London VS York

London dwarfs York in scale with 1,032,530 active companies versus 16,685 — a 61.9x 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 Buying and selling of own real estate.

Key Figures

London
Active1,032,530
Total1,160,969
2020s Growth68.3%
Oldest Co.1856
York
Active16,685
Total18,051
2020s Growth48.9%
Oldest Co.1869

Head-to-Head

Active Companies
1,032,530
16,685
Total Registered
1,160,969
18,051
Dissolved Companies
128,439
1,366
2020s Growth Rate
683%
489%
LondonYork

Company Formation by Decade

London
Pre-1990
24,094
1990s
27,122
2000s
80,708
2010s
323,398
2020s
705,647
York
Pre-1990
788
1990s
591
2000s
2,406
2010s
6,109
2020s
8,157

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city has more registered companies, London or York?

London has 1,032,530 active companies compared to 16,685 in York — 1,015,845 more.

Which is growing faster, London or York?

London has a higher 2020s company formation rate (68.3%) compared to York (48.9%).

What industries do London and York have in common?

Both cities share these top industries: Activities of other holding companies n.e.c., 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 Business and domestic software development and Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet, while York stands out in Development of building projects and Dormant Company.