Sternumator wrote: The two diversifiers that most interest me are bonds and property because they large asset classes that I assume are underrepresented on the balance sheets of listed companies. If you were trying to build a portfolio of all the assets in the world weighted by value, you would be missing out important components of global wealth by leaving out property and bonds.
That's pretty persuasive. The other thing I'd add is to consider biasing investments in favour of the tax efficient - be it income tax, Capital Gains Tax, or Inheritance Tax.
Your owner-occupied property mitigates all three. Gold sovereigns are free of CGT; so are gilts, including inflation-linked gilts.
But I don't know of a satisfactory way of storing sovereigns. Gilts have been poor value for ages. ILGs tend to be overvalued because of regulations that require DB pension funds to hold lots, thus driving the price up.
Maybe the best inflation protection at the moment is to buy "stuff" that you expect to use in future and which you think will rise in price. Happily I enjoy sardines and baked beans (though not in the same meal).
Also, if you know Granny holds index-linked savings certificates persuade her not to cash them in. And don't let her executor do so either.