Edinburgh and Glasgow among UK’s top gold investment cities

Mon Oct 05 2026

Investor interest in gold and silver has soared across Scotland, with Edinburgh and Glasgow among the UK’s top cities for precious metal investment.

A new study by The Gold Bullion Company shows that online searches for buying gold have doubled over the past year, as investors seek safe-haven assets in response to global instability and economic uncertainty.

Edinburgh ranked third in the UK for precious metal interest, with 8,550 annual searches, equivalent to 1,611 per 100,000 people.

Glasgow followed in sixth place with 13,670 searches, or 1,303 per 100,000 people.

The data, compiled from Google searches between August 2025 and September 2026, reveals growing demand for gold bars. In Edinburgh, more than 2,500 of the city’s searches were related to gold bars.

Rick Kanda, managing director at The Gold Bullion Company, said gold and silver prices reached record highs in 2025 and into early 2026, helping explain the 100% increase in searches for precious-metal investment over the past year.

He said investors turn to precious metals to protect and diversify their portfolios. Gold is considered a safe-haven asset and can perform well during geopolitical events and economic downturns. It is also a traditional hedge against inflation because it can maintain purchasing power when fiat currency values fall.

Kanda cautioned that investors should first consider whether their financial situation allows them to invest in precious metals. He also warned against being influenced by media hype, stressing that gold is particularly a long-term investment and does not provide quick returns.

For people interested in silver, silver coins appear to be the most popular choice. Silver Britannia coins are especially attractive to new investors because they are exempt from Capital Gains Tax and are more affordable than other precious metals.

Across the UK, London topped the list with 1,923 searches per 100,000 people, reinforcing its position as the country's leading city for gold investment.

Leeds ranked second with 745 searches per 100,000 people, with gold bars accounting for 40% of its total searches.

Liverpool, Birmingham and Bristol also appeared in the top 10. Kanda said silver can act as a hedge against inflation and therefore represents an attractive investment option. He added that silver's main advantage is its much lower price per ounce compared with gold, making it more affordable and manageable for new investors.

The Gold Bullion Company advises potential investors to carefully assess their financial circumstances before investing in precious metals, warning that gold is a long-term store of value rather than a way to make quick profits.

The study used search terms including “buy gold,” “gold bars,” and “silver bars” to measure interest across the UK's 15 most populous cities. The findings indicate growing interest in alternative investments amid continuing global and economic uncertainty, with Scottish cities showing particularly strong interest outside London.

Source: https://www.heraldscotland.com/