Bristol-based investment platform and the UK's largest by number of clients.
- Headquarters
United Kingdom- Founded
- 1981
- Type
- Share & ETF brokers
- Licences on record
- 1 (1 European)
- Platforms
- Own platform
- Products
- Stocks, ETFs, Funds, Bonds
- Website
- hl.co.uk
Licences on record
Brands often operate several companies. The one that onboards you depends on where you live, and that company's regulator decides your protection. Confirm the entity on the official register before you deposit.
| Regulator | Jurisdiction | Type | Check it |
|---|---|---|---|
| FCA Financial Conduct Authority | United Kingdom |
UK | Official register |
What protection would you get?
If you are a retail client of Hargreaves Lansdown's European entity, these safeguards apply by law. Which one applies to you depends on the entity you sign with.
- Investor compensation: Up to £85,000 per person per firm for investments – Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS)
- Leverage for retail clients: capped at 30:1 on major currency pairs, down to 2:1 on crypto. Details
- Negative balance protection: you cannot lose more than the money in your account.
- Margin close-out: positions are closed when equity falls to 50% of required margin.
- Complaints: Financial Ombudsman Service
- Best forex brokers in United Kingdom
Verify Hargreaves Lansdown yourself
- Find the exact company name in the footer of the website and in the client agreement you are asked to sign.
- Search that name on the register of the regulator listed for your country (links above). Make sure the register shows the same website domain.
- Check warning lists for look-alike names: IOSCO I-SCAN covers alerts from regulators worldwide.
- Never download remote-access software or move money because someone "from the broker" phoned you. How clone-firm scams work.
Protection Score breakdown
| Factor | Points |
|---|---|
| Holds at least one European licence (EU/EEA, UK or Swiss) | +40 |
| ESMA/FCA retail protections available (leverage caps, negative balance protection, compensation scheme) | +15 |
| Operating for 45 years | +7 |
| Total | 62/100 |
The score measures structural protection from licences and corporate facts, not costs, service or platform quality. A high score does not mean a firm is right for you. Methodology.
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About this data
Profile type: register listing. Licence data is from our research and has not yet been re-checked against every register; confirm it on the official register before relying on it. Last updated 30 September 2026.
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