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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 2,937,181 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 2,937,181 total incorporated companies, 304,160 were formed in the last 12 months ending the 02nd of December 2023.

All Time

2,937,181

Total Incorporations

All Time

1,412,076

Active Companies

All Time

1,501,534

Total Dissolved

Last 12 Months

304,160

Incorporations

Last 12 Months

300,332

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 250,530 173,206 73,685
Administrative and support service activities 444,542 153,915 280,266
Construction 255,860 124,399 124,926
Other service activities 210,184 96,206 111,449
Financial and insurance activities 136,840 73,931 60,419
Accommodation and food service activities 150,131 68,089 78,838
Human health and social work activities 126,351 64,209 61,064
Manufacturing 100,400 46,476 51,671
Arts, entertainment and recreation 93,768 45,501 46,805
Education 76,353 41,836 33,829
Activities of households as employers 47,042 37,076 9,804
Transportation and storage 76,106 34,277 39,458
Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply 10,993 5,607 5,259
Public administration and defence; compulsory social security 8,158 4,208 3,871
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing 7,165 3,317 3,761
Water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities 7,185 3,144 3,893
Mining and Quarrying 6,324 2,829 3,373

Top 20 Business Type Classifications in London

Business Classification Companies Incorporated Active Dissolved
Management consultancy activities other than financial management 166,620 81,101 82,754
Buying and selling of own real estate 106,733 75,072 30,225
Information technology consultancy activities 131,198 61,235 68,289
Other service activities 138,255 58,741 77,877
Management of real estate on a fee or contract basis 55,531 36,656 18,172
Residents property management 43,960 35,927 7,908
Other information technology service activities 78,613 35,051 42,056
Business and domestic software development 56,818 33,452 22,918
Development of building projects 63,002 30,807 29,987
Construction of domestic buildings 53,090 29,532 22,945
Activities of other holding companies 36,025 26,327 9,203
Other human health activities 52,093 25,982 25,689
Other professional, scientific and technical activities 44,874 22,337 22,005
Other retail sale not in stores, stalls or markets 43,218 22,315 20,629
Advertising agencies 38,007 19,858 17,717
Hairdressing and other beauty treatment 34,987 18,725 15,864
Other education 29,759 17,815 11,763

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 43,385 22,088 21,251
Barnet 155,951 69,862 81,833
Bexley 39,531 19,753 19,682
Brent 75,383 34,839 40,321
Bromley 54,956 26,867 27,367
Camden 300,501 161,896 137,251
City of London 127,755 56,046 68,487
Croydon 85,165 41,392 43,214
Ealing 80,633 39,806 40,687
Enfield 82,451 38,961 42,319
Greenwich 49,187 23,603 25,537
Hackney 199,895 101,370 97,945
Hammersmith and Fulham 60,666 30,058 30,528
Haringey 60,003 30,454 29,469
Harrow 91,803 47,054 44,336
Havering 44,291 21,834 21,889
Hillingdon 70,537 35,761 34,449
Hounslow 63,754 27,924 35,731
Islington 183,077 88,006 93,825
Kensington and Chelsea 47,602 22,714 24,780
Kingston upon Thames 30,325 14,582 15,684
Lambeth 58,760 26,330 32,364
Lewisham 44,684 19,390 25,244
Merton 53,875 25,653 28,152
Newham 92,872 40,905 51,879
Redbridge 91,472 43,967 46,745
Richmond upon Thames 40,992 20,348 20,242
Southwark 75,505 33,218 41,576
Sutton 32,581 15,896 16,279
Tower Hamlets 100,399 42,175 54,909
Waltham Forest 56,984 26,201 30,560
Wandsworth 67,172 26,795 40,295
Westminster 275,034 136,328 136,704

Frequently Asked Questions about Business in London

How many companies are there in London?

There are 1,412,076 active companies in London as of Dec 2023. In total, 2,937,181 companies have been incorporated, and 1,501,534 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 173,206 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: 02 Dec 2023 00:00