London VS York

London dwarfs York in scale with 1,028,174 active companies versus 16,706 — a 61.5x difference. Despite the size gap, both cities play distinct roles in the UK economy. York may be smaller, but its industry mix and growth patterns offer unique advantages. Both cities share strength in Activities of other holding companies n.e.c. and Business and domestic software development.

Key Figures

London
Active1,028,174
Total1,247,586
2020s Growth61.6%
Oldest Co.1856
York
Active16,706
Total19,026
2020s Growth46.4%
Oldest Co.1869

Head-to-Head

Active Companies
1,028,174
16,706
Total Registered
1,247,586
19,026
Dissolved Companies
96,270
1,001
2020s Growth Rate
616%
464%
LondonYork

Company Formation by Decade

London
Pre-1990
24,224
1990s
27,170
2000s
80,679
2010s
320,863
2020s
775,295
York
Pre-1990
793
1990s
592
2000s
2,400
2010s
6,098
2020s
8,939

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city has more registered companies, London or York?

London has 1,028,174 active companies compared to 16,706 in York — 1,011,468 more.

Which is growing faster, London or York?

London has a higher 2020s company formation rate (61.6%) compared to York (46.4%).

What industries do London and York have in common?

Both cities share these top industries: Activities of other holding companies n.e.c., Business and domestic software development, Buying and selling of own real estate, Information technology consultancy activities, Management consultancy activities other than financial management. London is uniquely strong in Other and Other service activities n.e.c., while York stands out in Development of building projects and Dormant Company.