Few cities on earth can match London’s football pedigree. The capital quietly fields more top-flight clubs than anywhere else in England — and those are just the ones in the Premier League. From Craven Cottage’s riverside charm to the electric new-build of Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London clubs span a geography as varied as their histories.
Total professional clubs in Greater London: 31 ·
Premier League clubs (2024/25): 7 (Arsenal, Brentford, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United) ·
Oldest top-flight club: Fulham (1879) ·
Largest club stadium: London Stadium (62,500) and Emirates Stadium (60,260)
Quick snapshot
- Seven London clubs compete in the Premier League for the 2024/25 season (BetMGM Sports Blog)
- West London leads with three top-flight clubs: Chelsea, Fulham, and Brentford (BetMGM Sports Blog)
- Fulham, founded in 1879, is the oldest London club still playing in the Premier League (BetMGM Sports Blog)
- Whether Watford FC — technically in Hertfordshire but often grouped with London clubs — belongs on a London list
- Total club count fluctuates each season due to promotion and relegation across the five professional tiers
- 2006: Emirates Stadium opens as Arsenal’s new home, replacing Highbury
- 2016: West Ham United become anchor tenants of London Stadium
- 2020: Brentford Community Stadium (Gtech Community Stadium) opens
- Lower-league London clubs (Charlton, Leyton Orient, AFC Wimbledon) continue chasing promotion toward the Championship
- Selhurst Park remains in the Premier League as Crystal Palace’s home through 2024/25
| League tier | Number of London clubs | Example clubs |
|---|---|---|
| Premier League | 7 | Arsenal, Brentford, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United |
| EFL Championship | 3 | Millwall, Queens Park Rangers, Watford |
| EFL League One | 3 | Charlton Athletic, Leyton Orient, Reading |
| EFL League Two | 2 | AFC Wimbledon, Bromley |
| National League | 7 | Barnet, Dagenham & Redbridge, Sutton United, Wealdstone, and three others within Greater London |
Which London Football Clubs Play in the Premier League?
Seven London-based clubs line up in the Premier League for the 2024/25 season — a number no other English city approaches. Arsenal, Chelsea, and Tottenham Hotspur carry the deepest historical weight, while Brentford, Crystal Palace, Fulham, and West Ham United each represent distinct pockets of the capital. A BetMGM Sports Blog analysis notes that north London is anchored by Arsenal and Tottenham, west london by Chelsea, Fulham, and Brentford, south london by Crystal Palace, and east london by West Ham United.
Arsenal FC
Arsenal was founded in 1886 and has called Emirates Stadium home since 2006. Located in Holloway, postcode N7 7AJ, off the A1 Holloway Road, the 60,260-seat ground replaced Highbury as the club’s primary venue. The Premier League official site lists the stadium as Arsenal’s home, and Wikipedia confirms its location in North London.
Tottenham Hotspur FC
Founded in 1882, Tottenham Hotspur plays at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, located at 782 High Road, London N17 0BX. The club’s official site confirms the North London address. This is a purpose-built football venue that replaced White Hart Lane in 2019.
West Ham United FC
West Ham United plays at London Stadium in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford, East London, postcode E20 2ST. Per Wikipedia, the stadium was built for the London 2012 Olympic Games and West Ham became anchor tenants from the 2016 football season.
Chelsea FC
Chelsea was founded in 1905 and plays at Stamford Bridge in the Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, West London. Wikipedia confirms the Fulham location as Chelsea’s home ground.
Fulham FC
Fulham was founded in 1879, making it the oldest London football club still competing in the top flight. The club plays at Craven Cottage in West London. BetMGM Sports Blog confirms the founding year and Premier League status.
Crystal Palace FC
Crystal Palace was founded in 1905 and plays at Selhurst Park in the London Borough of Croydon, South London. Wikipedia confirms Selhurst Park as the club’s home ground in South Norwood.
Brentford FC
Brentford FC was founded in 1889 and plays at Gtech Community Stadium (also called Brentford Community Stadium for sponsorship reasons) at 166 Lionel Road South, Brentford, London TW8 0RU. Wikipedia and StadiumDB both confirm the West London location and address.
No other city in England fields more than two Premier League clubs. London’s seven-team presence reflects the capital’s population size and football culture — but it also means lower-league clubs face steeper competition for local attention, sponsorship, and talent.
What Are the Football Clubs in East London?
East London’s professional football footprint extends well beyond West Ham United. Leyton Orient and Dagenham & Redbridge operate within the professional tier system, giving the region three clubs across three different divisions as of the 2024/25 season.
West Ham United FC
West Ham United is the flagship east London club, currently in the Premier League. The club played at the Boleyn Ground (Upton Park) until 2016 before relocating to London Stadium in Stratford. Wikipedia confirms West Ham as anchor tenants since 2016.
Leyton Orient FC
Leyton Orient competes in EFL League One and plays at Brisbane Road (also known as Matchroom Stadium). The club provides a second professional football option for east Londoners following lower-league results.
Dagenham & Redbridge FC
Dagenham & Redbridge plays in the National League (fifth tier), the third professional tier represented in east London. Victoria Road is the club’s home ground in Dagenham.
The pattern: a single east London corridor stretches from the Premier League to the National League, serving fan bases with vastly different ambitions and resources.
Which Football Clubs Are in South London and South East London?
South London punches above its weight in the professional football pyramid. While Crystal Palace is the only club from the region currently in the Premier League, the area has produced several historically significant clubs across the other four tiers.
Crystal Palace FC
Crystal Palace is the sole south London club in the Premier League for 2024/25. Selhurst Park, located in the London Borough of Croydon, has been the club’s home since 1924, according to Darco Capital.
Millwall FC
Millwall competes in the EFL Championship and plays at The Den in Bermondsey. The club has a fiercely loyal fanbase and a historic rivalry with south London neighbours.
Charlton Athletic FC
Charlton Athletic plays in EFL League One at The Valley. The club has a rich history that includes top-flight seasons and FA Cup finalists appearances.
AFC Wimbledon
AFC Wimbledon plays in EFL League Two at Plough Lane, a stadium rebuilt near the original Wimbledon FC ground. The club represents one of football’s most remarkable fan-ownership stories.
Bromley FC
Bromley FC competes in EFL League Two at Hayes Lane. The club reached the Football League for the first time in 2024/25 — a landmark achievement for south London’s non-League history.
South London has gone from one Premier League club (Crystal Palace) to potentially five professional clubs across the Football League in recent years. Bromley’s promotion to League Two in 2024 marked the first time the club has played in the league system — a milestone for the borough of Bromley.
Which Football Clubs Are in West London?
West London is England’s most concentrated Premier League zone. Three clubs — Chelsea, Fulham, and Brentford — compete in the top tier from west London alone, with Queens Park Rangers in the Championship just below them.
Chelsea FC
Chelsea, founded in 1905, plays at Stamford Bridge in the Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. The club has won multiple Premier League titles and European trophies, giving west London a global following that far exceeds the borough boundaries.
Fulham FC
Fulham, founded in 1879, is the oldest professional football club in London and the oldest still playing in the top flight. The club plays at Craven Cottage on the banks of the River Thames — one of English football’s most iconic settings.
Brentford FC
Brentford, founded in 1889, plays at Gtech Community Stadium in Brentford, within the London Borough of Hounslow. The club has established itself in the Premier League after decades in lower divisions, with a data-driven recruitment model that has attracted attention across European football.
Queens Park Rangers FC
QPR competes in the EFL Championship and plays at Loftus Road in Shepherd’s Bush. The club has spent multiple seasons in the Premier League and remains a significant west London institution.
The catch: west London’s Premier League dominance masks an uneven playing field below the top tier. QPR’s Championship status contrasts with Chelsea’s global revenue, while Fulham and Brentford operate with much smaller budgets despite their top-flight status.
Are There Football Clubs in Central London?
No professional football club has a home stadium within the City of London financial district. The area that visitors and tourists think of as “Central London” — the West End, the City, Westminster — contains no league football clubs.
The misconception
Arsenal (Holloway), Tottenham Hotspur (Tottenham), and Chelsea (Fulham) are often described as north, north, and west London respectively — not Central London. These areas fall within inner London boroughs, but the historic City of London boundary encloses just 1.1 square miles and contains no football stadium.
How geography works for London clubs
The confusion stems from how London is divided. “Central London” in a tourism or retail context (Oxford Street, Covent Garden, the City) differs from any administrative or footballing geographic classification. Stadium locations follow borough boundaries and established residential areas, not the visitor’s mental map of the capital.
What this means: if you’re looking for a match near Covent Garden or King’s Cross, you’ll need to travel to one of the inner London boroughs — Arsenal (Holloway) and Tottenham (N17) are among the closest options.
How Many Professional Football Clubs Are There in London?
Greater London is home to 31 professional football clubs across the top five English tiers as of the 2024/25 season. The breakdown: 7 in the Premier League, 7 in EFL Championship, 4 in EFL League One, 6 in EFL League Two, and 7 in the National League (the fifth tier).
The Stadium Guide website lists 22 London league stadia across the professional tiers, including the seven Premier League grounds plus those used by EFL and National League clubs. A P1 Travel guide originally listed six London clubs before Brentford’s promotion; updated editions now include seven.
Where to find a map of London football clubs
The Wikipedia “Football in London” page includes a borough-based club locator. The Stadium Guide website offers a visual map of all London league stadia. Third-party fan resources like P1Travel and individual club sites provide address-level detail for each ground.
The implication: no single authoritative source maps all 31 professional clubs by both league tier and geographic zone in one place. This article aims to fill that gap.
What people say about London football
Football in London is played at professional level by clubs within Greater London. The city has the largest number of top-level professional football clubs of any city in England.
— Wikipedia – Football in London
North London is mainly represented by Arsenal and Tottenham, while West London is represented by Chelsea, Fulham and Brentford, South London by Crystal Palace, and East London by West Ham.
— BetMGM Sports Blog (Premier League analysis)
footballgroundguide.com, topdraw-corporate.com, draughtslondon.com, australiacurrent.com
For a visual overview of the city’s teams, check out this karta över Londons fotbollsklubbar, which complements the area-based breakdown in this guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the oldest football club in London?
Fulham FC, founded in 1879, is the oldest London football club still playing in the top flight. Founded before the Premier League era, it predates all other current London Premier League clubs by decades.
Which London football club has the most Premier League titles?
Arsenal holds the record among London clubs, having won the Premier League multiple times. Chelsea has also won the title several times. Tottenham Hotspur is yet to win the Premier League.
Do any London football clubs play home games at Wembley Stadium?
No professional London club uses Wembley Stadium as a primary home ground. It is a national stadium used for England internationals, cup finals, and occasional other events. Tottenham Hotspur previously played some fixtures there during construction of their new stadium.
What is the smallest Premier League stadium in London?
Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium is among the smaller Premier League grounds in London, with around 17,000 capacity. The largest club stadium is London Stadium (62,500 for West Ham) and Emirates Stadium (60,260 for Arsenal).
How many London football clubs have won the FA Cup?
Multiple London clubs have won the FA Cup. Arsenal has won it more times than any other club. Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, and West Ham United have also lifted the trophy.
Are there any women’s football clubs in London playing in the top tier?
Arsenal Women and Chelsea Women both compete in the Women’s Super League (WSL), which is the top tier of English women’s football. Both clubs are based in London and have won multiple league titles.
Which London football club has the largest fan base?
Chelsea and Arsenal have the largest global fan bases among London clubs, with significant supporter groups worldwide. Tottenham Hotspur also has a large and growing international following. Among lower-league clubs, Millwall and West Ham United have particularly devoted local fanbases.
Ingrid Malmstrom
Senior Football Editor — Ingrid Malmstrom oversees club, league, and player profile coverage. Her editorial focus is European football, historical records, and ensuring that profiles are clearly sourced, consistently structured, and regularly updated.