Editing Thomas Cook (section)

== Foreign tours ==
Having organised tours in England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and the Isle of Man over the previous decade, Cook planned his first excursion abroad in 1855, "a grand circular tour of the Continent", visiting major cities in Belgium, Germany and France and enabling tourists to visit the [[Exposition Universelle (1855)|Paris Exhibition]].<ref name=guardian>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2018/nov/22/thomas-cook-the-father-of-modern-tourism-archive-1958|title=Thomas Cook: the father of modern tourism – archive, 1958|date=22 November 2018|work=The Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Thomas Cook’s first tours to the continent|first=Jill|last=Hamilton|url=https://thehistorypress.co.uk/article/thomas-cooks-first-tours-to-the-continent/|publisher=The History Press|date=2017-07-04|accessdate=2025-05-10}}</ref> In 1862, Scottish railway companies stopped issuing cheap group tickets for tour groups and Cook turned his attention further afield, to Switzerland and Italy, the United States, Egypt and the Holy Land.<ref name=odnb/>

In 1865, Cook acquired business premises on [[Fleet Street]] in London. The office also contained a shop which sold essential travel accessories, including [[Cook's Travellers Handbooks|guide books]], luggage, and footwear. In 1872, he formed a partnership with his son, John Mason Andrew  Cook, and renamed the travel agency as ''Thomas Cook & Son''.<ref name=huff>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/thomas-cook-history-founder_uk_5d888a8ae4b0957256b9bb22|title=How one man built Thomas Cook’s travel empire from humble beginnings|date=23 September 2019|work=Huffington Post}}</ref> In 1868, the company introduced "hotel coupons" which were issued to travellers and could be exchanged for restaurant meals and hotel accommodation. "Circular notes", a form of [[traveller's cheque]], were introduced in 1874 and enabled tourists to obtain local currency.<ref name=story/> Cook made his first round-the-world tour in 1874, and the same year advertised an annual conducted trip for 200 [[Guinea (coin)|guineas]].<ref name=guardian/>

While Cook travelled the world, his son stayed at home to run the company, moving to a new London headquarters at [[Ludgate Circus]]. Cook and his son had different attitudes towards the business, with John Mason Cook being the more commercially-minded, and, after a number of quarrels, Cook retired from the partnership in 1878.<ref name=odnb/>