Thomas Cook building, Leicester

The Thomas Cook Building in Leicester stands as a tribute to one of the city's most renowned figures, Thomas Cook, the pioneer of modern tourism. Located in Gallowtree Gate, a bustling pedestrian shopping street near the iconic Clock Tower, the building is a striking example of Renaissance-style architecture with its buff terracotta and glazed faience decoration. Designed by Joseph Goddard-who also created Leicester’s Clock Tower and Midland Bank-the building was completed in 1894, two years after Cook’s passing, as a memorial commissioned by his son, John Mason Cook.

This Grade II listed building served both as a landmark and the base for Thomas Cook & Son, housing its Excursion, Tourist, and Shipping Office, as well as its Foreign Banking and Exchange Department. It also accommodated tenants like the Leicester Medical Society and the Leicester and Leicestershire Society of Architects, which kept their professional libraries on-site.

The building's detailed frieze above the offices narrates Cook’s career in four panels: his first organized trip in 1841, the 1851 Great Exhibition excursion, his 1884 role in Sudan troop transport, and the 1891 promotion of travel via the Forth Bridge, highlighting his impact on global travel.

The façade highlights Cook’s global influence with emblems of four continents and over 80 city names where his agencies operated. A central panel honors his first 1841 excursion, while a frieze above the second-floor windows marks the company’s 50th anniversary with ‘1841 T. Cook and Son 1891.’

The Thomas Cook Building remains a testament to the enduring legacy of a man who transformed travel from an elite privilege into an accessible experience for the masses. It continues to be a key historical landmark, reflecting Leicester’s connection to one of the most influential figures in the history of tourism.