London VS Northampton

London dwarfs Northampton in scale with 1,032,530 active companies versus 21,899 — a 47.1x difference. Despite the size gap, both cities play distinct roles in the UK economy. Northampton may be smaller, but its industry mix and growth patterns offer unique advantages. Both cities share strength in Buying and selling of own real estate and Information technology consultancy activities.

Key Figures

London
Active1,032,530
Total1,160,969
2020s Growth68.3%
Oldest Co.1856
Northampton
Active21,899
Total26,747
2020s Growth62.3%
Oldest Co.1879

Head-to-Head

Active Companies
1,032,530
21,899
Total Registered
1,160,969
26,747
Dissolved Companies
128,439
4,848
2020s Growth Rate
683%
623%
LondonNorthampton

Company Formation by Decade

London
Pre-1990
24,094
1990s
27,122
2000s
80,708
2010s
323,398
2020s
705,647
Northampton
Pre-1990
622
1990s
736
2000s
2,553
2010s
9,198
2020s
13,638

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city has more registered companies, London or Northampton?

London has 1,032,530 active companies compared to 21,899 in Northampton — 1,010,631 more.

Which is growing faster, London or Northampton?

London has a higher 2020s company formation rate (68.3%) compared to Northampton (62.3%).

What industries do London and Northampton have in common?

Both cities share these top industries: 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., Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate. London is uniquely strong in Activities of other holding companies n.e.c. and Business and domestic software development, while Northampton stands out in Development of building projects and Dormant Company.