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The New Thomas Cook
After the original business collapsed in September 2019, a few committed former employees were determined the legacy of Thomas Cook would find a new life.
Two months later, they bought back the Thomas Cook brand along with the inimitable Sunny Heart logo - a symbol of joy and happiness, and an important part of the business’ identity.
Those former employees created a new venture - one that embodies the essence of the man himself but brings it bang up to date with the latest technology.
Our website lets you package your own holiday. You go away when you want, for as long as you want. And with thousands of hotels to choose from and more flight routes and airlines than ever before, your well-deserved getaway can be whatever you want it to be.
You can contact us by phone or chat - and if you’re on holiday, you can reach us 24/7. Chat to us about anything from ‘which hotels have swim-up rooms?’ to ‘where should we go for the perfect honeymoon?’ You can even ask us to find your holiday for you.
And you can also tell us what you think of the new Thomas Cook. Let us know what you want to see on our site so that we can restore the brand to its rightful place as the most loved name in travel.
Let's book it!Thomas Cook's History
The original package holiday was a train journey from Leicester to Loughborough in 1841. There were 500 passengers on board that day. And for most of them, it was the first time they’d ever ridden a steam train.
People crowded the streets, filled the windows, and packed onto bridges enroute just to get a glimpse of the carriage as it hurtled along the tracks at breakneck speed. And when the train pulled into Loughborough, the intrepid travellers were greeted by a brass band and throngs of cheering crowds.
The trip was organised by Thomas Cook, who later wrote of the journey: “And thus was struck the keynote of my excursions, and the social idea grew upon me.”
The 22-mile package holiday cost a shilling and sixpence - about a day’s wages back then. But financially, there was nothing in it for Mr Cook. Although he organised repeat trips each summer for the next three years, he wouldn’t turn a profit until 1845.
This initial foray into tourism was a time of discovery. It proved that if travel was convenient and accessible, more people would, in Mr Cook's own words, “go beyond”. And “go beyond” they most certainly did.
For the next 33 years he shuttled tourists up, down and around the country. And then across the channel into Switzerland, Italy and France, introducing thousands of people to the Swiss Alps, the Colosseum and the joys of devouring a well-curated charcuterie. He later shipped travellers as far as Japan, India and the United States on a 222-day world tour he called 'China via Egypt'.
After Mr Cook’s retirement, the company was passed on from son to grandsons, and in 1928 it ceased to be a family business. From that point on, it changed hands five times, counting among its owners a Belgian train operator, a German bank and even the British government.
Like the man himself, Thomas Cook moved with the times. Mr Cook’s lifetime saw the rise of train travel and steamships. And he embraced both with enthusiasm. As time went on, the business traded rail journeys for motor car tours and steamers for flights, always finding new ways to help more people discover the world.
Thomas Cook was the pioneer of trouble-free travelling. He was also the inventor of convenient package holidays. And for us who work under his name in the new business, his life was a legacy we hope to live up to.
Package holiday dealsThomas Cook is the creator of the travel industry as we know it! Born on 22nd November 1808 in Melbourne (no, not that one; the one in Derbyshire, England), he made use of the new-fangled Victorian railways and steamships to arrange the first package trips. Thomas Cook died on 18th July 1892.
First working as a cabinet maker and then a Baptist evangelist, Thomas Cook found his true calling running trips and tours to all kinds of destinations, from the Swiss Alps to Egypt and beyond. He created the first version of the holiday brochure, published a regular travel journal (The Travellers’ Gazette) and was one of the trailblazers of travellers’ cheques for tourists.
Thomas Cook the company was founded by Thomas Cook the man in the 19th century – 1841 to be precise. The business started when he organised a group train trip from Leicester to a temperance rally in Loughborough. That very successful first expedition effectively kickstarted modern tourism.
The latest incarnation of Thomas Cook was founded in 2019. We sold our first holidays the following year.
Thomas Cook pioneered organised travel. After first leading some small-scale rail excursions to temperance rallies, he realised he was onto something big as so many people were keen to see more of Great Britain, Europe and the world. Thomas grew the business over the years with his son, John Mason Cook, to provide more and more exciting adventures to travel-hungry Victorians.
It did but we're back! Unfortunately, the old Thomas Cook UK&I tour operator ceased trading in 2019 when the Thomas Cook Group collapsed. But we're so passionate about the brand and the business we couldn't let our story end in such an upsetting way. With lots of hard work and dedication from former employees the Thomas Cook name is up and running again. So, where do you want to go next?
Thomas Cook is back! After the Thomas Cook Group closed down in 2019, with much distress for our customers, suppliers, partners and teams, a committed group of former employees got together to give the oldest name in travel a new lease of life. After all, Thomas Cook has always been changing and developing over the years, so moving with the times to restart as an online travel agent wasn’t such a big leap of imagination. So, you can look forward to booking more fantastic getaways through us, from the familiar beaches of sunny Spain to exotic adventures in Tunisia.
Yes! Thomas Cook Tourism opened as an online travel agent (OTA) in 2020. We offer holidays in popular spots around the globe, from budget-friendly fly-and-flop breaks to 5-star luxury escapes with all the whistles and bells. We’re a member of ABTA and ATOL, with extra protection in the form of a secure trust account to keep your payments safe. Plus, we offer 24/7 on-holiday support!
No, your flights will be with one of the fantastic range of airlines we work with, like EasyJet, TUI, Corendon and British Airways. The Thomas Cook fleet was sold off when Thomas Cook Airlines closed.
We’re happy to say this puts you in control – you can choose who you want to fly with based on what’s available for your destination, dates and departure airport. You can even fly out with one airline and back with another! How's that for flexibility?
Just so you know, your flights might not be confirmed immediately by the airline, which can mean a slight delay to your booking being finalised.
You’re already there! We’re completely online now, but we still offer the kind of personal service you know and love from your local Thomas Cook on the high street. While you can of course package your own holiday on our website if you want to, we’re also on hand to do it for you. Simply tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll make all the arrangements!
You can also find us on social media:
- Facebook – @thomascooktourism
- Instagram – @thomascook
- Twitter – @ThomasCookUK
- Tik Tok - @thomascooktourism
You can trust Thomas Cook – whether you’re after a last-minute city break, an All Inclusive treat or a fun summer getaway with the kids:
• Customer-focused, travel-savvy team
• Proud ABTA member
• ATOL-protection, including a secure trust account
• 24/7 on-holiday support via dedicated channels
• 4 stars on Trustpilot
• Relax knowing your holiday’s protected – we’re members of ABTA and offer an array of ATOL-protected packages with flights.
• Manage your budget with ease thanks to the choice of board basis options and great-value holiday deals you can book through us.
• Take your pick from the exciting range of destinations we offer. Like the close-to-home thrills of London, Dublin and Edinburgh. The city breaks and beach hotspots of Europe and the USA. And the exotic climes of Singapore, Dubai, Mexico and the Caribbean Islands.
• Create your perfect holiday with the fantastic choice of hotels, airlines and extras (like travel insurance, airport parking, transfers and car hire) you'll find on our site.
• You can even book just your hotel with us if you prefer. Simply select the hotel-only option.
• Once you're on your travels we're still here for you thanks to our friendly 24/7 on-holiday support team.
• Keep up to date with our latest deals, offers and holiday inspiration by signing up to our newsletter and giving us a follow on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
• Check out our customers’ honest reviews on Trustpilot, where we’re proud to have a 4-star rating!
Thomas Cook’s an exciting place to work. Building a new business means everyone has a clear and important role to play – from our web developers, marketers and UX designers to our finance, product and customer service teams, and so many more!
• Most of our people work from home in locations around the UK, Netherlands, Belgium and beyond.
• There’s plenty of collaboration and regular meet-ups at our offices in central London and in Rijswijk, near The Hague. Everyone’s also welcome to drop in with their laptop whenever they want.
• The family-friendly ethos and hybrid approach make for a relaxed yet highly productive atmosphere with a good work-life balance.
• And of course, travel jobs offer some of the most fun you can have at work!
Follow the Thomas Cook Tourism LinkedIn page for more info and current vacancies.