Companies in London

United Kingdom|61.5% formed since 2020|13% inactive|Data updated 30 Oct 2026
1,006,831
Active

1,006,831 active companies are registered in London, making it one of the UK's largest business centres. Out of 1,255,897 companies ever registered here, 157,681 are no longer active — a 80% survival rate. The area has seen significant recent growth, with 61.5% of active businesses incorporated since 2020. Over half (78%) of active companies were formed since 2020, making this one of the UK's fastest-growing business locations. The most common industry sector is buying and selling of own real estate, with 54,459 companies. The area hosts 27,804 large enterprises, 19,633 small firms. London is home to 16,605 FCA-regulated firms and 10,651 registered charities. Companies here hold 48,305 government contracts worth £321.4B in total. The average company age is 7.3 years. The earliest company registration in London dates back to 1856.

Source: Companies House register via UVAGATRON, October 2026

1,006,831
Active Companies
1,255,897
Total Registered
1856
Oldest Company
61.5%
Growth (2020s)

London is a growth hotspot — over half of its active companies were formed since 2020.

Incorporation by Decade
26%
64%
Pre-1990: 24,108
1990s: 27,049
2000s: 80,304
2010s: 318,879
2020s: 786,183

Top Industries

Buying and selling of own real estate54,459→Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate53,350→Management consultancy activities other than financial management48,214→Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet44,881→Other business support service activities n.e.c.38,483→Business and domestic software development34,746→Information technology consultancy activities29,576→Activities of other holding companies n.e.c.29,211→
Other27,324
Other service activities n.e.c.23,001→

Data Signals

Governance
4,189,9856 src
Financial
3,034,83912 src
Risk
756,28212 src
Compliance
398,34319 src
Trade
110,5662 src
quality
66,2766 src
growth
55,3892 src
innovation
28,0192 src
ESG
24,3396 src
corporate_structure
11,5881 src
operational
2,0491 src
regulatory
2451 src

Top Companies in London

NACRO
Renting and operating of Housing Association real estateEst. 192578 signals
BAE SYSTEMS PLC
Manufacture of weapons and ammunitionEst. 1979257 signals
LEONARD CHESHIRE DISABILITY
Other human health activitiesEst. 1955233 signals
CANCER RESEARCH UK
Other human health activitiesEst. 2001227 signals
MACMILLAN CANCER SUPPORT
Hospital activitiesEst. 1989119 signals
ST. JOHN AMBULANCE
Other human health activitiesEst. 199979 signals
DELOITTE LLP
Est. 20031,070 signals
JOHN LEWIS PLC
Other retail sale in non-specialised storesEst. 1928179 signals
SIEMENS MOBILITY LIMITED
Manufacture of other transport equipment n.e.c.Est. 1881152 signals
NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED
Development of building projectsEst. 1994137 signals

Business Landscape

The average active company in London is 7.3 years old. There are 16,605 <Link href="/glossary/fca-financial-conduct-authority">FCA-regulated firms</Link> in the area. 10,651 registered charities operate locally.

7.3 yrs
Avg company age
16,605
FCA regulated
10,651
Charities

Company Size Breakdown

Small: 19,633 (41%)Medium: 825 (2%)Large: 27,804 (58%)

Government Investment

Companies in London have been awarded 48,305 government contracts with a combined value of £321360.4M. See the Top Government Contractors report.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many companies are registered in London?

There are 1,006,831 active companies registered in London, out of 1,255,897 total. 157,681 (13%) are no longer active.

What are the main industries in London?

The top industries in London include Buying and selling of own real estate (54,459 companies), Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate (53,350 companies), Management consultancy activities other than financial management (48,214 companies).

How fast is London growing as a business hub?

61.5% of currently active companies in London were incorporated since 2020, indicating strong recent growth.

What data signals are available for companies in London?

Our database contains 8,677,920 data signals across 12 categories for active companies in London. The largest category is Governance with 4,189,985 signals from 6 sources.

When was the first company registered in London?

The oldest company registration in London dates back to 1856, spanning over 170 years of business history.

Data is updated daily from official UK government sources including Companies House. Information is provided for reference only.