Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form F-3 of HSBC Holdings plc of our report dated February 24, 2021 relating to the financial statements and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which appears in HSBC Holdings plc’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2020. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.

/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

London, United Kingdom

February 26, 2021

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, 7 More London Riverside, London, SE1 2RT

T: +44 (0) 2075 835 000, F: +44 (0) 2072 127 500, www.pwc.co.uk

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England with registered number OC303525. The registered office of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is 1 Embankment Place, London WC2N 6RH. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for designated investment business.