There are multiple major cities in England when it comes to football – Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Sheffield and of course, London, to name but a few.
While London is perhaps not the most influential historically, that arguably goes to Sheffield, nor the most successful, that belongs to Manchester, it is by far the most populous, boasting a huge number of professional football clubs.
From the heights of the Premier League to the lows of the National League South, London has plenty to offer right the way through the English football pyramid.
Teams such as Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham regularly represent the city on the biggest stages, but exactly how many London-based clubs are there?
Everything you need to know is below…
A map of football teams in London
A map showing all football teams in London undoubtedly features many clubs, from the Premier League teams to the non-league outfits domiciled in Greater London. We have made this easier for you in the map below.
Now, on to the big question: How many professional football teams are there in London? By our reckoning, there are at least 20 football teams in the football pyramid from the sixth tier upwards.
Most importantly, the number of football teams in London may change occasionally, depending on many factors. For example, some teams may merge or dissolve due to financial challenges.
Now, let's break down everything for you, starting with the Premier League.
How many Premier League teams are in London?
There are currently seven Premier League teams in London, namely Arsenal, Brentford, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur, and West Ham United.
This is more than one-third of the entire league, which means you are almost guaranteed at least one London derby match each gameweek in the top division.
Determining which London side is the ‘best' or ‘biggest' is a difficult challenge. On current form, you'd have to say that Arsenal are the ‘best' London Premier League side, yet in recent seasons, Chelsea and Tottenham have won more silverware than the Gunners.
Even Crystal Palace won the FA Cup last season, while Arsenal have now gone eight years without winning a trophy with fans in the stadium – their FA Cup triumph in 2020 has an asterisk next to it due to the COVID pandemic.
In terms of historical significance, though, the Gunners are out on their own. Arsenal have won 13 First Division/Premier League titles, which is more than double the number Chelsea have won (six).
Ironically, none of the four teams we have mentioned so far boasts the largest club stadium in London. That accolade goes to West Ham, with the London Stadium having a capacity of 62,500 for football matches, which is marginally more than the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
That could soon change, though, with Arsenal planning an expansion to the Emirates Stadium, which could take their home past the 70,000 mark.
The sheer number of clubs located in the capital city means that London derbies are the most frequent type of rivalry in the league. North London Derbies (competed between Arsenal and Tottenham) and Chelsea vs Tottenham are considered the fiercest in the division.
The first ever north London derby overseas 🌏 pic.twitter.com/0N0WCLpqw1
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) March 31, 2025
How many Championship teams are in London?
There are currently three Championship teams in London. They include Millwall and Queens Park Rangers, and the newly promoted side, Charlton Athletic. While the first two teams did not have a good campaign in 2023/24, both enjoyed better campaigns in 2024/25, with Millwall finishing eighth and narrowly missing out on a playoff spot.
Millwall's home stadium is The Den, which has a seating capacity of at least 20,146. The Lions were founded in 1885, making them one of the oldest professional football clubs in the country. QPR, another London-based Championship club, were founded on 1 January 1882, making them even older than Millwall.
Joining those two prestigious sides for the 2025/26 campaign are Charlton Athletic, who were promoted out of League One after winning the League One Playoff final. They play their football at The Valley, which will likely be electric for the entire season.
You could also throw Watford into the mix as a Championship London club, but the Hornets are officially located just outside the capital, but the border lines have to be drawn somewhere.
How many League One teams are in London?
In 2024/25, there were two London-based clubs in League One. They were Charlton Athletic and Leyton Orient. Remarkably, both sides enjoyed incredible campaigns, and the pair battled it out in the 2024/25 League One Playoff.
Ultimately, it was former Premier League outfit Charlton that prevailed, and they were promoted to the Championship as a result.
Despite that, there will still be two London clubs in the division during the 2025/26 campaign, as Southwest Londoners AFC Wimbledon were victorious against Walsall in the League Two Playoff final.
How many League Two teams are in London?
There are two League Two teams in London for the 2025/25 campaign, Bromley and Barnet.
Bromley play their home games at Hayes Lane, which has a 5000-seating capacity and are relatively new to the division, having secured their first promotion to the Football League in 2024.
Newly promoted Barnet will join them, although the Bees have played in the Football League previously. The North London outfit were the National League champions in 2024/25, accruing 102 points, and they will be desperate to avoid relegation.
Barnet currently play their football at the Hive Stadium, although a relocation is on the cards.
London teams that no longer exist
London boasts some of the best teams in England, but some teams have become defunct due to various challenges, such as financial struggles and a lack of adequate infrastructure.
1st Surrey Rifles F.C. was active in the early years of the FA Cup. Founded in 1869, the team played its home matches at the Parade Ground on Brunswick Road in Camberwell.
AC London F.C., a semi-professional football club in London, folded its operations in 2018 after being suspended from the Combined Counties Football League.
Bedfont Town F.C. is another defunct football club in London. They were based in Bedford, located in Greater London and were popularly known as the Peakcocks. Founded in 1965, Bedfont Town F.C. was dissolved in 2012.
Another London football team that is no longer in existence is Hayes Gate Football Club, which was located in the Hayes area of Greater London. The club played its home matches at Springfield Road, Hayes. It was founded in 2006 but dissolved five years later, in 2011.
Leyton F.C., an English association football club in the Northern Isthmian League Division One, ceased operations in 2011 due to serious financial challenges. The club was founded in 1886, making it one of the oldest football teams in England, particularly in Greater London.
New Salamis Football Club was established in 1971 and dissolved in 2024. The club played its home matches at Coles Park, which had a capacity of 3,000 spectators.
Other defunct football teams in London include Redbridge Forest F.C., which merged with Dagenham in 1992; Slade Green FC, which dissolved in 2009; Southgate Athletic, which dissolved in 1997; Tooting & Mitcham Wanderers F.C., which dissolved in 2017; and Wingate F.C., which dissolved in 1991.
Which are the biggest football clubs in London?
The size of a football club is premised on many factors. While some would argue everything boils down to financial capabilities and even the number of trophies won, let's add that even the number of fans contributes massively to the success of any club.
Also, looking at the history of the Premier League teams in London, the history as well as the honours significantly impact the perceived size of any club. This is a topic of much debate, but our ranking of the top five biggest clubs in London is as follows:
- Arsenal
- Chelsea
- Tottenham
- West Ham
- Crystal Palace
Football teams in London FAQs
How many National League teams are in London?
There are currently four London-based teams in England's National League division. Sutton's relegation to the National League in the 2023/24 season means they join Barnet, Dagenham & Redbridge and Wealdstone as London-based clubs in the fifth tier of English football.
How many National League South teams are in London?
There are three National League South teams in London: Dulwich Hamlet, Hampton & Richmond Borough, and Welling United.
How many North London football clubs?
North London is home to at least seven professional football teams. The biggest rivalry in this part of England is always a clash between Arsenal and Tottenham. These two teams are also ranked highly among the biggest outfits in London.
Barnet is a London-based National League outfit, and they have been in the division for several seasons. Enfield Town, on the other hand, plays in the National League South. Hendon and Wingate & Finchley play in the Isthmian League Premier.
With that, below is a summary of the football teams in North London:
- Arsenal
- Tottenham Hotspur
- Barnet
- Enfield Town
- Haringey Borough
- Wingate & Finchley
- Hendon
How many East London football clubs?
Defined by the bitter and often violent clashes of West Ham and Millwall, East London has a total of six teams from the seventh tier upwards.
List of football teams in East London below:
- West Ham United
- Millwall
- Charlton Athletic
- Dagenham & Redbridge
- Welling United
- and Hornchurch
How many South London football clubs?
It's a hotbed of footballing talent and a huge contributor to the Premier League and English national team in terms of players produced, but South London is the least successful area of the capital in terms of trophies. Nevertheless, there are plenty of teams. Nine can be found from the seventh tier up.
List of football teams in South London below:
- Crystal Palace
- AFC Wimbledon
- Sutton United
- Bromley
- Dulwich Hamlet
- Carshalton Athletic
- Corinthian-Casuals
- Cray Wanderers
- Kingstonian
How many West London football clubs?
The dominant force for Premier League sides, with three, and there are nine in total in West London.
List of football teams in South London below:
- Brentford
- Chelsea
- Fulham
- Queens Park Rangers
- Wealdstone
- Hampton & Richmond Borough
- Harrow Borough
- Hayes & Yeading United