England's most successful clubs – Liverpool and Manchester United – hail from the North West of the country, but the capital is also a powerhouse of talent, featuring the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.
The Gunners have secured the Premier League title in 2025/26 and are set to face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final, while fellow Londoners Crystal Palace are also competing for continental glory in the Conference League.
By contrast, Spurs are facing the very real threat of relegation this season, and it would be disastrous for the Lilywhites if they were to spend a season in the Championship while playing in one of the most expensive stadiums in the world.
Want to know exactly how many teams there are in London? Read on as Football Ground Guide covers all you need to know about London's football clubs as the 2025-26 season approaches its finale.
A map of football teams in London
The sheer number of football clubs in the capital, from Premier League giants to non-league stalwarts, can be overwhelmning. To make things easier, check out our 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.
Now, let's break down everything for you, starting with the Premier League.
How many Premier League teams are in London?
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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. Arsenal won the Premier League title in 2025/26, but Chelsea have won more silverware than the Gunners in recent years.
Crystal Palace won the FA Cup last season and are competing for continental glory in the UEFA Conference League final this term, while Mikel Arteta's side are set to face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final.
In terms of historical significance, though, the Gunners are out on their own. Arsenal have won 14 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.
However, that could soon change given that Arsenal are planning an expansion to the Emirates Stadium which could take their home ground's capacity beyond the 70,000 mark, while the Irons' place in this section is at risk with the club on the brink of relegation.
The sheer number of clubs located in the capital city means that London derbies are the most frequent type of rivalry in the league. Fans eager to make the most of these fixtures have various options available ahead of matchday.
North London Derbies (competed between Arsenal and Tottenham) and Chelsea vs Tottenham are considered amongst 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 – Millwall, Queens Park Rangers, and Charlton Athletic.
Charlton managed to survive in 2025/26, while QPR delivered a mid-table finish, and Millwall finished third before narrowly missing out on promotion via the playoffs when they were beaten by Hull City in the semi-finals.
Founded in 1885, Millwall are one of England's oldest professional clubs, and their home ground – The Den – is set to undergo redevelopment and expansion in the near future. QPR were founded on January 1, 1882, making them even older than Millwall.
Charlton joined those two prestigious sides for the 2025/26 campaign after earning promotion out of League One by way of winning the League One playoff final. They host opponents at The Valley.
You could also throw Watford into the mix as a Championship London club, but the Hornets are officially located just outside the capital, and the border lines have to be drawn somewhere.
How many League One teams are in London?
The 2026/27 edition of League One will feature three London clubs – Leyton Orient, AFC Wimbledon and League Two champions Bromley.
Leyton Orient were the unfortunate side that lost out against the Addicks in the 2024/25 playoffs, and they followed up that campaign by struggling throughout 2025/26, eventually finishing 20th – just three points above 21st-placed Exeter City in the relegation zone.
AFC Wimbledon ended the season one point above Orient, but their year will be seen as a success considering that they were able to survive after earning promotion via League Two's playoffs.
Bromley play their home games at the 5000-capacity Hayes Lane and are a relatively new face in the Football League, having secured their first promotion to League Two in 2024. The Ravens racked up 87 points, clinching the fourth-tier title by finishing one point above MK Dons.
How many League Two teams are in London?
League Two's only contender from the capital is Barnet, who survived to fight another day in the division.
North London's Barnet play their home games at the Hive Stadium, though a relocation is on the cards. The Bees climbed up to the fourth tier after becoming National League champions in 2024/25, and narrowly missed out on the playoffs this term, finishing two points shy of seventh-placed Grimsby Town.
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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 three London-based teams in England's National League division for 2026/27: Wealdstone, Sutton United and Hornchurch.
How many National League South teams are in London?
There are two National League South teams in London: Dagenham & Redbridge, Hampton & Richmond Borough.
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 League Two outfit, while Wingate & Finchley and Enfield Town play in the Isthmian League Premier, and Hendon are part of the Isthmian League Division One South Central.
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?
Dominated by West Ham and Millwall, East London has at least six teams from the seventh tier upwards.
Football teams in East London:
- West Ham United
- Millwall
- Charlton Athletic
- Dagenham & Redbridge
- Welling United
- Hornchurch
How many South London football clubs?
South London is a hotbed of footballing talent and a huge contributor to the Premier League and English national team in terms of players produced, but is also the least successful area of the capital in terms of trophies. Nevertheless, there are plenty of teams – at least 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?
With three Premier League sides – and nine overall – West London is a significant player in the national football landscape.
Football teams in West London:
- Brentford
- Chelsea
- Fulham
- Queens Park Rangers
- Wealdstone
- Hampton & Richmond Borough
- Harrow Borough
- Hayes & Yeading United