How to invest in the UK using ETFs
How do I invest in UK stocks?
The easiest way to invest in the whole UK stock market is to invest in a broad market index. This can be done at low cost by using ETFs.
On the UK stock market you'll find 4 indices which are tracked by ETFs. Besides these indices 6 alternative indices on small and mid caps as well as equity strategies can be considered.
Alternatively, you may invest in indices on Europe.
Performance of UK stocks (FTSE 100)
Indices in comparison
The best indices for ETFs on UK
For an investment in the UK stock market, there are 4 indices available which are tracked by 17 ETFs. On the FTSE 100 index there are 11 ETFs. On the FTSE All-Share index there are 2 ETFs. On the MSCI UK index there are 3 ETFs. On the Morningstar UK index there is 1 ETF. The total expense ratio (TER) of ETFs on these indices is between 0.04% p.a. and 0.33% p.a..
| Index | Investment focus | Number of ETFs | Number of constituents | Short description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
FTSE 100 | United Kingdom | 11 ETFs | 100 | The FTSE 100 index tracks the 100 largest UK stocks. Index factsheet |
FTSE All-Share | United Kingdom | 2 ETFs | 575 (31/08/2023) | The FTSE All-Share index tracks all UK-based companies admitted to the main market of the London Stock Exchange. Index factsheet |
MSCI UK | United Kingdom | 3 ETFs | 73 (31/03/2025) | The MSCI UK index tracks large and mid cap equity market performance of United Kingdom. Index factsheet |
Morningstar UK | United Kingdom | 1 ETF | 275 (31/08/2023) | The Morningstar UK index tracks mid and large cap equities of the United Kingdom. Index factsheet |
Source: justETF.com; As of 31/03/2025; Calculations in GBP based on the largest ETF of the respective index.
The best UK ETFs
by 1 year return
| 1 | Amundi FTSE 100 UCITS ETF Acc | +11.68% |
| 2 | Amundi FTSE 100 UCITS ETF Dist | +11.68% |
| 3 | Xtrackers FTSE 100 UCITS ETF Income 1D | +11.63% |
The cheapest UK ETFs
by total expense ratio (TER)
| 1 | Amundi UK Equity All Cap UCITS ETF Dist | +0.04% p.a. |
| 2 | HSBC FTSE 100 UCITS ETF GBP | +0.07% p.a. |
| 3 | iShares Core FTSE 100 UCITS ETF GBP (Acc) | +0.07% p.a. |
UK indices on small and mid caps or equity strategies
Alternatively, you may invest in indices on small and mid caps or equity strategies. In total, you can invest in 6 alternative UK indices, which are tracked by 11 ETFs. The total expense ratio (TER) of ETFs on alternative UK indices is between 0.05% p.a. and 0.58% p.a..
| Index | Investment focus | Number of ETFs | Number of constituents | Short description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTSE 250 | United Kingdom Mid Cap | 6 ETFs | 250 | The FTSE 250 index tracks 250 of the largest mid-cap companies based in the United Kingdom that are not included in the FTSE 100. Index factsheet |
| FTSE RAFI UK 100 | United Kingdom Fundamental/Quality | 1 ETF | 100 | The FTSE RAFI UK 100 index tracks 100 UK stocks. The FTSE RAFI Index Series selects and weights index constituents using four fundamental factors, rather than market capitalisation. The factors are dividends, cash flows, sales and book value. Index factsheet |
| FTSE UK Dividend+ | United Kingdom Dividend | 1 ETF | 50 (31/08/2023) | The FTSE UK Dividend+ index tracks the highest yielding UK stocks. Index factsheet |
| MSCI UK Small Cap | United Kingdom Small Cap | 1 ETF | 209 (31/03/2025) | The MSCI UK Small Cap index tracks UK small cap stocks. Index factsheet |
| S&P UK High Yield Dividend Aristocrats | United Kingdom Dividend | 1 ETF | 36 (31/08/2023) | The S&P UK High Yield Dividend Aristocrats index tracks UK companies whose dividends have risen in the last 7 consecutive years. Index factsheet |
| Solactive Core United Kingdom Large & Mid Cap | United Kingdom Social/Environmental | 1 ETF | 106 (30/07/2021) | The Solactive Core United Kingdom Large & Mid Cap index tracks the UK equity market and measures the performance of large and mid-cap publicly traded companies which satisfy minimum criteria relating to liquidity and size and excludes companies: (a) engaged in pure coal mining; (b) involved in the production of controversial weapons, such as cluster weapons, anti-personnel mines or biological and chemical weapons; or (c) that, for a continuous period of three years, have been classified as being in breach of at least one of the UN Global Compact principles. Index factsheet |
Source: justETF.com; As of 31/03/2025; Calculations in GBP based on the largest ETF of the respective index.
Europe indices with a large UK share
Besides UK ETFs you may invest in ETFs on the European stock market. In total, you can invest in 3 indices on Europe, which are tracked by 15 ETFs. The total expense ratio (TER) of ETFs on Europe indices is between 0.07% p.a. and 0.35% p.a..
| Index | Investment focus | Number of ETFs | Number of constituents | Short description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSCI Europe | Europe UK: 24.00% (30/11/2022) | 11 ETFs | 399 (31/03/2025) | The MSCI Europe index tracks the leading stocks from 15 European industrial countries. Index factsheet |
| STOXX® Europe 50 | Europe UK: 27.70% (30/11/2022) | 1 ETF | 50 | The STOXX® Europe 50 index tracks 50 European large cap stocks. Index factsheet |
| STOXX® Europe 600 | Europe UK: 24.50% (30/11/2022) | 3 ETFs | 600 | The STOXX® Europe 600 index tracks the 600 largest European companies. Index factsheet |
Source: justETF.com; As of 31/03/2025; Calculations in GBP based on the largest ETF of the respective index.
