How many credit cards can you hold in the UK?

My wife was recently targetted for the Priority Club Black Visa card.  This was for the offer that I highlight on the ‘Credit Cards Update‘ page – 40,000 Priority Club points (good for 8,000 Avios or about £150 of free hotel stays) and no fee for the first year, plus another free hotel night (worth say £200 if used wisely) if we spend £10,000 on the card within the year.

Slightly to my surprise, she was accepted.

This means that my wife now holds:

• Priority Club Black Visa (Barclays issued)
• House of Fraser Mastercard (Santander issued, 1% cashback paid in House of Fraser vouchers)
• NatWest Mastercard (NatWest issued, no idea why we still have this!)
• BA Premium Plus Amex  (Amex issued)
• SPG Amex (Amex issued)
• Lloyds TSB Premier Duo Avios Amex & Mastercard (Lloyds TSB issued)

Now this seems like quite an aggressive list to me.  Yes, she has a good job and her combined credit limits are still not huge, but I am surprised that Barclays was happy to give her the Priority Club card on top of all of the other cards.

Her credit report also, presumably, has a link to me and shows that I currently hold an American Express Platinum, a BA Premium Plus Amex and a BMI Mastercard.  The report would also show that I cancelled an SPG Amex, Hilton Visa and Amex Gold card within the last 12 months.

I imagine the fact that the six cards are from five different issuers is part of the reason why we keep getting them.  However, it is time to cull the list somewhat.

We can say goodbye to the SPG Amex now that we have banked the 20,000 point sign-up bonus, and I really would like to talk her into killing the NatWest card.  She never uses it, but it still shows on her credit report and the existence of that credit line should in theory count against getting more credit elsewhere.

Can anyone top six credit cards?

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Want to earn more points from credit cards? – April 2025 update

If you are looking to apply for a new credit card, here are our top recommendations based on the current sign-up bonuses.

In 2022, Barclaycard launched two exciting new Barclaycard Avios Mastercard cards with a bonus of up to 25,000 Avios. You can apply here.

You qualify for the bonus on these cards even if you have a British Airways American Express card:

Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard

Get 25,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £10,000 Read our full review

Barclaycard Avios Mastercard

Get 5,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £20,000 Read our full review

You can see our full directory of all UK cards which earn airline or hotel points here. Here are the best of the other deals currently available.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on the ‘free for a year’ American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 30,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (30,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to a huge 80,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (80,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

Your best beginner’s card – 30,000 points, FREE for a year & four airport lounge passes Read our full review

British Airways American Express Premium Plus

30,000 Avios and the famous annual 2-4-1 voucher Read our full review

The Platinum Card from American Express

80,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review

Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard

18,000 bonus points and 1.5 points for every £1 you spend Read our full review

Earning miles and points from small business cards

If you are a sole trader or run a small company, you may also want to check out these offers:

American Express Business Platinum

50,000 points when you sign-up and an annual £200 Amex Travel credit Read our full review

American Express Business Gold

20,000 points sign-up bonus and FREE for a year Read our full review

Capital on Tap Pro Visa

10,500 points (=10,500 Avios) plus good benefits Read our full review

Capital on Tap Visa

NO annual fee, NO FX fees and points worth 1 Avios per £1 Read our full review

British Airways American Express Accelerating Business

30,000 Avios sign-up bonus – plus annual bonuses of up to 30,000 Avios Read our full review