SIC code 47781 classifies businesses engaged in retail sale in commercial art galleries. There are 2,443 active companies registered under this code in the UK, forming a substantial sector within the national economy. It falls under Section G (Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles) of the UK SIC 2007 classification system, which is used by Companies House to categorise all registered businesses.
See the full industry analysis on the Retail sale in commercial art galleries industry page.
With a 91% survival rate, this sector shows strong business longevity. Only 1 of 2,696 companies registered under this code have dissolved, well below the UK average. Companies in this sector average 8.0 years old, reflecting a balanced mix of established businesses and newer market participants. Growth has been exceptional recently: 58% of all active companies were formed since 2020, marking this as one of the fastest-expanding classifications. The 2010s contributed another 28%, meaning the vast majority of businesses are relatively new. Geographically, the sector is heavily concentrated: LONDON alone accounts for 38% of all active companies (921 firms). The top three locations — LONDON, GLASGOW, BRISTOL — represent 40% of the sector.
SIC code 47781 stands for "Retail sale in commercial art galleries" under the UK Standard Industrial Classification (SIC 2007) system. It belongs to Section G — Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles. Companies use this code when registering with Companies House to indicate their primary business activity. The code is required for annual confirmation statements and is used by HMRC, ONS, and other government bodies for statistical and regulatory purposes.
There are currently 2,443 active companies registered under SIC code 47781 in the UK, out of 2,696 total registrations. This gives a survival rate of 91%, meaning 9% of companies registered under this code have since dissolved. These figures are based on Companies House data and updated regularly.
The top locations for retail sale in commercial art galleries companies (SIC 47781) are: LONDON (921), GLASGOW (29), BRISTOL (26), BIRMINGHAM (24), EDINBURGH (24). Geographic concentration can reflect local economic conditions, industry clusters, or proximity to key markets and supply chains.
The sector is growing: 58% of currently active SIC 47781 companies were formed since 2020, and 28% during the 2010s. This sustained formation rate indicates ongoing demand for retail sale in commercial art galleries services in the UK.
Companies classified under SIC 47781 have an average age of 8.0 years. This suggests a balanced sector with both established players and newer entrants. Notable companies include DE MONTFORT FINE ART LIMITED, JOHN MARTIN OF LONDON LIMITED.
Related SIC codes within the same division include: 47910 (Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet), 47990 (Other retail sale not in stores, stalls or markets), 47110 (Retail sale in non-specialised stores with food, beverages or tobacco predominating), 47190 (Other retail sale in non-specialised stores). Companies may use multiple SIC codes if they operate across several of these related activities. When registering with Companies House, businesses should select the code that best represents their primary activity.
You can search for companies with SIC code 47781 (Retail sale in commercial art galleries) using UVAGATRON's company explorer, which allows filtering by SIC code, location, and company status. Alternatively, Companies House offers a basic search on their website. Our platform adds risk intelligence, director networks, and signals from 50+ government databases to each company record.
Search, filter, and analyse 2,443 companies classified under this SIC code with AI-powered risk intelligence.
Data sourced from Companies House, HM Land Registry, FCA Register, and 50+ government databases. SIC classification follows the UK Standard Industrial Classification of Economic Activities 2007 (SIC 2007). Last updated: 2026-04-17.