Round the World with Thomas Cook

Description

The Round the World with Thomas Cook exhibition explores the assertion that Leicester is the ‘birthplace of popular tourism’. Tourism in Leicester is believed to have begun in 1841 when Thomas Cook organised a day trip to Loughborough for members of his Baptist Church. A party of 485 travelled to Loughborough, on the Midland Counties Railway, in open tub-style carriages. This day marks what was to become the oldest travel company in the UK until its demise in 2019.  

The exhibition explores the history of the man and the company through objects and material from the museum collections and the Thomas Cook Archive.  

The museum collection holds a number of objects that relate to Thomas Cook. This includes a rickshaw that Thomas Cook acquired, from Japan, for his grandchildren to play with.  

The Thomas Cook Archive has recently become part of the collection at The Records Office, Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland 

The material from the Thomas Cook Archive has until recently been held in a private collection. The exhibition offers the first opportunity for people to see the archive now that it is in public ownership. The archive contains material from throughout the company history, from very early tickets to brochures from the height of the company’s success. The exhibition will be a vivid display of what was one of the most recognised travel companies in the world. 

Thomas Cook event, 17th Ocotber 2021:

All Aboard! Thomas Cook's First Pioneers Abroad

A lecture by Historian & Author, Susan Barton

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