Yes, and if you intend to invest for the long term this is the best way of buying them since over time, their value will increase (hopefully) and you will be able to dispose of them without being liable for Capital Gains Tax. You will also be able to take any income from them without declaring it on your Income Tax declaration form. In these days where virtually everything is stealithy being taxed, grab what few opportunities are left for tax free investment with both hands. I can't think of any arguments, if you're buying any of these investments, to have them outside the tax-free wrapper of an ISA. If you want a totally safe investment, go for a building society savings account. However, in the long term its value will (probably) be nowhere near the level that you would achieve through any share-related investment. If you want to research specific funds and unit trust opportunities you will find the Hargreaves Lansdown website very informative.