Professional football clubs in London

Arsenal in action against Tottenham in the Premier League in September 2023.
Arsenal in action against Tottenham in the Premier League in September 2023. (Image credit: Getty Images)

London may not be home to England's most successful clubs, but the capital has more top-level teams than any other city in Europe.

Unlike Manchester, Madrid, Munich or other big hubs for football across the continent, London does not feature in the name of any of the city's professional clubs.

Instead, teams in the English capital usually take the name of an area of the city, which is home to more than eight million people – third in Europe behind just Istanbul and Moscow.

Here, a look at the city's professional football clubs and some of their achievements in the men's game...

16. Dagenham & Redbridge

Dagenham & Redbridge players celebrate a goal against Wrexham in May 2022.

Dagenham & Redbridge players celebrate a goal against Wrexham in May 2022. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Dagenham & Redbridge were founded in 1992 following a merger between Dagenham and Redbridge Forest.

The Daggers play in the National League and are based at the Victoria Road ground in Dagenham, east London. The club won the Conference in 2007 and earned promotion to League One via the play-offs in 2010, but were relegated back to the National League in 2016.

15. Bromley

Bromley players celebrate after beating Solihull Moors to win the National League play-off final in May 2024.

Bromley players celebrate after beating Solihull Moors to win the National League play-off final in May 2024. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Bromley beat Solihull Moors in the National League play-off final in May 2024 to win promotion to the Football League for the first time.

Based in the south of Greater London, Bromley FC play their home games at Hayes Lane. The Ravens also won the FA Trophy in 2021/22.

14. Barnet

Barnet players celebrate after winning the Conference in April 2015.

Barnet players celebrate after winning the Conference in April 2015. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Formed in 1888, Barnet were founder members of the North London League in 1892. The Bees have spent most of their history in the lower leagues, but played for a season in the old Division Two (third tier) in 1993/94.

Three-time Conference winners – in 1991, 2005 and 2015 – and FA Trophy runners-up in 1972, Barnet briefly had Dutch legend Edgar Davids as player-manager between 2012 and early 2014.

13. Sutton United

Sutton United players and fans celebrate a goal against Oldham Athletic in August 2021.

Sutton United players and fans celebrate a goal against Oldham Athletic in August 2021. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Sutton United were founded in 1898 and the south London club has spent most of its existence outside the Football League.

The Us finished eighth in League Two in 2021/22, narrowly missing out on the play-offs, and were also EFL Trophy runners-up that same season. Sutton were relegated back to the Conference in 2023/24.

12. AFC Wimbledon

AFC Wimbledon players celebrate during the penalty shootout of their Carabao Cup tie against Ipswich Town in August 2024.

AFC Wimbledon players celebrate during the penalty shootout of their Carabao Cup tie against Ipswich Town in August 2024. (Image credit: Getty Images)

AFC Wimbledon were founded in 2002 by supporters of Wimbledon after the Dons relocated to Milton Keynes.

Based at a new Plough Lane since 2020 after 18 years at the Kingsmeadow Stadium, AFC Wimbledon won promotion back to the Football League in 2010/11.

11. Leyton Orient

Leyton Orient players celebrate after winning League Two in April 2023.

Leyton Orient players celebrate after winning League Two in April 2023. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Founded in 1881, Leyton Orient have featured for only one season ever in England's top flight.

The east London outfit, based at Brisbane Road, finished bottom of the old First Division in 1962/63, and have spent the rest of their history in the lower leagues.

10. Charlton Athletic

Charlton Athletic players celebrate a goal against Southampton in the Premier League in August 1998.

Charlton Athletic players celebrate a goal against Southampton in the Premier League in August 1998. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Charlton Athletic spent seven consecutive seasons in the Premier League between 2000 and 2007 and finished seventh in 2003/04.

The south London club, based at The Valley, won the FA Cup in 1947, having finished as runners-up the previous season. And a decade before their cup win, the Addicks came second in the old First Division, behind champions Manchester City.

9. Millwall

Millwall players celebrate a goal against Rotherham United in September 2023.

Millwall players celebrate a goal against Rotherham United in September 2023. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Founded in east London in 1885, Millwall have played in the Bermondsey area in the south-east of the capital since 1910.

Long associated with hooliganism, Millwall fans famously chant "nobody likes us, we don't care". The Lions play at The Den, which was built to replace the old ground of the same name in 1993. FA Cup finalists in 2004, Millwall played in Europe as a Championship side in the 2004/05 season, losing to Hungarian outfit Ferencváros in the first round.

8. Queens Park Rangers

Queens Park Rangers players celebrate a goal against Wolves in September 2011.

Queens Park Rangers players celebrate a goal against Wolves in September 2011. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Queens Park Rangers were founded in 1882 and the Hoops have regularly featured in the top flight throughout their history.

League Cup winners in 1967, QPR also reached the FA Cup final in 1982. Based in west London, the Rs play their home matches at Loftus Road.

7. Brentford

Brentford players celebrate victory against Ipswich Town in the Premier League in October 2024.

Brentford players celebrate victory against Ipswich Town in the Premier League in October 2024. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Much of Brentford's history has been spent in the lower leagues, but the Bees have had an impressive run since establishing themselves in the Championship and ultimately earning promotion to the Premier League in 2021.

The west London club, founded in 1889, moved out of their famous Griffin Park home and into the new Brentford Community Stadium for that promotion season and returned to the top flight for the first time in 74 years.

6. Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace players celebrate a Michael Olise goal against West Ham at Selhurst Park in April 2024.

Crystal Palace players celebrate a Michael Olise goal against West Ham at Selhurst Park in April 2024. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Founded in 1905, Crystal Palace have been Premier League regulars in recent years and are admired for their impressive youth academy.

Based in south London, the Eagles are two-time FA Cup finalists and won the short-lived and long-defunct Full Members Cup in 1991.

5. Fulham

Raul Jimenez celebrates with his Fulham team-mates after scoring against Newcastle at Craven Cottage in September 2024.

Raul Jimenez celebrates with his Fulham team-mates after scoring against Newcastle at Craven Cottage in September 2024. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Founded in 1879, Fulham are London's oldest professional football club and the Cottagers have been playing at their Craven Cottage stadium since 1896 – apart from two seasons spent at QPR's Loftus Road during renovations to their famous home.

FA Cup runners-up in 1975 and Europa League finalists in 2010, the west Londoners have been Premier League regulars in recent times and were last promoted to the top flight after winning the Championship in 2021/22.

4. West Ham

West Ham celebrate with their fans on a bus parade following their Europa Conference League win in June 2023.

West Ham celebrate with their fans on a bus parade following their Europa Conference League win in June 2023. (Image credit: Getty Images)

West Ham won the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1965 and added the Europa Conference League under David Moyes in 2023.

Two-time champions of England, West Ham play at the London Stadium, which was adapted for football after hosting track and field events at the 2012 Olympic Games and has been home to the Irons since the Boleyn Ground was closed in May 2016.

3. Tottenham

Tottenham players celebrate their League Cup final win over Chelsea in February 2008.

Tottenham players celebrate their League Cup final win over Chelsea in February 2008. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Tottenham Hotspur won the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1963, becoming the first British club to claim a European trophy.

Also two-time UEFA Cup winners, Spurs were Champions League finalists in 2019 but recent times have been more difficult for the north Londoners and the Lilywhites are without a league title since their double season in 1960/61.

2. Arsenal

Arsenal players celebrate with the Premier League trophy at the end of their Invincible season in May 2004.

Arsenal players celebrate with the Premier League trophy at the end of their Invincible season in May 2004. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Arsenal have won more top-flight titles than any other London club and the Gunners are also three-time league and cup double winners.

Under Arsène Wenger in 2003/04, Arsenal became the first English club in the modern era to complete a league season without defeat. The north London club reached the Champions League final in 2006.

1. Chelsea

Chelsea players celebrate with the Champions League trophy after victory over Manchester City in the 2021 final in Porto.

Chelsea players celebrate with the Champions League trophy after victory over Manchester City in the 2021 final in Porto. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Hugely successful since 2003, when Roman Abramovich took over the club, Chelsea became the first London side to win the Champions League in 2012.

The Blues won the competition again in 2021 and have enjoyed more success in the Premier League than their London rivals, winning titles under José Mourinho (three), Carlo Ancelotti and Antonio Conte.

Ben Hayward
Weekend editor

Ben Hayward is a European football writer and Tottenham Hotspur fan with over 15 years’ experience, he has covered games all over the world - including three World Cups, several Champions League finals, Euros, Copa America - and has spent much of that time in Spain. Ben speaks English and Spanish, currently dividing his time between Barcelona and London, covering all the big talking points of the weekend on FFT: he’s also written several list features and interviewed Guglielmo Vicario for the magazine.