Buying shares in the UK is straightforward once you understand the steps. You do not need a stockbroker, a large sum, or specialist knowledge. This guide takes you through the entire process from opening an account to placing your first trade.
Step 1: Choose Your Account Type
Before buying any shares, decide where to hold them:
| Account type | Tax treatment | Annual limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stocks & Shares ISA | All gains and income tax-free | £20,000 | Best choice for most investors |
| General Investment Account (GIA) | CGT on gains above £3,000; dividend tax above £500 | No limit | Use after ISA allowance is used |
| SIPP / pension | Investments grow tax-free; income taxed on withdrawal | 100% of salary | For retirement savings |
Always fill your ISA allowance first. There is no tax advantage to holding shares outside an ISA unless you have already used the £20,000 annual allowance.
Step 2: Choose a Platform
| Platform | Dealing charge | Annual fee | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hargreaves Lansdown | £11.95 (falls to £5.95 with 10+ trades/month) | 0.45% | Best platform; regular investors |
| AJ Bell | £9.95 | 0.25% | Good balance of cost and features |
| Interactive Investor | £5.99 (included in subscription) | £9.99–£19.99/month | Frequent traders; large pots |
| Trading 212 | £0 (commission-free) | £0 | Beginners; very low-cost |
| Freetrade | £0 (basic); £5.99/month (Plus) | £0 | Commission-free; limited advanced tools |
| InvestEngine | £0 on ETFs | £0 | ETF-only investors |
Note on commission-free platforms: Trading 212 and Freetrade make money through the bid-ask spread and currency conversion charges rather than dealing commissions. For occasional trades in FTSE or US stocks, this is usually fine.
Step 3: Open Your Account
To open a Stocks & Shares ISA or GIA, you will need:
- ID: passport or driving licence (online identity verification)
- Address proof: most platforms use automated credit reference checks
- Bank details: to deposit money
- National Insurance number: required for ISAs
Most accounts are opened online within 10–20 minutes. Some providers use video verification; others approve instantly.
Step 4: Deposit Money
- Bank transfer (BACS): free; takes 1–3 working days
- Debit card: instant on most platforms; some charge a small fee
- Regular investing direct debit: set up monthly contributions from your bank
Minimum deposits vary: HL requires £100 for a lump sum; Freetrade and Trading 212 accept £1.
Step 5: Search for the Share
Once your money is in, search for the company by name or ticker symbol:
| Company | Ticker |
|---|---|
| BP | BP. (London) |
| Unilever | ULVR |
| Barclays | BARC |
| Apple (US) | AAPL |
| Amazon (US) | AMZN |
Search on the platform for the company name and ensure you select the correct listing — UK shares trade in pence (e.g. Tesco at 350p = £3.50 per share).
Step 6: Understand the Share Price — Bid, Ask, and Spread
Every share has two prices:
| Price | What it means |
|---|---|
| Bid price | The price you can sell at (lower) |
| Ask/offer price | The price you can buy at (higher) |
| Spread | The difference — the platform’s implicit cut |
Example: Tesco bid 348p, ask 350p. If you buy 100 shares at 350p (£350) and immediately sell at 348p (£348), you lose £2 on the spread — before any dealing charges.
Liquid large-cap shares (FTSE 100) have very tight spreads (0.1–0.2%). Smaller companies have wider spreads (sometimes 2–5%).
Step 7: Place Your Order
Market order: Buy immediately at the current ask price. Execution is near-instant during market hours (London Stock Exchange: 8am–4:30pm UK time).
Limit order: Set the price you are willing to pay. If the share price hits that level, the order executes. If it never reaches your price, the order is cancelled.
For FTSE 100 and major US shares: a market order is fine. For smaller, less liquid companies: consider a limit order to avoid overpaying on a wide spread.
Tax and CGT on Shares (Outside an ISA)
If you hold shares in a GIA:
| Tax | Rate | Threshold 2026/27 |
|---|---|---|
| Capital Gains Tax (on sale) | 18% (basic), 24% (higher) | First £3,000 gain per year is exempt |
| Dividend income tax | 8.75%/33.75%/39.35% | First £500 dividend per year is exempt |
CGT planning: You can use your £3,000 CGT exemption each tax year by selling shares with gains up to £3,000 — even if you plan to buy them back. This is called “bed and ISA” if you immediately rebuy inside an ISA.
What to Do After Buying
- Set a price alert (available on most platforms) so you are notified of major movements
- Review quarterly — not daily. Daily checking encourages impulsive selling
- Reinvest dividends if you are in the growth phase — compound returns are powerful over time
- Record purchases — date, price, and number of shares, for CGT purposes on GIA holdings
For next steps see how to invest in stocks UK — beginner guide, best investment platforms UK, and Capital Gains Tax on shares.