Best Reward Credit Cards for UK Points Collectors (March 2025)

As we move through 2025, the UK credit card landscape continues to offer excellent opportunities for travel enthusiasts looking to earn miles and points. Whether you're focused on building your Avios balance, collecting Virgin Points, or accumulating flexible rewards, there's never been a better time to ensure your spending is working harder for you.

After reviewing the current market offerings, I've put together this updated guide to help you navigate the best reward credit cards available right now. I'll share my personal experiences where relevant and highlight the standout features that make these cards worth considering.

For Beginners: The Perfect Starting Point

If you're new to the miles and points game, the American Express Preferred Rewards Gold remains my top recommendation for your first rewards card:

• Free first year (£195 thereafter)

• 20,000 Membership Rewards points welcome bonus (worth 20,000 Avios or Virgin Points)

• £120 annual Deliveroo credit (as 24 x £5 credits)

• Four complimentary airport lounge visits per year

What makes this card particularly attractive for beginners is its flexibility. The Membership Rewards points you earn can be transferred to multiple airline and hotel programs at a 1:1 ratio, giving you time to decide which loyalty program works best for your travel goals.

I've personally used this card to build up a healthy points balance before deciding where to focus my rewards strategy. The airport lounge passes alone have saved me well over £100 in airport food and drink expenses this year.

Premium Option: The Platinum Card from American Express

For those looking for a more premium experience, The Platinum Card from American Express offers substantial benefits for its £650 annual fee:

• 55,000 Membership Rewards points welcome bonus

• Comprehensive travel insurance

• Two Priority Pass cards for airport lounge access (each allowing you plus a guest)

• Elite status with Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, Radisson Rewards, and MeliáRewards

• £400 annual restaurant credit

While the fee is substantial, I've found the benefits can easily outweigh the cost for frequent travelers. Just the hotel status benefits alone have netted me numerous room upgrades, free breakfasts, and late checkouts throughout the year.

Best for Avios Collectors

If you're specifically looking to maximize Avios earnings, these are your top options:

British Airways American Express Premium Plus

The British Airways American Express Premium Plus remains a staple in many points collectors' wallets:

• 30,000 Avios welcome bonus

• 1.5 Avios per £1 on general spending

• 3 Avios per £1 on British Airways purchases

• Companion Voucher when you spend £15,000 in a year

• £300 annual fee

The standout feature is the Companion Voucher, which allows you to book two flights for the Avios cost of one. What's more, unlike the free BA Amex card, this voucher can be used in any cabin class—including business and first class—which is where you'll find the best value.

Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard

The Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard is another excellent option:

• 25,000 Avios welcome bonus

• 1.5 Avios per £1 spent

• Upgrade Voucher when you spend £10,000 in a card year

• £20 monthly fee (£240 annually)

The Upgrade Voucher allows you to upgrade a return flight (or two one-way flights) by one cabin class. It works particularly well for premium economy to business class upgrades, where the value can be substantial.

What I especially like about the Barclaycard option is that it's a Mastercard, making it perfect for places where Amex isn't accepted. I often use this alongside my Amex cards to ensure I'm earning points on every purchase.

Best for Virgin Points Collectors

Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard

The Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard offers:

• 18,000 Virgin Points welcome bonus

• 1.5 Virgin Points per £1 on everyday spending

• 3 Virgin Points per £1 on Virgin Atlantic purchases

• Reward voucher when you spend £10,000 in a year

• £160 annual fee

The reward voucher can be used either for a companion ticket (when booking a cash or reward flight) or to upgrade a flight by one cabin class if you're traveling solo. For regular Virgin Atlantic flyers, this card represents excellent value.

I'd also recommend checking out our detailed guide to Virgin Atlantic credit cards for a more in-depth comparison.

New Entrants: Hilton Honors Debit Cards

One of the most interesting recent additions to the UK market is the pair of Hilton Honors debit cards issued through Currensea:

Hilton Honors Plus Debit

• 10,000 Hilton Honors points welcome bonus

• 1.5 points per £1 spent in the UK

• 3 points per £1 spent abroad

• Automatic Hilton Gold status

• No foreign exchange fees

• £150 annual fee

Hilton Honors Debit

• 2,500 Hilton Honors points welcome bonus

• 1 point per £1 spent in the UK

• 2 points per £1 spent abroad

• Automatic Hilton Silver status

• 0.5% foreign exchange fee

• £60 annual fee

What makes these cards unique is that they're debit cards that link to your existing current account, rather than credit cards. This means they're accessible to people who might not qualify for premium credit cards but still want to earn travel rewards.

The Gold status that comes with the Plus card is particularly valuable, giving you free breakfast at Hilton properties worldwide—a benefit that can easily save a family hundreds of pounds on a vacation.

Best Business Cards

For small business owners and entrepreneurs, there are currently two excellent limited-time offers running until April 8th, 2025:

American Express Business Gold

• 65,000 Membership Rewards points enhanced welcome bonus (usually 20,000)

• £195 annual fee

• Apply here

American Express Business Platinum

• 120,000 Membership Rewards points enhanced welcome bonus (usually 50,000)

• £695 annual fee

• Apply here

Having personally used the Business Gold card for my company expenses, I can attest to how quickly the points add up. The current enhanced bonus is particularly attractive—60,000 points is enough for a return business class flight to many European destinations.

Comparing Your Options

When deciding which card is right for you, consider these factors:

1. Annual fee vs. benefits: Higher fee cards often offer better earn rates and perks, but only if you'll use them

2. Welcome bonus: This can provide a substantial initial boost to your points balance

3. Earn rate: How many points will you earn on your regular spending?

4. Additional benefits: Lounge access, travel insurance, elite status, and vouchers can add significant value

5. Acceptance: American Express isn't accepted everywhere, so consider having a Visa/Mastercard backup

If you're curious about how many Avios you'll need for specific flights, our Avios Flight Calculator can help you plan your redemptions.

My Personal Strategy

I currently use a combination of cards to maximize my points earning:

• Capital on Tap Business card for business expenses and where Amex isn't accepted

• American Express Platinum Business for the comprehensive travel benefits and high earn rate

• Barclaycard Avios Plus as my backup card for personal spending

• Curve Card to manage everything in one place and earn additional cashback on international spending

This strategy ensures I earn points on virtually every pound I spend, while also enjoying benefits like lounge access, hotel status upgrades, and annual vouchers that significantly enhance my travel experiences.

Final Thoughts

The UK reward credit card market remains competitive in 2025, offering excellent opportunities for points collectors. While the high interest rates on these cards mean they're only suitable for those who pay their balance in full each month, the travel rewards can be substantial for disciplined users.

For most people, I'd recommend starting with the American Express Gold card due to its first-year fee waiver and flexible points currency. As you become more familiar with how you want to use your points, you can then consider adding more specialized cards to your wallet.

What's your current card strategy? Are you focusing on a particular rewards program, or spreading your points across multiple schemes? I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.

Remember: Reward credit cards typically have high interest rates and are only suitable for those who pay their balance in full each month. The APR figures quoted are representative rates as required by UK regulations. Check individual card terms for current rates and offers. Not financial advice.