Best 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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Investing in ETFs is another option worth considering. ETFs give you exposure to a bunch of assets without having to put all of your gold in one basket (you know what I mean).

Best-performing gold ETFs

If you want to check out the most popular top-performing gold ETFs in the UK, take a look at the options below. Just keep in mind that these aren’t necessarily the best gold ETFs to buy today. Past performance doesn’t dictate future results, so the under-performers may do well over the next few years.

There are loads of gold-based ETFs to choose from. They can cover a host of different companies within the industry. This can include mining companies, exploration companies, as well as the actual asset itself (sometimes sold as an ETC). Gold ETFs and ETCs are pretty good for beginners looking to invest in gold or those who want plenty of diversification.

Here are some of the largest and most popular gold ETCs and ETFs right now by fund size, according to justETF:
Gold ETC/ETFTickerYTD performance (to 18 November 2024)Link to invest
Invesco Physical Gold ASGLD24.80%InvestCapital at risk
iShares Physical Gold ETCSGLN24.65%InvestCapital at risk
Xtrackers IE Physical Gold ETC SecuritiesXGDU24.66%InvestCapital at risk
Amundi Physical Gold ETC GBPGLDA24.67%InvestCapital at risk
WisdomTree Physical GoldPHGP24.50%InvestCapital at risk
WisdomTree Physical Swiss GoldSGBX24.77%InvestCapital at risk
Gold Bullion SecuritiesGBSS24.50%InvestCapital at risk
WisdomTree Core Physical GoldWGLD25.11%InvestCapital at risk
HANetf The Royal Mint Responsibly Sourced Physical Gold ETCRMAU23.70%InvestCapital at risk
Xtracker Physical Gold ETCXGLD24.66%InvestCapital 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.


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.
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Invest in gold mining companies, an alternative approach

By investing in gold mining stocks, you’re not just reliant on the price of gold. The potential success of your investment comes down to the company’s performance. This has upsides and downsides. Here are some brokers to consider:

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Finder Score for trading platforms

To make comparing even easier we came up with the Finder Score. Costs, features, ease and range of investments across 30+ platforms are all weighted and scaled to produce a score out of 10. The higher the score the better the platform – simple.

Read the full methodology

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.


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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

Emily's expertise
Emily has written 148 Finder guides across topics including:
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