London is a great place to be if you’re a football fan. The city is home to some of the best sports clubs in the world.
So, there is always something exciting happening in English football.
Let us take you on tour to look at some of the most popular football clubs in London and explain what makes them unique.
Top 10 Football Clubs in London
Football is a massive part of British culture, and there are plenty of football clubs in the UK capital to get involved with.
But HOW MANY football teams are there in London?
Well, London has its fair share of 16 professional football clubs, followed by many other semi-professionals and amateur football teams.
Here are THE 10 BEST London-based football clubs and a brief overview of each one.
Arsenal
- Founded: 1886
- Owner: Kroenke Sports & Entertainment
- Ground: Emirates Stadium
- League: Premier League
- Nicknames: The Gunners
Currently located in Islington, Arsenal has built its way from an ordinary team of Woolwich Arsenal Armament Factory workers to one of the best professional football teams in London.
Initially, the club was called Dial Square, which was changed to Woolwich Arsenal in 1891. Finally, in 1912/13, it became just Arsenal.
The Gunners are rivals with Tottenham Hotspur, and they form the local North London derby.
Besides creating some of the best young Premier League players, some of the achievements that Arsenal needs to be remembered as one of the best football teams in London are:
- 13 times English football champions
- 2 League Cups won
- 16 FA Community Shields
- 14 FA Cups
- European Cup title
Furthermore, Arsenal had a RECORD of 49 unbeaten league games in a row from May 2003 till October the following year.
The best gunners were Thierry Henry, Denis Bergkamp, Tony Adams, and Ian Wright.
Chelsea
- Founded: 1905
- Owners: Todd Boehly, Clearlake Capital, Hansjörg Wyss and Mark Walter
- Ground: Stamford Bridge
- League: Premier League
- Nicknames: The Blues and The Pensioners
The second team on our map of Premier League teams in London are Chelsea.
Chelsea is based in Fulham and is considered the best football club in London.
The Blues’ first significant WIN was in 1955 when they won the League Championship. Since then, they have written history in English football as one of the most influential football teams in London. Also, they have one of the biggest wage bills in the Premier League.
In their homeland, Chelsea holds:
- 6 League titles
- 8 FA Cups
- 4 FA Community Shields
- 5 League Cups.
On an international level, the Blues have triumphed:
- 2 European Cups,
- 2 UEFA Cups,
- 2 UEFA Super Cups,
- 2 UEFA Cup Winners Cups
- 1 FIFA Club World Cup.
Chelsea’s players have set respectable club records, including the record for the highest appearance of footballer Ron Harris counting 795.
Related: Chelsea’s all-time goal-scoring legends
Tottenham Hotspur
- Founded: 1882
- Owner: ENIC Group
- Ground: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
- League: Premier League
- Nicknames: Spurs
The Tottenham Hotspurs is a football club that is among the most respected in their profession with the motto Audere est Facere which means to “dare is to do,” and is the team where some of the best Premier League players play.
Well, they have indeed dared to be one of the most successful soccer clubs in England. And the Spurs have done it by winning:
- the English First division twice,
- 8 FA Cup wins
- 4 EFL Cup titles
- 1 UEFA Cup Winners Cup
- 2 UEFA Cup wins.
The Spurs hold the 13th place on the UEFA rankings for club coefficients with 83 points. As for the latest 2021/22 Premier League season, they finished in fourth place.
Did you know: Tottenham has one of the biggest shirt sponsorship deals
West Ham United
- Founded: 1895
- Owners: David Sullivan, Daniel Křetínský, David Gold, and Albert Smith
- Ground: London Stadium
- League: Premier League
- Nicknames: The Irons, The Hammers, and The Cockney Boys
The Hammers are another club on the list of best soccer teams in London and they play their home games in one of the biggest stadiums in London, the London Stadium. Aside from their achievements, they are wildly popular because the Cockney Boys have never played a match below second-tier English soccer.
West Ham has triumphed:
- in three FA Cups
- won the European Cup
- third place in the Premier League
On the other hand, West Ham United knows how to appreciate and motivate their most talented players. Almost every year, they give AWARDS, such as:
- A Hammer of the Year
- Lifetime Achievement
- Mark Noble Young Hammer of the Year
- Dylan Tombides
Crystal Palace
Founded: 1905
Owners: Steve Parish, Joshua J. Harris, David S. Blitzer, and John Textor
Ground: Selhurst Park
League: Premier League
Nicknames: The Eagles and The Glaziers
Crystal Palace may have the richest history among the professional football teams in London. They are one of the founders of the Football Association, and they were one of the contestants in the first FA Cup.
The Glaziers are now located in Selhurst, South London. In the 1990/91 season of the Football League First, now the Premier League, Crystal Palace achieved their highest spot on the first-tier English football league table.
Some of the Eagles’ achievements are:
- two times English second-tier champions
- Full Members Cup winners,
- United League title,
- three wins at the London Challenge Cup
Fulham
Founded: 1879
Owner: Shahid Khan
Ground: Craven Cottage
League: Premier League
Nicknames: The Cottagers, The Lily Whites, and The Whites
Fulham is the oldest London football team that still plays professionally since its founding.
Under the skilled arms of their manager, Fulham has been competing in England’s top division for 27 seasons. The number of their fans has been considerably enlarged since their first appearance in the Premier League.
The Cottagers are well known for their excellent rankings and black-and-white soccer kit.
Fulham’s award shelf is filled with many winning titles like:
- Southern League First Division
- English third tier
- London Challenge Cup
- Anglo-Scottish Cup
- MLS All-Star Challenge
- UEFA Europa League Runners-up
- UEFA Intertoto Cup
Queens Park Rangers
- Founded: 1882
- Owners: Total Soccer Growth, Tune Group, and Lakshmi Mittal
- Ground: Loftus Road Stadium
- League: EFL Championship
- Nicknames: Super Hoops, The Rs, Rangers, and The Hoops
The Queens Park Rangers, or the QPR, are located in the west part of London, Shepherd’s Bush and is one of the three teams on our list that don’t compete in one of the most profitable sports leagues, the Premier League.
The club’s name was inspired by the area where most of its first players lived.
Did you know that before they set their ground on the Loftus Road Stadium, they had changed 20 different stadiums?
The Hoops’ highest achievements are:
- being the runner-ups in the Premier League
- getting to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup
- winning the League Cup
Watford
Founded: 1881
Owner: Gino Pozzo
Ground: Vicarage Road
League: EFL Championship
Nicknames: The Hornets, The Golden Boys, and Yellow Army
The rich history of Watford started with a group of teenagers. So, many generations later, they have managed to become the Golden Boys of English soccer. Nowadays, you can recognise Watford in any football match they play with their black and yellow kit.
In 1969, the yellow army marched to the second division. Fast forward to 2014/15, Watford was among the best in England when it became a part of the Premier League. However, Watford had its ups and downs between the Premier League and the EFL Championship.
Their TOP achievements are:
- Football League Second Division
- Football League Third Division
- Football League Fourth Division
- Southern Football League winners
Brentford
- Founded: 1889
- Owner: Matthew Benham
- Ground: Brentford Community Stadium London
- League: Premier League
- Nicknames: The Bees
Based in the town with the same name in west London, Brentford has been part of the English highest tier football since the 2020/21 Champions League and joined fellow rivals Fulham in the Premier League.
The Bees’ most notable honours are:
- winning the West London Alliance,
- becoming Second, Third, and Fourth Division champions,
- finishing at the top place in the London Challenge Cup, London, and Middlesex Senior Cup
Furthermore, they have been awarded Community Club of the Year, League Two Community Club of the Year, Best Club Sponsorship, etc.
Millwall
- Founded: 1885
- Owner: Millwall Holdings
- Ground: The Den
- League: EFL Championship
- Nicknames: The Lions
Millwall is a London football club with a long and proud history. The Lions have had their drops and raises in the English leagues and are currently playing for the English Football League Championship. They have always been in rivalry with Tottenham Hotspur.
Since its formation, the Millwall club have been the best in the second and fourth English division. They have also won respected football leagues and cups, including East London Senior Cup, United League, London League, Southern and Western Leagues, Football League Group Cup, etc.
Conclusion
The football clubs in London are some of the best in the world, and they sure know their way around the highest English soccer divisions.
Whether you’re cheering on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, or Tottenham Hotspur at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, you will have a fantastic time.
So what are you waiting for? Book your trip today!
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