco Physical Gold ETC (SGLD) Invesco Physical Gold ETC icon 85.23% Invest Capital at risk
WisdomTree Physical Gold (PHGP) WisdomTree Physical Gold icon 70.79% Invest Capital at risk
Gold Bullion Securities ETC (GBSS) Gold Bullion Securities ETC icon 70.67% Invest Capital at risk
VanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX) VanEck Gold Miners ETF icon 44.93% Invest Capital at risk
Royal Mint Responsibly Sourced Physical Gold ETC GBP (RMAP) Royal Mint Responsibly Sourced Physical Gold ETC GBP icon 72.19% Invest Capital at risk
Amundi Physical Gold ETC C (GLDA) Amundi Physical Gold ETC C icon 73.02% Invest Capital at risk
WisdomTree Physical Swiss Gold GBP (SGBX) WisdomTree Physical Swiss Gold GBP icon 73.97% Invest Capital at risk
WisdomTree Core Physical Gold USD ETC (WGLD) WisdomTree Core Physical Gold USD ETC icon 92.88% (3 years) Invest Capital at risk

All investing should be regarded as longer term. The value of your investments can go up and down, and you may get back less than you invest. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. If you’re not sure which investments are right for you, please seek out a financial adviser. Capital at risk.


2. Investing in gold mining companies as an alternative

By investing in gold miners through gold mining stocks, you can get indirect access to gold ownership and production, but you’re not just reliant on the price of gold. The potential success of your investment also comes down to the company’s performance. This has upsides and downsides.

This type of investment has some unique advantages because the share price of gold mining stocks isn’t based on the price of gold alone. So it is possible that investments can outpace the spot price of gold, and these companies can generate dividend income.

Here are some of the world’s largest gold producers to consider if you’re thinking about investing in gold mining stocks:

Gold stock
5-year performance (to Jul. '25)
Link
Newmont Goldcorp Corp (NEM) Newmont Goldcorp Corp icon 0.99% Invest Capital at risk
Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM) Agnico Eagle Mines Limited icon 92.30% Invest Capital at risk
Greatland Gold plc (GGP) Greatland Gold plc icon 32.62% Invest Capital at risk
Fresnillo PLC (FRES) Fresnillo PLC icon 52.70% Invest Capital at risk
Barrick Gold Corp (GOLD) Barrick Gold Corp icon -22.28% Invest Capital at risk
Kinross Gold Corporation (KGC) Kinross Gold Corporation icon 111.85% Invest Capital at risk

All investing should be regarded as longer term. The value of your investments can go up and down, and you may get back less than you invest. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. If you’re not sure which investments are right for you, please seek out a financial adviser. Capital at risk.


3. Buying physical gold, coins and bullion

For some, part of the appeal of investing in gold is being able to hold it. Good news: If you’re one of those people, buying solid gold has never been easier.

Before you buy and invest in physical gold, you should make sure of the following:

  1. You have a way to store it securely. If you plan on holding the gold yourself, you should have a safe or another secure way to store the gold.
  2. The gold is real and certified. Make sure the seller is legitimate and that the gold has been tested before buying.
  3. The price is fair. It’s important you pay a market rate, or at least a price that you believe represents good value.

Picking a share trading platform

The platforms below can be used to trade gold stocks and gold ETFs/ETCs.

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Product Finder Score Min. initial deposit Price per trade Frequent trader rate Platform fees Offer
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eToro
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$50
£0
N/A
£0
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IG
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£0
£0
From £0
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Up to £100 in free UK shares for new customers who invest at least £20 by 15 August. Capital at risk. T&Cs apply.
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XTB
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£0
£0
N/A
£0
Earn up to 4.5% interest on uninvested cash.
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Lightyear logo
£0
ETFs: £0
UK: £1
US: 0.1%
(min 1¢, max $1)
EU: €1
N/A
£0
Get $15 of US fractional shares with code FINDER2025 when you open a new account and deposit at least £100.
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Freetrade
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£0
£0
N/A
£0
Get a free share worth up to £100 when you sign up and deposit at least £50. T&Cs apply. Capital at risk.
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Emily Herring is a Publisher at Finder specialising in credit-based products including credit cards and business and personal loans. Emily has recently joined the Investments team. She has a Masters in Creative Writing & Publishing and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication & Media. See full bio

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Emily has written 120 Finder guides across topics including:
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