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Companies in London

London has 29% of the UK's active companies registered among its boroughs, ranking 1st for company formations in London and 1st for the UK as a whole. Out of 2,938,724 total company incorporations, 51% have been dissolved, with 207,612 ceasing trading in the last 12 months.The most active industry in London is wholesale and retail trade including repair of motor vehicles, making up 18% of active companies, and ranking 1st nationally for this category.

London Quick Company Stats

Out of London's 2,938,724 total incorporated companies, 305,216 were formed in the last 12 months ending the 03rd of December 2023.

All Time

2,938,724

Total Incorporations

All Time

1,413,615

Active Companies

All Time

1,501,533

Total Dissolved

Last 12 Months

305,216

Incorporations

Last 12 Months

301,392

Active Companies

Last 12 Months

207,612

Dissolved

London's Industries & Business Types

The most common industries in London are wholesale and retail trade including repair of motor vehicles; professional, scientific and technical activities; and information and communication. Looking at specific business type classifications, most companies in London are classified as other letting and operating of own or leased real estate; retail sale via mail order houses or via internet; and other business support service activities.

Top 20 London Industries

Industry Companies Incorporated Active Dissolved
Real estate activities 250,660 173,340 73,683
Administrative and support service activities 444,662 154,033 280,265
Construction 255,997 124,536 124,927
Other service activities 210,295 96,315 111,449
Financial and insurance activities 136,880 73,972 60,418
Accommodation and food service activities 150,216 68,170 78,839
Human health and social work activities 126,404 64,261 61,064
Manufacturing 100,471 46,546 51,672
Arts, entertainment and recreation 93,814 45,547 46,805
Education 76,394 41,877 33,828
Activities of households as employers 47,070 37,104 9,804
Transportation and storage 76,152 34,323 39,458
Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply 10,999 5,613 5,259
Public administration and defence; compulsory social security 8,168 4,218 3,871
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing 7,168 3,320 3,761
Water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities 7,187 3,146 3,893
Mining and Quarrying 6,323 2,828 3,373

Top 20 Business Type Classifications in London

Business Classification Companies Incorporated Active Dissolved
Management consultancy activities other than financial management 166,691 81,173 82,753
Buying and selling of own real estate 106,790 75,131 30,224
Information technology consultancy activities 131,260 61,297 68,290
Other service activities 138,325 58,810 77,877
Management of real estate on a fee or contract basis 55,554 36,680 18,171
Residents property management 43,984 35,951 7,908
Other information technology service activities 78,651 35,090 42,055
Business and domestic software development 56,871 33,505 22,918
Development of building projects 63,030 30,835 29,987
Construction of domestic buildings 53,137 29,579 22,946
Activities of other holding companies 36,047 26,349 9,203
Other human health activities 52,115 26,003 25,689
Other retail sale not in stores, stalls or markets 43,290 22,387 20,629
Other professional, scientific and technical activities 44,897 22,360 22,005
Advertising agencies 38,030 19,881 17,717
Hairdressing and other beauty treatment 35,017 18,754 15,864
Other education 29,778 17,834 11,762

Businesses Statistics for London's Towns, Cities, and Villages

We have collected business information and formation statistics for 33 of London's boroughs.

Name Companies Incorporated Active Companies Dissolved
Barking and Dagenham 43,445 22,148 21,251
Barnet 156,014 69,925 81,835
Bexley 39,551 19,773 19,682
Brent 75,435 34,891 40,321
Bromley 54,971 26,882 27,367
Camden 300,726 162,120 137,250
City of London 127,800 56,092 68,488
Croydon 85,204 41,432 43,212
Ealing 80,696 39,868 40,687
Enfield 82,495 39,005 42,320
Greenwich 49,209 23,625 25,537
Hackney 200,016 101,491 97,944
Hammersmith and Fulham 60,687 30,080 30,527
Haringey 60,053 30,504 29,469
Harrow 91,782 47,033 44,336
Havering 44,297 21,841 21,889
Hillingdon 70,574 35,798 34,449
Hounslow 63,781 27,951 35,731
Islington 183,204 88,132 93,824
Kensington and Chelsea 47,622 22,733 24,781
Kingston upon Thames 30,328 14,585 15,684
Lambeth 58,787 26,356 32,364
Lewisham 44,701 19,407 25,244
Merton 53,889 25,666 28,151
Newham 92,941 40,973 51,879
Redbridge 91,538 44,031 46,745
Richmond upon Thames 41,015 20,371 20,242
Southwark 75,549 33,262 41,577
Sutton 32,593 15,908 16,279
Tower Hamlets 100,455 42,231 54,909
Waltham Forest 56,998 26,215 30,560
Wandsworth 67,198 26,821 40,295
Westminster 275,170 136,465 136,704

Frequently Asked Questions about Business in London

How many companies are there in London?

There are 1,413,615 active companies in London as of Dec 2023. In total, 2,938,724 companies have been incorporated, and 1,501,533 have been dissolved.

What is the most common type of company in London?

Most companies in London are categorised under: real estate activities. This accounts for 173,340 companies.

What are the most common SIC codes in London?

The most common SIC codes used by companies in London are: management consultancy activities other than financial management; buying and selling of own real estate; and information technology consultancy activities.

Last updated: 03 Dec 2023 00:00