London VS Edinburgh

Side-by-side comparison of business activity in London and Edinburgh. London hosts 1,030,129 active companies from 1,155,104 total registered, while Edinburgh has 56,464 active from 61,144 total. London shows a stronger 2020s growth rate.

Key Figures

London
Active1,030,129
Total1,155,104
2020s Growth68.2%
Oldest Co.1856
Edinburgh
Active56,464
Total61,144
2020s Growth41.3%
Oldest Co.1871

Head-to-Head

Active Companies
1,030,129
56,464
Total Registered
1,155,104
61,144
Dissolved Companies
124,975
4,680
2020s Growth Rate
682%
413%
LondonEdinburgh

Company Formation by Decade

London
Pre-1990
24,006
1990s
27,000
2000s
80,019
2010s
321,266
2020s
702,813
Edinburgh
Pre-1990
1,053
1990s
1,828
2000s
6,751
2010s
28,173
2020s
23,339

Featured Companies

London
NACRO25 sources
JOHN LEWIS PLC22 sources
Edinburgh
SRUC18 sources
TSB BANK PLC15 sources

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city has more registered companies, London or Edinburgh?

London has 1,030,129 active companies compared to 56,464 in Edinburgh — 973,665 more.

Which is growing faster, London or Edinburgh?

London has a higher 2020s company formation rate (68.2%) compared to Edinburgh (41.3%).

What industries do London and Edinburgh have in common?

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