@gogohm
Where is best to start from scratch. Following the sale of my former marital home I have proper money to invest for the first time, I've got just over a week to max out this years isa allowance. I was looking at shares and funds too
Just to add to
@VanGoghsDog excellent advice, as a beginner, choose your investment platform (HL and ii are others to consider) and have a look at their fund picks (passive or managed) and the sector eg banking, mining, property, those that track the FTSE. Think about your area for investment eg UK, US, Asia, China, worldwide.
Decide if you want to invest your £20k at the start of the year, or "drip feed" into your investments on a monthly basis. Are ethical funds important to you?
If you like the Board of Directors, management plan and ethos at Rolls Royce (for example) perhaps consider investing in some single shares too.
Eg: Pubs, restaurants, cinemas and travel companies have been decimated by COVID and the share prices are way down. Do you believe they could turn around? How will reduced consumer spending due to the current financial situation impact this?
What do you buy and use on a regular basis? Oil, energy, toilet roll, electronics? Look at companies with a product that people will continue to use - despite the current (and probably ongoing) squeeze.
Whatever you decide, good luck. Have faith in your convictions and don't obsess over daily, or even weekly, variations in the price. Be in it for at least 5 years.
PS I'm assuming this is money leftover from a 6 month salary savings buffer and a decent pension.