Hargreaves Lansdown (HL) was founded in Bristol in 1981 by Peter Hargreaves and Stephen Lansdown. Over more than four decades it has grown to become the UK's largest retail investment platform, serving over 1.9 million clients across a comprehensive range of accounts including Stocks & Shares ISAs, SIPPs, Lifetime ISAs, Junior ISAs, and general investment accounts.

HL is listed on the London Stock Exchange (FTSE 100) and is one of the most recognisable names in UK personal finance. It is widely regarded as the "premium service" option in the UK investment platform market — offering the widest investment range, the most comprehensive research tools, and UK-based telephone support with real advisers.

In March 2026, Hargreaves Lansdown made its first major fee changes in over a decade, reducing its headline platform fee from 0.45% to 0.35% on ISAs and SIPPs. It also reduced share trading fees from £11.95 to £6.95 per trade, while introducing a new £1.95 charge for fund trades that were previously free. These changes make HL more competitive for some investors — but the details vary depending on what you hold and how often you trade.

Hargreaves Lansdown's Stocks & Shares ISA offers access to the UK's widest retail investment range — over 4,000 funds, UK and international shares, ETFs, investment trusts, and bonds. This breadth of choice is genuinely unmatched among mainstream UK retail platforms and is one of the primary reasons experienced investors choose HL despite its higher fees.

The ISA also includes HL's Wealth Shortlist — a curated list of recommended funds chosen by HL's research team from across the 4,000+ available. This is a useful starting point for investors who want guidance on where to invest without paying for full financial advice.

Hargreaves Lansdown updated its fee structure on 1 March 2026 for the first time in over a decade. Here is a complete breakdown of current charges.

Hargreaves Lansdown offers the widest investment range of any mainstream UK retail platform, giving investors access to virtually every type of asset available to UK retail investors.

Hargreaves Lansdown is one of the most financially secure investment platforms available to UK investors. Here is how it protects your money.

Hargreaves Lansdown's platform is comprehensive and feature-rich rather than minimal. Its depth of research tools, investment data, and account management features make it one of the most capable platforms available — but this comes with a learning curve compared to newer, simpler apps like Trading 212 or Freetrade.

For experienced investors, HL's research tools are a major asset. The Wealth Shortlist, fund factsheets, analyst commentary, and market data are among the most comprehensive available on any retail platform. The platform rewards investors who take time to explore its full capabilities.

For beginners, HL offers ready-made portfolios that remove the need to select individual investments. These are managed portfolios matched to a risk level, making them a straightforward entry point for new investors who want professional-quality portfolio construction without the complexity of choosing their own funds.

HL's customer service is one of its most distinctive strengths. UK-based telephone support with knowledgeable advisers is available, which is a genuine differentiator from platforms that offer only in-app chat or email support.

Opening a Hargreaves Lansdown Stocks & Shares ISA is straightforward and typically takes 10 to 15 minutes.

One of the biggest advantages of investing through a Stocks & Shares ISA is the tax efficiency it provides. Inside an ISA, all profits are completely free from Capital Gains Tax and all dividend income is free from Income Tax — regardless of how much your investments grow.

For the 2025–26 tax year, the annual Capital Gains Tax allowance outside an ISA is just £3,000 — and gains above this are taxed at 18% (basic rate) or 24% (higher rate). The dividend allowance is £500. For investors building wealth over the long term, keeping investments inside an ISA wrapper can save thousands of pounds in tax over time.