London VS Oxford

London dwarfs Oxford in scale with 1,032,530 active companies versus 11,030 — a 93.6x difference. Despite the size gap, both cities play distinct roles in the UK economy. Oxford may be smaller, but its industry mix and growth patterns offer unique advantages. Both cities share strength in Business and domestic software development and Buying and selling of own real estate.

Key Figures

London
Active1,032,530
Total1,160,969
2020s Growth68.3%
Oldest Co.1856
Oxford
Active11,030
Total12,265
2020s Growth52.7%
Oldest Co.1866

Head-to-Head

Active Companies
1,032,530
11,030
Total Registered
1,160,969
12,265
Dissolved Companies
128,439
1,235
2020s Growth Rate
683%
527%
LondonOxford

Company Formation by Decade

London
Pre-1990
24,094
1990s
27,122
2000s
80,708
2010s
323,398
2020s
705,647
Oxford
Pre-1990
453
1990s
475
2000s
1,488
2010s
4,041
2020s
5,808

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city has more registered companies, London or Oxford?

London has 1,032,530 active companies compared to 11,030 in Oxford — 1,021,500 more.

Which is growing faster, London or Oxford?

London has a higher 2020s company formation rate (68.3%) compared to Oxford (52.7%).

What industries do London and Oxford 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 Other service activities n.e.c., while Oxford stands out in Development of building projects and Dormant Company.