Why physical gold
Gold is real.
You can hold it.
Physical gold is more than a number on a screen. It is an asset you can own directly. You choose where it is kept, who can access it, when to sell it and whether to pass it on.
Understand physical ownershipThe reassurance of physical ownership
Your gold. Your decisions.
01
Real and tangible
You can see it, hold it and know exactly what you own.
02
Owned directly
The gold belongs to you—not to a bank, fund or investment platform.
03
Kept your way
Choose secure delivery or specialist, allocated storage.
04
Yours to decide
Sell it, gift it or pass it on when you choose.
The cost of standing still
Cash does not stand still.
As prices rise, the same amount of money buys less. Gold has historically been used to help preserve purchasing power over longer periods—not because it produces an income, but because its supply is limited.
See the long viewWhy gold / The long view / 1925–2025
100 years. Two very different directions.
The decline in the purchasing power of sterling. The long-term rise in the price of gold.
Purchasing-power index (1925 = 100)
Gold price (GBP/oz)
Annual UK inflation (%)
The year-by-year pressure on purchasing power
Purchasing power
100 → 1.28
Gold price (GBP/oz)
£4.27 → £3,226
The long view
Gold has not risen in a straight line.
Its price can fall as well as rise.
Sources: Office for National Statistics, Bank of England, World Gold Council and MeasuringWorth.com. Data to 31 December 2025. Past performance is not a reliable guide to future performance.
Physical gold investment is unregulated in the UK and is not protected by the FSCS or Financial Ombudsman Service.
Why people hold gold
Gold has more than one role.
People choose physical gold for different reasons: preserving purchasing power, adding resilience during uncertainty, managing wealth tax-efficiently, retaining greater control and planning for future generations.
01
Inflation and purchasing power
Gold has historically helped preserve value over longer periods when prices rise and currencies buy less.
02
Recession and uncertainty
Gold has often attracted demand when economies slow, markets fall and confidence in traditional assets weakens.
03
Tax efficiency
Investment gold is exempt from VAT. Qualifying UK legal-tender coins—including Britannias and Sovereigns—can also be exempt from Capital Gains Tax for UK residents.
04
Privacy and control
Physical gold provides clearly defined ownership, with the choice of secure delivery or specialist allocated storage.
05
Estate and legacy planning
Gold can be divided, gifted or passed to future generations as part of a properly planned estate.
Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may change. Gold may form part of an estate and could be subject to inheritance tax.
Looking beyond your own lifetime
Wealth you can hold.
Value you can pass on.
Gold can be kept, divided, gifted or left to the next generation. With appropriate estate planning, it can form a tangible part of the legacy you leave behind.
Unlike wealth that exists only through an account or platform, it remains a physical asset that can be clearly identified and allocated.
Gold is not automatically outside your estate and inheritance tax may apply. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may change.
A balanced view
Gold will not do everything.
But it remains entirely yours.
Its price can rise and fall, and it does not provide an income. Its purpose is simpler: physical ownership, diversification and control over part of your wealth.
- No income or dividends — its value is in ownership, not yield
- Prices move daily, so it is a long-term holding rather than a trade
- Physical gold is not covered by the FSCS, which is why where you buy matters
One of gold's quietest strengths is its tax treatment. Depending on the coins you choose and how you hold them, gains can be free from Capital Gains Tax.
Explore gold tax advantagesFree download
Your First Step Into Gold Starts Here
A Beginner’s Guide to Investing in Gold gives you a clear, practical introduction to protecting your wealth with physical gold.
- Jargon-free introduction to gold investing
- How to buy physical gold safely
- UK tax-free gold coin benefits
