UK-listed products
| Product | Ticker | TER | Structure | Vault | Listing | Factsheet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETC Physically-backed by allocated gold bars held in London vaults. | SGLN | 0.17% | Physically-backed ETC | London | LSE | Factsheet |
| Amundi Physical Gold ETC Physically-backed ETC from Europe's largest asset manager. | GOLD | 0.15% | Physically-backed ETC | London | LSE | Factsheet |
| Gold Bullion Securities One of the longest-established physically-backed gold ETCs (launched 2003). | GBS | 0.40% | Physically-backed ETC | London | LSE | Factsheet |
| Invesco Physical Gold ETC Physically-backed by LBMA Good Delivery bars held in JP Morgan's London vaults. | SGLD | 0.12% | Physically-backed ETC | London (JP Morgan) | LSE | Factsheet |
| iShares Physical Gold ETC Physically-backed by allocated gold bars held in London vaults. | IGLN | 0.12% | Physically-backed ETC | London | LSE | Factsheet |
| Royal Mint Responsibly Sourced Physical Gold ETC Gold held in The Royal Mint's vault in Llantrisant, Wales. | RMAU | 0.22% | Physically-backed ETC | The Royal Mint, Wales | LSE | Factsheet |
| WisdomTree Core Physical Gold Physically-backed by responsibly-sourced gold from LBMA-approved refiners. | WGLD | 0.12% | Physically-backed ETC | London (HSBC) | LSE | Factsheet |
| WisdomTree Physical Gold Long-running physically-backed gold ETC (launched 2007). | PHAU | 0.39% | Physically-backed ETC | London (HSBC) | LSE | Factsheet |
| WisdomTree Physical Swiss Gold Physically-backed by allocated gold bars held in Switzerland. | SGBS | 0.15% | Physically-backed ETC | Switzerland | LSE | Factsheet |
| Xtrackers Physical Gold ETC Physically-backed gold ETC from DWS Group (Deutsche Bank's asset management arm). | XGLD | 0.36% | Physically-backed ETC | London | LSE | Factsheet |
Factual product reference. Order does not imply a ranking or recommendation. All products listed are physically-backed exchange-traded commodities (ETCs) listed on the London Stock Exchange. Capital is at risk; consult each provider's factsheet and KIID before investing. This information is not personal advice or a financial promotion under section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.
Quick answer
Ten physically-backed gold ETCs trade on the London Stock Exchange and are available to UK investors through mainstream ISA and SIPP platforms. Total expense ratios (TERs) range from 0.12% (iShares IGLN, Invesco SGLD, WisdomTree WGLD) to 0.40% (Gold Bullion Securities). All listed products represent a claim on allocated gold bars held in professional vaults — most in London, two vaulted in Switzerland.
How we test & rank
For each product this page records: London Stock Exchange ticker, total expense ratio (TER), fund structure, vault location, and a link to the provider's own factsheet. No "best of" judgement, score or ranking is applied. UK-listed ETCs are controlled investments and we are not authorised to give a personal recommendation — consult a regulated adviser if you need one.
Summary
This page is a factual product reference, not investment advice or a financial promotion. Read each provider's factsheet and Key Investor Information Document (KIID) before investing, and remember that capital is at risk — the gold price can fall as well as rise. If you need a personal recommendation, speak to a regulated financial adviser.
Frequently asked questions
Are gold ETCs eligible for ISAs and SIPPs?
Yes. UK-listed physically-backed gold ETCs are eligible for Stocks & Shares ISAs and SIPPs on major UK platforms such as Hargreaves Lansdown, AJ Bell and interactive investor. Eligibility on any specific platform is set by the platform — check the platform's ETF/ETC list before opening a position.
Do gold ETCs pay dividends?
No. Gold itself produces no income, so physically-backed gold ETCs do not pay dividends. The TER is taken by selling a small quantity of gold from the trust over time. Returns to investors come from changes in the gold price (less the TER and any bid-ask spread).
What does "physically-backed" mean?
Each share in a physically-backed gold ETC represents a claim on a specific quantity of allocated gold bars held by an independent custodian. The custodian publishes a bar list at regular intervals. Physically-backed ETCs differ from synthetic ETFs, which use swap contracts and do not hold the underlying metal.
How is a gold ETC different from owning physical gold?
A gold ETC is a security listed on an exchange — gains are subject to Capital Gains Tax (CGT) unless held in an ISA or SIPP. CGT-exempt UK legal-tender coins such as Sovereigns and Britannias are physical gold and follow different tax rules. ETCs avoid storage and insurance costs but introduce counterparty exposure to the issuer and custodian.
Is this page a recommendation?
No. This is a factual product reference. It does not rank, score or recommend any product, and it is not a financial promotion under section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. We are not an authorised person and cannot give personal advice. If you want a recommendation, speak to a regulated financial adviser.