Overall Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.3/5.0)

London Capital Group (LCG) is a UK-based forex and CFD broker established in 1996, offering trading on over 7,000 instruments via MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and a proprietary LCG Trader platform. Regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), LCG offers a well-structured trading environment with tight spreads, no dealing desk execution, and strong client fund protection. While it has a long-standing reputation and strong regulation, LCG has lost visibility in recent years and offers limited innovation compared to top-tier competitors.

This LCG review explores its platform features, regulation, pricing, and whether it’s still relevant in 2025.

Key Features

LCG combines institutional-grade access, tight spreads, and a broad asset selection for UK and EU-based traders.

• Trading Platforms:
  • MetaTrader 4 (MT4)
  • LCG Trader (web-based proprietary platform)
• Markets Offered:
  • Forex, shares, indices, ETFs, commodities, metals, and cryptocurrencies
  • Over 7,000+ tradable instruments
• Account Types:
  • Classic, ECN, and Islamic accounts available
• Leverage:
  • Up to 1:30 (retail under FCA rules)
  • Up to 1:200 (professional accounts)
• Minimum Deposit:
  • From £0 (though £100+ is recommended)
• Funding Methods:
  • Bank transfers, cards, Skrill, Neteller

Regulation and Security

LCG is one of the oldest regulated brokers in the UK, offering strong trust signals and investor protections.

• Regulated by the FCA (UK) – FRN 182110
• Client funds held in segregated Tier-1 UK bank accounts
• Covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) up to £85,000
• Negative balance protection for retail clients
• MiFID II compliant for EU transparency and reporting

Pricing and Costs

LCG offers competitive pricing, particularly on major forex pairs and indices, with no commission on standard accounts.

• Spreads:
  • From 0.6 pips on EUR/USD (typical: 1.0 pip)
• Commission:
  • No commission on standard accounts
  • ECN-style accounts available with raw spreads
• Deposit/Withdrawal Fees:
  • No internal fees
• Inactivity Fee:
  • £15/month after 180 days of inactivity

Educational Resources and Customer Support

LCG provides strong educational resources and personalised account support for new and active clients.

• Education:
  • Free trading webinars, video tutorials, trading glossary
  • Platform-specific guides for LCG Trader and MT4
• Market Analysis:
  • Daily technical and fundamental insights
• Customer Support:
  • 24/5 live chat, phone, and email
  • UK-based multilingual team

Risk Management Tools

Risk tools are robust and in line with UK regulation, but lack premium features like GSLOs.

• Standard MT4 and LCG Trader tools
• Stop-loss, take-profit, and trailing stop orders
• Negative balance protection for retail clients
• No guaranteed stop-loss orders (GSLOs)
• Leverage capped per FCA rules (1:30 retail)

Pros and Cons

Pros

• FCA-regulated with strong fund protection (FSCS)
• Over 7,000 instruments to trade
• No commission on standard accounts
• Dual-platform offering (MT4 + LCG Trader)
• Established UK broker with 25+ years’ history

Cons

• Leverage restricted to 1:30 for retail clients
• No MT5 or copy trading solutions
• Inactivity fees after 6 months
• Less visible and innovative than competitors in recent years

Conclusion: Is London Capital Group the Right Choice?

LCG is a solid, FCA-regulated broker ideal for UK and EU-based traders who prioritise fund safety and access to a wide range of markets. Its tight spreads, multiple platforms, and regulatory pedigree make it a strong candidate for medium- to long-term traders. However, its lack of innovation and advanced tools means it may not appeal to algorithmic or copy traders looking for modern features.

For those wanting tighter spreads, MT5 access, or high-leverage offshore options, consider alternatives like Pepperstone, Vantage, or IC Markets.