Inside the Bank of England’s gold bullion vault

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Chemistry Professor Martyn Poliakoff and video journalist Brady Haran get a very rare peek into a Bank of England vault where £197billion in gold bars is stored. Beneath the Bank of England in London lies 4,600 tons of gold. The Bank’s precious metal reserves, worth £197 billion ($315bn) according to the mostly recently published figures, are rarely seen by outsiders, but University of Nottingham chemistry Professor Martyn Poliakoff, obtained special permission to visit the high security vault. Accompanied by video journalist Brady Haran, he reveals the incredible sight of row upon row of shiny gold bars displayed like “chocolates in the duty free at the airport”. Standing between piles of 28lb 24-carat gold bullion, Prof Poliakoff confesses however to being somewhat disappointed by the scene. “Gold is an exciting element, it has interesting chemistry and it’s just sitting here doing nothing” he muses. “It’s enormously impressive but it’s a bit sad, rather like a mausoleum where the dead gold is sitting waiting for people to remember it.”