What you need to know about buying government bonds (gilts)

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Archived article Tax, investments and pension rules can change over time so the information below may not be current. This article was correct at the time of publishing, however, it may no longer reflect our views on this topic.

As interest rates have increased, so has the interest in government bonds (gilts). But what are gilts, how do you buy them and should you invest in them?

This article isn’t personal advice. If you’re not sure whether an investment is right for you please seek advice. If you choose to invest the value of your investment will rise and fall, so you could get back less than you put in.

28 June 2023

As interest rates have increased, so have the yields on government bonds (gilts). Last Friday you could get 5.3% on gilts that have one year until they’re redeemed. That’s higher than the interest on lots of bank accounts, with no fixed-term strings attached.

This is sparking the interest of many investors. But how do gilts work and what’s the case for (and against) owning them?

This article isn’t personal advice. If you’re not sure whether an investment is right for you, ask for financial advice. All investments and any income from them can fall as well as rise in value, so you could get back less than you invest.

Investing in individual gilts isn’t right for everyone, you should only invest in gilts as part of a diversified