How do I search for a company in the UK?

Use the Companies House register search by company name or company number. A company brief typically shows status, incorporation date, registered office address, officers/directors, filing history, and SIC codes.

Is UK company information free to check?

Yes. Companies House publishes company information for public transparency. Tools like Company Desk provide a faster interface and workflow features, but the baseline public data is the same source.

Company search UK: how to find official company details (free)

If you need to find a UK company quickly and check its official details, the source of record is Companies House. This guide explains what you can see and how to search efficiently.

Quick answer

Search by company name or company number, then open the company record to review: status, incorporation date, registered office address, SIC codes, officers/directors, and filing history.

Start a UK company search or bookmark the search page.

What details can you check on a UK company?

Company overview: name, number, status, type, incorporation date.
Registered office: the official address on the register.
Nature of business: SIC codes (industry classification).
People: officers/directors (including resigned where available) and PSC.
Filings: filing history entries and key compliance dates (accounts + confirmation statement).

Tips for faster company lookup

Use the company number if you have it — it’s the most precise identifier.
Try name variants (LIMITED vs LTD, punctuation, spacing).
Open the brief and use the official register link for source verification.

Companies House vs Company Desk

Companies House is the authoritative register. Company Desk uses Companies House data but provides a faster interface and optional workflow tools (lists, exports, monitoring) when you create an account.