Guys,

I know I've seen goldbug's recommendations before, but I can't find them and the search utility is useless.
Where would you recommend to buy gold and do you have any relevant opinions on Bullionvault(.com).

Do people actually beleive that there will be a mass exodus to gold/silver and away from cash/equities?

I can't find any of the old threads. I'm looking to buy gold coin in the next couple of weeks too as a present to myself. From what I remember, posters were saying to buy with cash at the shop as then there is no record - in case the government make holding gold illegal.

I just need to know a good shop to go to. I'm sure someone mentioned somewhere that there was a shop just off The Strand that was good.

edit: found it! heres the link
http://www.atsbullion.co.uk/

Has anyone been here - is it easy to do (turn up with cash and walk out with coin)?

Went to atsbullion the other day and they asked me for ID - I was only buying a couple of kruggers. Sneaky b@ggers. Suffice to say, I waffled my way out of it (e.g. I came here before to buy, why do I need ID now?) under the name Mr Bob. I think I'm going to take my money somewhere else now.

Big brother here we come.

I like Goldline.co.uk (Baird & Co)...good service.

I have used ATS many a time. Highly recommended. Always find them polite / friendly and when they are not too busy, they always have time to answer any newbie questions. They accept cash and debit card.

I always bring id. Its to protect them as much as anything. Once you build up a relationship with them im sure the formalties can be forgotten.

Rember these guys are running a buisness and are extremely busy dealing with clients that have traded with them for maybe 20years or more, so we have to play by their rules. They only make money on the spread so its all about volumes.

If you want to buy a Krugerrand cash, have a nice chat about where the price of gold is going and get it presented in a nice velvet box then any of the 40 or so hatton garden jewellers will be happy to sell you one, but they off course will charge you spot + percentage + their markup.

The experts on this site also recommend www.goldline.co.uk and www.chards.co.uk
Again both these are well established bullion dealers.

Best of luck and enjoy the experience.

same here

imo fiat currencies worldwide are being decimated - once the existing currencies have been destroyed then we'll start to see new 'solutions' appear that will claim to end the 'instability' (by the same people who've caused it in the first place)

gold will be the only safe haven from this - equities, property are all based on credit and will be victims in the ensuing chaos

Same here, just got back from a visit to their Stratford branch. Parking is a bit of a nuisance but the staff are friendly and reliable . If you want to pay cash (under £5000 ) all they will ask you for is an address and name for the invoice, so tell them what you like, no proof of ID. They also do a mail order service which is inexpensive.